Books

The Manuscript Edition, number 50 of 150 sets, with an autograph letter signed from Burton to writer and friend James Hain Friswell, the dedicatee of Burton's Stone Talk (1865), "a bitter satire... enumerating many of the crimes which England has committed" (Penzer, p. 77); Friswell helped to see the book through the press. A sparkling set of this very handsome edition. Letter in full: 34 Upper Montague Place, Montague Square August 25/[18]64 My Dear Sir Please let me know when and where I can pick you up tomorrow en route for the club [possibly either the Savage or Cannibal clubs]. I have just returned from rustication [Burton returned from the Kingdom of Dahomey, West Africa, in August 1864]. In haste believe me yours sincerely Richard F. Burton Hain Friswell Esq The Burton Club reprints were based on the edition put out by the so-called Burton Society of Denver, Colorado, in 1900-01, "the first and by far the best reprint of the original unexpurgated edition of the Nights" (Penzer). For that edition, each page of the original edition of 1885-8 was photographed "from the negatives of which zincos [zincograph plates] were prepared, and electros [electrograph plates] from these latter were used for the printing" (ibid.). Penzer goes on to explain that the zincograph plates were sold by the Burton Society to the Burton Club around 1903-4. "The Arabian Nights had been an important part of Burton's life for decades. In 1882 he began translating it in earnest. Although there were other translations of the Nights in English, Burton's was distinguished by his retention of the sexual content of the original Arabic versions, while his extensive footnotes drew on a lifetime of travel and research. Unable to get an acceptable offer from a publisher, he decided to print it himself, a venture that must have seemed more speculative than any of his searches for gold. He and Isabel announced a limited subscription of 1000 copies, hoping for 500 responses; to their surprise, they received 2000, but kept their word and accepted only 1000. At last Burton's literary efforts were rewarded with financial success, as he got 16,000 guineas from an outlay of 6000... Despite its deliberately archaic style, The book of the thousand nights and a night... has become the pre-eminent English translation of the Middle Eastern classic. It is the keystone of Burton's literary reputation" (ODNB). Sets retaining the original "manuscript" are certainly rare; that which appeared at Christie's in 1995 had had the manuscript removed; the only other set on auction records, apparently retaining the MS, appeared in 1928. READ MORE 16 volumes, large octavo. Original green morocco, spines lettered in gilt, richly gilt in spine compartments within raised bands, elaborate arabesque gilt design to covers incorporating Burton's name in Arabic, gilt concentric rules to turn-ins, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Photogravure frontispieces and plates after Letchford, Lalauze, Batten, Gavarni, and others, including frontispiece portrait in volume I in two states (coloured and uncoloured) after the portrait by Sir Frederick Leighton, captioned tissue guards. Save for very light rubbing at extremities and toning to endpapers, an excellent, bright, square set, the gilt bright, and contents clean and partly unopened. See Penzer p. 126 et seq. (for Burton Club editions).

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.