The Annotated Arabian Nights

“The complex, profound, and varied nature of the tales comes alive anew … Reading this magnificent edition, handsomely illustrated, curated and contextualized with scholarly dedication, and translated with a superb ear for rhythm and flow, will keep you enraptured …”

“Genies, flying horses, men transformed to dogs—all this is nectar for the imagination, and scholar Paulo Lemos Horta’s introduction and notes illuminate these ancient stories’ origins as well as the translations, adaptations, and even misreadings that made them classics of world literature.”

“An electric new translation … Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that illuminate the stories and their settings. … The most striking feature of the Arabic tales is their shifting registers—prose, rhymed prose, poetry—and Seale captures the movement between them beautifully.”

“Praise be to the grand jinni who granted three wishes to Anglo American fans of the Arabian Nights: a crisp, true translation that captures the letter and spirit of the life-sustaining stories Shahrazad tells, authoritative commentary that guides us through the intricacies of the collection, and, finally, incandescent illustrations that draw us into a palace of literary treasures.”

“An astonishing work of scholarship and joy, one that provides rich historical context and firmly recenters the original storytellers without whom world literature would be much bereft—all while Yasmine Seale’s lyrical, engrossing translation delights the ear.”

“This lavish edition of an essential title is perfect for devotees of the tales and an ideal introduction for first-time readers.”