Arab folktales
by Inea Bushnaq
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Description
Because this collection of folktales covers the entire Arab world from Morocco to Iraq, no other contemporary collection fills the niche it does. It is divided into six sections in categories such as animal tales or adventure tales. Sectional introductions provide the cultural background useful for interpreting the tales. Out of alleys of Cairo and Bedouin tents, from the Moroccan laborers and Syrian peasants, the approximately 130 tales vary considerably in length and portray heroes and show more villains, corruption and nobility equally. The tales were selected from a broad array of previously published sources and transcripts of the editor's field work. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
One of the few books I have found that features Arab tales that was not just 1001 Arabian Nights. Though several stories included in this book are different versions of tales found in 1001 Nights, many of them I have only found here. I have looked (an am still looking) high and low for tales about the jinn, and this book actually separated some out. Ghouls feature much more prominently than the jinn, but all the tales were interesting and delightful, making be glad I purchased the book instead of just repeatedly borrowing it.
i've read this a million times since i was a kid. one of my favorites!
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Shaking a Leg
111 works; 3 members
Author Information
1 Work 297 Members
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Has as a commentary on the text
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Arab folktales
- Original publication date
- 1986
- Dedication
- For Nadya, Elise, and Rick
- First words
- Arab village women walking home from the spring, heavy water jars balanced at a slight angle on their heads, long gown swaying with the movement of their stride, can well be likened to date palms and gazelles and sugarcane an... (show all)d young mares, as they are in these folktales. (Introduction)
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"I swear I will not stir from the seat by this fireplace!"
- Blurbers
- Said, Edward W.
- Original language
- Arabic
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 298
- Popularity
- 107,278
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (4.04)
- Languages
- Arabic, English, Italian
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 5
- ASINs
- 2
