Books

The 'Library Edition' of The Book of The Thousand Nights and a Night. This edition was edited by the friend of the translator Richard Burton, Leonard C Smithers. This is the first of Nichols and Smithers' fine library edition. Published by H S Nichols and Co. This edition was published soon after Lady Burton's family edition and shortly before the illustrated library edition. This edition is of importance as it reinstates the text originally omitted by Lady Burton's edition. As stated in the preface, Smithers intention in the restoration was so that this work can finally 'take its proper place on the library shelf alongside Cervantes and Shakespeare.' In beautiful cloth bindings with pictorial gilt stamping to boards. Richard Burton's translation of 'One Thousand and One Nights or Arabian Nights' is his best known work. The text is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales originally compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. In uniform cloth bindings with pictorial gilt stamping to the front boards and spines. Externally, generally smart with heavy bumping to the head and tail of spines. some damage to the spine of volume VIII, a small hole. Evidence of damp staining to the bottom of front board to volume VIII. Damp staining to the bottom of front board to volume IX resulting in tidemarks to the bottom of first first 391 pages and some cockling. Damp staining is worse to bottom of both boards to volume X as it has resulted in the loss to some of the gilt stamping to the front and has caused a small amount of mould internally. Spine and rear board to volume XI has tidemarks and some damp staining as has volume XII, to the front board as well. Hinges to volume I are slightly strained but firm. Some remnants of adhered paper to the rear board of volume IV. Prior owner's signature to the front pastedown of all volumes, R C Love. A few ink spots to endpapers and pastedowns to volume IV. Small loss to cloth on front board of volume VI at the extremities. Internally, all volumes are firmly bound. Pages are generally bright. Tidemarks to pastedowns of volume XI due to damp staining. Tidemarks to first few pages of volume VIII resulting in some cocking to first 290 pages. Small tidemark to the page edges to 339 - 378 of volume IV, not affecting text. Tidemarks and cockling throughout volume X at the bottom, not affecting text. Damp staining to volume XI has resulted in front endpaper adhering to front pastedown and therefore some tears and loss due to an attempted removal. Cockling throughout the bottom of pages to volume XI due to damp staining. The odd spot throughout. Very Good.

The "Kitāb 'Alf Layla wa-Layla" (The Book of One Thousand and One Nights), commonly known in English as "The Arabian Nights," is a collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. Spanning from the 8th to the 14th centuries, this collection has been a significant cultural artifact, reflecting the complexity, traditions, and values of the Islamic world of its time. It has also played a crucial role in shaping Western perceptions of the East and has influenced an array of literary, musical, cinematic, and artistic endeavors across the globe. This essay explores the origins, structure, themes, and influence of "The Arabian Nights," shedding light on its enduring legacy and significance. The origins of "The Arabian Nights" are complex and multicultural, with stories traced back to ancient and medieval Persian, Indian, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian literature. These tales were gradually compiled and translated into Arabic, with the earliest references to the collection appearing in the 9th century. However, it was during the Islamic Golden Age that the collection, as known today, began to take shape, incorporating various stories of merchants, heroes, villains, jesters, and supernatural beings, reflecting the vibrant tapestry of the societies within the Islamic caliphates. At the heart of "The Arabian Nights" is the frame story of Shahrazad (Scheherazade), the daughter of the vizier, who volunteers to marry the sultan Shahryar. The sultan, betrayed by his first wife, vows to marry a new bride each day and have her executed the next morning to prevent further betrayal. Shahrazad, to save herself and future brides, tells Shahryar a story each night, leaving it incomplete and promising to finish it the following night. This narrative technique not only serves to connect the disparate tales but also showcases the power of storytelling as a means of transformation and survival. "The Arabian Nights" encapsulates a plethora of themes, including justice, betrayal, love, bravery, and the supernatural. The stories range from historical narratives and tragic romances to humorous anecdotes and moral lessons, offering insights into the diverse and complex societies from which they originate. The collection also frequently employs motifs such as jinn, magical devices, and fantastical creatures, weaving a rich tapestry that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. The impact of "The Arabian Nights" on world literature and culture cannot be overstated. The tales have been translated into numerous languages and have inspired countless adaptations in literature, opera, film, and visual arts. Characters like Aladdin, Sinbad, and Ali Baba have become cultural icons, and the themes of the tales have resonated with audiences around the globe, transcending cultural and temporal boundaries. Moreover, "The Arabian Nights" has contributed significantly to Western perceptions of the East, albeit through an orientalist lens that has often romanticized and exoticized Eastern cultures. This aspect of its legacy invites critical examination and dialogue about cultural representation and appropriation.