Facts about The Arabian Nights

1. 05

   Richard Burton's unabridged English translation of The Arabian Nights, published in the 1880s, was notably frank in its treatment of sexuality and adult themes.

   The Arabian NightsJun 6shareliteraturetranslationfolklore
2. 04

   Compiled from Arabic, Persian, and Indian folk tales, The Arabian Nights draws on oral storytelling traditions spanning several centuries and multiple cultures.

   The Arabian NightsJun 6shareliteraturefolkloremedieval
3. 03

   Framing the entire collection is the story of Scheherazade, a young woman who postpones her execution by telling the king a new story each night.

   The Arabian NightsJun 6shareliteraturefolklorenarrative
4. 02

   Many famous stories now associated with The Arabian Nights, including Aladdin and Ali Baba, were not part of the original Arabic manuscripts but were added by European translators.

   The Arabian NightsJun 6shareliteraturefolklorehistory
5. 01

   Antoine Galland's French translation of The Arabian Nights, published in the early 18th century, introduced the collection to European audiences and became enormously influential.

   The Arabian NightsJun 6shareliteraturetranslationhistory