Synopses & Reviews
Gathered and passed down over the centuries from India, Persia, and across the Arab world, the mesmerizing stories of
One Thousand and One Nights tell of the real and the supernatural, love and marriage, power and punishment, wealth and poverty, and the endless trials and uncertainties of fate. They are related by the beautiful, wise, young Shahrazad, who gives herself up to murderous King Shahrayar. The king has vowed to deflower and then kill a virgin every night—but Shahrazad will not be defeated by the king’s appetites. To save herself, she cunningly spins a web of tales, leaving the king in suspense each morning, and thus prolonging her life for another day.
Acclaimed Lebanese writer Hanan al-Shaykh has selected nineteen of these stories, retold them in modern English, and knitted them together into an utterly intoxicating collection. In al-Shaykh’s hands, Shahrazad’s tales are lush and evocative, rich with humor, and utterly captivating.
Synopsis
From one of the world's most acclaimed contemporary Arab writers: a sparkling new translation of twenty mesmerizing tales from the beloved masterpiece.
The original tales of the One Thousand and One Nights were framed as stories told by the young queen Shahrazad to her murderous husband each night in order to save her life. Lebanese writer Hanan al-Shaykh has selected twenty of the stories, translated them into modern English, and knitted them together into one cohesive narrative that is not only a perfect introduction to this Eastern classic, but also an impressive work of literature in its own right.
Synopsis
From one of the world's most acclaimed contemporary Arab writers: a sparkling, sexy new reimagining of nineteen mesmerizing tales from the beloved masterpiece.The original tales of the One Thousand and One Nights were framed as stories told by the young queen Shahrazad to her murderous husband each night in order to save her life. Acclaimed Lebanese writer Hanan al-Shaykh has selected nineteen of the stories that focus primarily on the female characters at each story's heart. She has translated them into modern English and knitted them together into one cohesive narrative that is lush and evocative, rich with humor, and utterly captivating.
(With an introduction by Mary Gaitskill.)
About the Author
Hanan al-Shaykh, an award-winning journalist, novelist, and playwright, is the author of the short story collection I Sweep the Sun off Rooftops; the novels The Story of Zahra, Women of Sand and Myrrh, Beirut Blues, and Only in London; and a memoir about her mother, The Locust and the Bird. She was raised in Beirut, educated in Cairo, and lives in London.