The Arabian Nights [unspecified, complete, Lang]
by Andrew Lang
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I enoyed these ancient tales of princes, princesses, genies, merchants, fantastic adventures, treasures, grand palaces. Common themes are cleverness or foolishness, love, revenge, jealousy, but above all, generosity and helping those in need is valued most in these stories.
Besides entertainment, we also get a picture of a rich, vibrant and educated culture way more sophisticated and world-wise than contemporary Europe, which was stuck in its darkest of the Middle Ages at the same time. Baghdad, Persia, India, China, Egypt feature in the stories, with rich merchants, kings, cities and craftsmen, revealing a flourishing trade and wealthy kingdoms.
A fun and educational insight into the minds and times of medieval Arabic culture.
Besides entertainment, we also get a picture of a rich, vibrant and educated culture way more sophisticated and world-wise than contemporary Europe, which was stuck in its darkest of the Middle Ages at the same time. Baghdad, Persia, India, China, Egypt feature in the stories, with rich merchants, kings, cities and craftsmen, revealing a flourishing trade and wealthy kingdoms.
A fun and educational insight into the minds and times of medieval Arabic culture.
Having read or heard many of these stories in different formats, it was good to read the complete book. This is the translation of a translation, which may have robbed it of some fine details. In all, this one is a thoroughly enjoyable collection of some of the most famous stories of the eastern world.
Definitely evident this has been edited (I've heard "bowdlerized") to a great extent. I'm interested in reading a longer version so I can compare the two.
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Author Information
392+ Works 24,465 Members
Andrew Lang was born at Selkirk in Scotland on March 31, 1844. He was a historian, poet, novelist, journalist, translator, and anthropologist, in connection with his work on literary texts. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, St. Andrews University, and Balliol College, Oxford University, becoming a fellow at Merton College. His poetry includes show more Ballads and Lyrics of Old France (1872), Ballades in Blue China (1880--81), and Grass of Parnassus (1888--92). His anthropology and his defense of the value of folklore as the basis of religion is expressed in his works Custom and Myth (1884), Myth, Ritual and Religion (1887), and The Making of Religion (1898). He also translated Homer and critiqued James G. Frazer's views of mythology as expressed in The Golden Bough. He was considered a good historian, with a readable narrative style and knowledge of the original sources including his works A History of Scotland (1900-7), James VI and the Gowrie Mystery (1902), and Sir George Mackenzie (1909). He was one of the most important collectors of folk and fairy tales. His collections of Fairy books, including The Blue Fairy Book, preserved and handed down many of the better-known folk tales from the time. He died of angina pectoris on July 20, 1912. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Arabian Nights [unspecified, complete, Lang]
- Original publication date
- 1918
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Tween, Children's Books
- DDC/MDS
- 398.2 — Society, government, & culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Folklore & Folktales Folk literature
- LCC
- PZ8 .A85 .L — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
Statistics
- Members
- 306
- Popularity
- 104,731
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.92)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ASINs
- 34
