The tales in the collection of Galland and in more complete editions discovered since his time are chieflyPersian, Indian, and Arabian in source, and in ultimate origin come from all theends of the earth. Whether more than the framework of the Arabian collectionwas borrowed from this Persian work is uncertain. Itwas introduced to European readers by the French scholar Galland, who discoveredthe Arabic original and translated it into French in the first decade of theeighteenth century but its earlier history is still involved in obscurity.There existed as early as the tenth century of our era a Persian collection of athousand tales, enclosed in a framework which is practically the one used in thepresent collection, telling of a King who was in the habit of killing his wivesafter the first night, and who was led to abandon this practise by thecleverness of the Wezir's daughter, who nightly told him a tale which she leftunfinished at dawn, so that his curiosity led him to spare her till the taleshould be completed. "THE THOUSAND AND ONE NIGHTS" is one of the great story-books of the world. It will give specific literary device information that I think will behelpful to place these stories in their proper context as well as demonstratehow influential they became through succeeding literary generations (in story,play, music, and film). I would encourage you to read the Wikipedia article on thesetales.
If you don't want to read all of this post - the schedule and link to the textare at the end.
All 1001 arabian nights stories series#
Some of the more familiar taleswill come towards the middle to end of this series of readings (Aladin, Sinbad,Ali Baba, etc.) You do not haveto read them all, unless you wish to do so. Our next few weeks will be devoted toreading some of the 1001 Arabian Night stories (circa 800 AD). I am late postingour next readings, so please forgive me. I hope you all had a chance to finish up Beowulf last week. Dear Readers - Good Tuesday Morning to you all!