The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. / Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

34206

Title

The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. / Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edward William Lane's definitive translation of the Arabian Nights offers an authentic window into medieval Egyptian life, capturing the spirit of the East with meticulous accuracy and rich cultural notes.

Summary up to 500 words

Edward William Lane's translation of *The Thousand and One Nights* offers a definitive scholarly edition that corrects the errors of earlier versions, such as Galland's, by faithfully reproducing the original Arabic tone and local color. Edited by his nephew Stanley Lane-Poole, this volume immerses readers in the world of the Memlook Sultans of Egypt, presenting tales of magic, romance, and adventure set against vivid descriptions of medieval customs, dress, and architecture. The narrative framework begins with the Sultan's steward recounting the bizarre origin of his amputated thumbs and toes: after eating a sweet dish called *zirbājeh* without washing his hands, he was brutally punished by his wife, Lady Zubeydeh, who ordered the amputation of his extremities to enforce a strict oath of etiquette. Following this tale, a Jewish Physician from Damascus relates his own harrowing experience. He recounts treating a comely young man of the El-Mōṣil lineage, only to discover upon his return that the patient's hand had been cruelly amputated and his body marked with signs of severe beating. The physician learns the young man's story, which involves a journey to Egypt and a tragic encounter with a beautiful woman whose jealousy leads to his mutilation. Lane's translation is distinguished by its extensive scholarly apparatus, including copious footnotes that explain Oriental words, historical contexts, and social manners. These notes clarify that while some tales may have Indian or Persian origins, the setting is almost purely Egyptian, depicting the life of Arabs and Egyptians in the fifteenth century before the Ottoman conquest. The work serves as an indispensable resource for understanding Muslim life, religion, and literature, reconstructing a society that was rapidly fading under European influence. Lane's appreciation of this picture, combined with the wealth of illustration in his notes, renders his edition the most complete commentary available on the character and habits of the actors and spectators in the famous tales.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Fairy Tales