The Arabian Nights

The Arabian Nights

By

3.9
(20 Reviews)
The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

Published:

1898

Pages:

277

ISBN:

0375756752

Downloads:

219,989

Share This

The Arabian Nights

By

3.9
(20 Reviews)
A medieval Middle-Eastern literary epic which tells the story of Scheherazade, a Sassanid Queen, who must relate a series of stories to her malevolent husband, the King, to delay her execution. The stories are told over a period of one thousand and one nights, and every night she ends the story with a suspenseful situation, forcing the King to keep her alive for another day. The individual stories were created over many centuries, by many people and in many styles, and they have become famous in their own right.

Book Excerpt

ed home his wife and children received him with the greatest joy. But instead of embracing them he began to weep so bitterly that they soon guessed that something terrible was the matter.

"Tell us, I pray you," said his wife, "what has happened."

"Alas!" answered her husband, "I have only a year to live."

Then he told them what had passed between him and the genius, and how he had given his word to return at the end of a year to be killed. When they heard this sad news they were in despair, and wept much.

The next day the merchant began to settle his affairs, and first of all to pay his debts. He gave presents to his friends, and large alms to the poor. He set his slaves at liberty, and provided for his wife and children. The year soon passed away, and he was obliged to depart. When he tried to say good-bye he was quite overcome with grief, and with difficulty tore himself away. At length he reached the place where he had first seen the genius, on the very day that he had appointed

More books by Andrew Lang

(view all)

Readers reviews

5
4
3
2
1
3.9
Average from 20 Reviews
3.9
Write Review
Profile picture for user graham
Kiric78
3
A collection of texts kind for its famous stories, aesthetically is not important and not canonically as Shakespeare. Their stories far from reflecting the human condition are works that deal with the fate of the implausibility of his characters.
This book is an abridged version of Arabian Nights. I recommend the four volume complete version available in Manybooks. The volumes are very descriptive and full.
3
I have never read this book. And NOW, i am GLAD I downloaded and read it.

This is probably the greatest lies someone ever told.
Dear Mr.Historian, i don't know how you can say "If any Persian has a problem to find real Persian culture to market and advertise, then they can start making up their own history from now with something realistic." ?
sorry but it's so ridiculous! Ancient Persia had the greatest power, culture and anything.
Just have a glance at some history books.

Have a look:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran

;-)
Baghdad was never a part of Persia, as the Persian occupied Iraq along with other neighboring territories throughout history, but they were always fought and defeated. Now the Persian invasion is again happening on all levels. Neither most of the characters' names in the book are Persian nor the stories take place in Persia. If any Persian has a problem to find real Persian culture to market and advertise, then they can start making up their own history from now with something realistic.
There are several references to Baghdad in these stories. Iraq was a part of ancient Persia. I fail to understand how then the book can be termed Arabian. I would think the original stories are Persian written in Farsi and then adopted in Arabic eventually due to their popularity.
This is one of the most wonderful compilations of ancient traditional middle east folk tales. They are NOT difficult to understand, unless you are not paying attention and, on the other hand, they are not easy to follow. Meaning that you have to be focused on the reading, something you usually do when reading...
I completely recomend this compilation to understand the core of story telling, and have fun!!