Rab Wilson translates Omar Khayyám

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There is a big interest nowadays in the Far East and things to do with Persia. One of the greatest Persian authors was Omar Khayyám who wrote the verses we call the Rubaiyat. Rab Wilson has decided to translate these verses into Scots. He compares the English translation in the Penguin original with his own vernacular version: the poems were written for the ordinary populace so he thinks the Scots version sits well with the intended audience. We hear a few readings from his book, ‘The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyám in Scots’ which is published by Luath Press, along with a CD of Rab reading the whole thing. (Broadcast: 18/09/2005)