The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

55091

Title

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 08 (of 10)

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A classic collection of enchanting Arabian tales featuring Prince Sayf al-Muluk's quest for love, a Jinn king's tragic vengeance, and the fatal passion that strikes monks and judges alike. Rich with exotic customs, poetic verse, and moral complexity.

Summary up to 500 words

Volume VIII of *The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night* continues the legendary adventures within Shahrazad's nightly recitations, weaving together tales of heroic sacrifice, divine justice, and the overwhelming power of beauty. The volume opens with the dramatic conclusion to the story of Prince Sayf al-Muluk. Having slain the tyrannical son of the Blue King to rescue Princess Daulat Khatun, Sayf is captured by the Blue King's forces. While his executioners propose gruesome tortures, a wise Emir advises the Blue King that killing Sayf would provoke a devastating war with Shahyal, the father of the rescued princess. The Emir's counsel prevails; peace is brokered between the two Jinn kingdoms. Consequently, Sayf is released and granted in marriage to Badi'a al-Jamal, Shahyal's daughter, allowing the lovers to unite in Sarandib after enduring significant peril. The narrative then shifts focus to the enchantress Zayn al-Mawasif, whose beauty possesses a destructive, supernatural quality. Her journey leads her to a convent where she encounters forty monks and their Prior, Danis. Despite her initial refusal, her presence is irresistible; every monk who sees her falls hopelessly in love. They become so consumed by passion that they neglect their vows, eventually dying of madness or wasting away from the intensity of their desire. The volume further details how judges and city assessors also succumb to her charms, perishing upon seeing her face. As Zayn al-Mawasif flees the convent with her handmaidens to escape the forty suitors, the monks are left behind in a state of despair. They compose poignant verses lamenting their lost souls and eventually decide to fashion an image of her to keep her memory alive. Throughout these tales, Shahrazad pauses her storytelling at dawn, leaving the King and his court in suspense until the next night. The volume is punctuated by poetic interludes that lament lost loves and transcriber notes preserving the original text's unique spellings and cultural references. These stories serve as cautionary tales about the dangers of unchecked passion and the transformative power of beauty, while simultaneously celebrating the triumph of wisdom and diplomatic resolution over brute force. The volume concludes with Zayn al-Mawasif returning to her home, unaware that the monks have already succumbed to their fatal devotion, leaving a trail of sorrow and verse in her wake.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55091.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg55091.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-08-20 15:06 UTC

Categories

• Folklore
• Fairy Tales