Books

Signed limited edition, number 346 of 750 copies signed by the artist. A review in The Bookman stated that, "Scherazade's romance of Badoura, the beautiful Princess of China. supplies Edmund Dulac with a subject exactly suited to his gracious, exquisitely delicate art". The Athenaeum found in the tale "a rootlet of later Persian feminism". Hughey notes that Dulac "altered his style" for this book in order "to follow that of Chinese painting. The result is a very new, but mature style, most subtle in both design and colours. None of his work before or after was quite like it". A review in The Outlook stated "nothing more purely beautiful has ever come even from Dulac's fairy brush than the picture of Badoura in the arms of Camaralzaman against a background so exquisite as to make one hold one's breath". Hughey 31. The Bookman, December 1913; The Outlook, 15 November 1913. Quarto. Original white cloth, spine and front cover lettered in gilt and decorated with pictorial design blocked in gilt and green, pale green endpapers, top edge green. Colour frontispiece and nine coloured plates tipped in, with captioned tissue guards, all by Dulac. Extremities a little bumped, spine soiled, some slight browning; a very good copy.

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.