Reviews

The Arabian Nights by Richard Francis Burton

ch_c__'s review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Tardé un chorro en acabarlo

lindseyhall44's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

lil1inblue's review against another edition

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

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

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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Alcohol

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

Dalila the Crafty includes drugging men and stealing their clothes.

slinkyman's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

5.0

rayarriz's review against another edition

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.

spacem0nkeyyy's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

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

5.0

tamagojin88's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

sofi_thebookishflor's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious reflective tense 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