Books of Wonder

Arabian Nights

Arabian Nights - Main image
$7.48 $14.95 In stock

Category: Products

Tales from the Arabian Nights is one of the oldest continuously circulated collections of shorts stories in the world. It consists of well-known Arabic folk tales penned during the Islamic Golden Age, including “Aladdin’s Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “The Three Apples,” “The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor,” and many more. Since their origins they have inspired countless adaptations, most notably the Disney film Aladdin.

The stories begin with one of the earliest female protagonists in literature, Scheherazade, who is set to be executed by an evil Arabian king. The book highlights the incredible adventure stories she tells to the king each night, and how she purposefully ends them on cliffhangers in order to peak his interest and survive the next morning. These exciting tales, with their languid prose and wild adventures, form the basis of the book and its narrative arc.

Accompanying these timeless short stories are stunning, vintage illustrations by renowned artist Milo Winter, only enhancing their glow and adding to their magic.

 

*IMPORTANT*

Please note: these books may bear remainder marks and may show some shelf wear.

All sale books are FINAL SALE and may not be returned or exchanged.

Customer Reviews (4.8 / 5 · 5 reviews)

Ruby ★★★★★

The way these stories weave into each other—Scheherazade's thread pulling you from one tale to the next—makes it dangerously easy to lose an entire evening. I've read other collections, but this one feels like it captures the raw, oral storytelling spirit of the Islamic Golden Age.

Michael N. ★★★★★

The binding is sturdier than I expected for a paperback, so it held up well on my commute. I’ve been reading one story each night, and the mix of familiar and obscure tales keeps it feeling fresh. This edition really captures the timeless feel of those old Arabic folk stories.

William ★★★★★

I’ve been meaning to revisit these classic tales for years, and this edition finally got me to do it. The stories flow beautifully from one to the next, making it easy to pick up for a few pages each night.