Saudi Arabia - a desert oil camp during the Gulf War and genesis of the War on Terror. Fighter jets screech overhead, air raid sirens blare over the call of the muezzin, and duels between Scud and Patriot missiles illuminate the night sky. In the tradition of Graham Greene and John Le Carr , this political thriller explores the conflicting perspectives and loyalties of Westerners and Arabs under the pressures of war and threat of terrorism. 'The Middle East is a snake pit, ' says Rick, the camp's security boss. 'We can't be Boy Scouts in this war.'
Now as sumptuously packaged as they are critically acclaimed—a new deluxe trade paperback edition of the beloved stories. The stories of The Arabian Nights (and stories within stories, and stories within stories within stories) are famously told by the Princess Shahrazad, under the threat of death should the king lose interest in her tale. Collected over the centuries from India, Persia, and Arabia, and ranging from adventure fantasies, vivacious erotica, and animal fables, to pointed Sufi tales, these stories provided the daily entertainment of the medieval Islamic world at the height of its glory. No one knows exactly when a given story originated, and many circulated orally for centuries before being written down; but in the process of telling and retelling, they were modified to reflect the general life and customs of the Arab society that adapted them—a distinctive synthesis that marks the cultural and artistic history of Islam. This translation is of the complete text of the Mahdi edition, the definitive Arabic edition of a fourteenth-century Syrian manuscript, which is the oldest surviving version of the tales and considered to be the most authentic.
A translation based on a reconstruction of the earliest extant manuscript version of the famous tales offers the stories told by the Princess Shahrazad under the threat of death if she ceases to amuse.
This anthology unites the timeless allure of 'Arabian Nights or One Thousand and One Nights', translated and edited by Andrew Lang, with 'New Arabian Nights' by Robert Louis Stevenson, presenting an opulent tapestry of fantasy, adventure, and moral intricacies. The collection offers a panoramic view of not only the traditional tales that have fueled the imaginations of readers for centuries but also Stevenson's unique Victorian twist on the genre. These narratives span a gamut of literary styles from the mystical and whimsical, to gripping, suspense-filled dramas, showcasing the expansive range and adaptability of these stories across different cultural and temporal landscapes. The contributing authors, Lang and Stevenson, bring their distinct backgrounds to the compilation, reflecting the broader historical, cultural, and literary movements of their times. Lang's work as a folklorist and poet is evident in his sensitive approach to translation and adaptation, striving to maintain the spirit of the original tales. Stevenson, a luminary of the Scottish literary renaissance, imbues the collection with a darker, more complex psychological depth, expanding the narrative scope of the traditional tales. Together, these authors enhance and challenge our understanding of the 'Arabian Nights' stories, inviting readers to consider the thematic and stylistic shifts over time. For those intrigued by the power of storytelling and its ability to cross cultural boundaries, this anthology is an invaluable treasure. Readers are afforded the unique opportunity to traverse the rich landscapes of Middle Eastern folklore through the Victorian lens, gaining diverse perspectives on universal themes of morality, adventure, and human folly. This collection not only fosters a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling across different periods but also encourages a dialogic engagement with the texts, making it an essential read for both aficionados of classic literature and newcomers eager to explore the storied tapestry of 'Arabian Nights'.
