Edward Fitzgerald, translator of the 11th century Iranian poem - the Rubáiyát of Omár Khayyám - was born in 1809 in Suffolk, UK. He was the third son of Mary Frances Fitzgerald (1755-1855 approx.) of Waterford castle and her first cousin John Purcell. Later he assumed his mother's surname.
He studied Spanish and Persian languages, the latter enabling him to translate the work of Omár Khayyám, but some verses he re-wrote differently simply to please himself. The subject matter was mainly about love, death, the existence of God and an afterlife. He was also interested in Astronomy, Philosophy and Mathematics.
He died suddenly on June 14th 1883. So popular was the Rubáiyát that Omár Khayyám clubs sprang up all over the U.K. and even in North America! There is much to read about him and the Rubáiyát online.
Link to Waterford castle website: https://www.waterfordcastleresort.com/about-us/history
The snow image from: Creative Commons: By Emmanuel Boutet
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