Produced by J. C. Byers, Sally Gellert, Renate Preuss, and
Christine Sturrock.
The "Aldine" Edition of
The Arabian Nights Entertainments
Illustrated by S. L. Wood
In Four Volumes
Only 500 copies of the Small Paper Edition are printed
for America, of which this is No. 217
London
Pickering and Chatto
1890
The Publishers' Preface.
This, the "Aldine Edition" of "The Arabian NightsEntertainments," forms the first four volumes of a proposedseries of reprints of the Standard works of fiction which haveappeared in the English language.
It is our intention to publish the series in an artistic way,well illustrating a text typographically as perfect as possible.The texts in all cases will be carefully chosen from approvededitions.
The series is intended for those who appreciate well printed andillustrated books, or who are in want of a handy and handsomeedition of such works to place upon their bookshelves.
The exact origin of the Tales, which appear in the Arabic as "TheThousand and One Nights," is unknown. The Caliph Haroon alRusheed, who, figures in so lifelike a manner in many of thestories, was a contemporary of the Emperor Charlemagne, and thereis internal evidence that the collection was made in the Arabiclanguage about the end of the tenth century.
They undoubtedly convey a picturesque impression of the manners,sentiments, and customs of Eastern Mediaeval Life.
The stories were translated from the Arabic by M. Galland andfirst found their way into English in 1704, when they wereretranslated from M. Galland's French text and at once becameexceedingly popular.
This process of double translation had great disadvantages; itinduced Dr. Jonathan Scott, Oriental Professor, to publish in1811, a new edition, revised and corrected from the Arabic.
It is upon this text that the present edition is formed.
It will be found free from that grossness which is unavoidable ina strictly literal translation of the original into English; andwhich has rendered the splendid translations of Sir R. Burton andMr. J. Payne quite unsuitable as the basis of a popular edition,though at the same time stamping the works as the two mostperfect editions for the student.
The scholarly translation of Lane, by the too strict an adherenceto Oriental forms of expression, and somewhat pedantic renderingof the spelling of proper names, is found to be tedious to a verylarge number of readers attracted by the rich imagination,romance, and humour of these tales.
Contents of Volume I.
The Ass, the Ox, and the Labourer.
THE MERCHANT AND THE GENIE.
The Story of the First Old Man and the Hind.
The Story of the Second old Man and the Two Black Dogs.
THE STORY OF THE FISHERMAN.
The Story of the Grecian King and the Physician Douban.
The Story of the Husband and the Parrot.
The Story of the Vizier that was Punished.
The History of the Young King of the Black Isles.
STORY OF