The Arabian Nights Entertainments (Dover Children's Classics) - Softcover

Lang, Andrew

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0486222896 ISBN 13: 9780486222899

Publisher: Dover Publications, 1969

Synopsis

It is almost impossible to envision what childhood would be like without the enchanting world of the Arabian Nights. Beautiful princesses, genies who emerge from bottles, magic words that open doors to great treasure, giants and dwarves, monsters and magicians, talking birds and beasts, the magical world of medieval Bagdad — these are the elements that thrill young boys and girls of all lands and all time.
The Arabian Nights stories have long been favorites, but unfortunately in their original form they are far too long — and often too erotic — for children. Andrew Lang selected the best, most interesting tales and has told them in a manner that children will enjoy. Here are Lang's own versions of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, of Noureddin and the Fair Persian, of  Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura, and of the Enchanted Horse; and the many adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, Caliph of Bagdad and of Ali Cogia, Merchant of Bagdad. A special treat is the inclusion of the full Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor, which are not usually included in collections of Arabian Nights stories. Altogether there are 26 tales abounding with genies and peris, vizirs and dervishes...and they are certain to delight children today as they have for generations.
The vivid and imaginative illustrations which H. J. Ford provided for the original edition of  this book have all been retained in the Dover edition — 33 full-page plates and 34 smaller drawings in the text. With the help of these illustrations and the large, readable type, school-age children will be able to enjoy the stories on their own.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

A startlingly prolific collector of fairy tales from around the world, Andrew Lang, in this 1898 work, brought together in one volume the "fairy tales of the East," the delightful and resoundingly entertaining adventures of The Arabian Nights.

Translated from a French version that omits all the "very dull and stupid" additions of early European retellings, this wonderful book regales us with the stories of Sindbad and his seven voyages, the "Vizir who was Punished," Aladdin and his magic lamp, and many, many more.

Complete with beautiful pen-and-ink illustrations, this is a collection to treasure, whether you're studying comparative mythology or just seeking a rollicking good read.

About the Author:

Scottish journalist and author ANDREW LANG (1844-1912), a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, produced a stunning variety and number of volumes, including books of poetry, novels, children's books, histories, and biographies, as well as criticism, essays, scholarly works of anthropology, and translations of classical literature.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Publication date: 1969
• ISBN 10: 0486222896
• ISBN 13: 9780486222899
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 424