Reviews

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights by Anonymous

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lil1inblue's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jade's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

morebedsidebooks's review against another edition

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4.0

The Annotated Arabian Nights represents a of selection of folktales from what is (without the orientalist moniker) properly titled the One Thousand and One Nights, giving a sample of a newer contemporary translation by Yasmine Seale alongside analysis.

Although this book does not quite reflect Seale’s thinking on the Nights, her translation is engaging and clear in attention to cadence, rhyme, especially verse, and the voice of Shahrazad. While, like her visual poem “Sleepless” of Shahrazad’s waking eye, illuminating texts for modern audiences and up out of previous liberties taken by many. A labor sure to produce something glorious when that edition arrives in full. In the time being, the Annotated Arabian Nights is an immense book more suited to coffee tables and academic interest.

See an in-depth review on my blog.

Content Warnings

slinkyman's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

5.0

rayarriz's review

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5.0

Great book which I read and enjoyed. Potrays the ancient Middle East vividly. Mystically wonderful. Loved the old tales of jinns, caliphs and colorful bazaar scenes. Good, good.