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A review by drudri_yones
The Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Reading challenge 2024: Book 16/27
The Tales of Princess Scheherazade
I must admit that the fact I read an edition of One Thousand and One Nights that didn't have all the stories is on me. I didn't know that there were so many. As such, my ignorance is at fault. But hey, at least the edition I bought has a very pretty cover. I consider that a win.
The collection of Middle Easter folktales, all written in the Islamic Golden Age, is often known in english as Arabian Nights. Common to all editions is the central tale of princess Scheherazade, who narrates the stories to the ruler Shahryar over the course of several nights.
A framing device (stories within stories within stories) is used throughout much of the book. Some proceed from the original tale while others are self-contained. All contain supernatural elements common to Middle Eastern mythology, such as djinn. There are even famous stories such as that of Aladdin, which is, as is to be expected, quite different from the popular Disney version.
Overall, it's full of some pretty entertaining and magical stories. I enjoyed it. However, if you want to read all of them, they can be found in several hefty volumes, so be prepared to read a lot.
Overall Score: 3.5/5
The Tales of Princess Scheherazade
I must admit that the fact I read an edition of One Thousand and One Nights that didn't have all the stories is on me. I didn't know that there were so many. As such, my ignorance is at fault. But hey, at least the edition I bought has a very pretty cover. I consider that a win.
The collection of Middle Easter folktales, all written in the Islamic Golden Age, is often known in english as Arabian Nights. Common to all editions is the central tale of princess Scheherazade, who narrates the stories to the ruler Shahryar over the course of several nights.
A framing device (stories within stories within stories) is used throughout much of the book. Some proceed from the original tale while others are self-contained. All contain supernatural elements common to Middle Eastern mythology, such as djinn. There are even famous stories such as that of Aladdin, which is, as is to be expected, quite different from the popular Disney version.
Overall, it's full of some pretty entertaining and magical stories. I enjoyed it. However, if you want to read all of them, they can be found in several hefty volumes, so be prepared to read a lot.
Overall Score: 3.5/5