The Arabian Nights - Hardcover

Wafa Tarnowska

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1846861225 ISBN 13: 9781846861222

Publisher: Barefoot Books, 2010

Synopsis

Lebanese author Wafa' Tarnowska opens a window onto the Arab world with her magnificent new translation of eight stories from A Thousand and One Nights. This edition is notable for combining favourites such as 'Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp' with less familiar tales such as 'The Diamond Anklet' and 'The Speaking Bird and the Singing Tree'. The collection also features the frame story about Shahriyar and Shahrazade. A classic of world literature, newly translated by an Arab author who has divided her adult life between Europe and the Middle East, and who has based this retelling on a fourteenth-century Syrian manuscript. Sumptuous illustrations by French illustrator Carole Henaff, who has travelled in the Arab world and now lives with her family in Barcelona.

About this title

About the Author:

Wafa' Tarnowska was born in Lebanon, has lived in Australia, India, Cyprus and Poland, and is currently based in Dubai. In her work, Wafa' strives to create a valuable bridge between East and West, helping to break down the stereotypical images that western peoples have about the East, and vice versa. Wafa' is also the author of The Seven Wise Princesses (2000), a retelling for children of the Sufi writer Nizami's medieval classic Haft Paykar. Carole Henaff gains much inspiration from her travels, and is never without her sketchbook. She studied theatrical literature in Paris, before moving to Barcelona to study graphic design and illustration. Now a freelance illustrator, Carole has created images for magazines in many parts of the world. She has illustrated children's books in France and Spain, including Smara, which was awarded the Isaac Diaz Pardo prize for Best Illustrated Book, 2006. This is Carole's first project for Barefoot Books.

From Booklist:

With bright, lush, stylized acrylic illustrations, this collection of eight stories from A Thousand and One Nights is designed for reading aloud, but in contrast to many watered-down versions, these tales may find their best audience with older elementary students and middle-schoolers. The long introductory story, Shahriyar Meets Shahrazade, tells of the shah’s discovery of his beloved wife’s betrayal and his shocking decision to marry a new bride every day and then order her death. Then he meets and marries Shahrazade, who persuades Shahriyar to keep her alive by telling him a riveting story each night. Sinbad and Ali Baba aren’t included, but most children will know Aladdin, which is told here in a detailed, relaxed, colloquial style. In the introduction, Tarnowska talks about the story’s roots, as well as growing up in Lebanon and hearing tales of strong women from her grandmother. Throughout, the spacious paintings capture the sense of the supernatural in daily life, including magical images of people taking flight above city, trees, and desert. Grades 4-8. --Hazel Rochman

About this edition

• Publisher: Barefoot Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1846861225
• ISBN 13: 9781846861222
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 128
• Illustrator: Carole Henaff