Edward Fitzgerald (1809-1883) was an English writer, best known as the poet of the most famous English translation of The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The Fitzgeralds were one of the wealthiest families in England. Edward once commented that all of his relatives were mad and that he was insane as well, but was at least aware of the fact. In 1851, he published his first book, Euphranor, a Platonic dialogue of memories of the happy life in Cambridge. He was extremely close to many of his friends; and his letters reveal that Fitzgerald was a witty, picturesque and sympathetic letter writer.