The Arabian Nights
Sep. 25th, 2002 08:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
robotech_masterUpon my recent visit home, I became interested in looking up the Richard Francis Burton translation of The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, known colloquially as The Arabian Nights. Burton's translation was one of the first full-length English versions, comprising 10 main and 6 supplementary volumes; it is still considered by many to be the definitive English version. It was published in the 19th century; I figured surely someone would have electronicized it by now.
As it turns out, they have—along with a bunch of other translations and excerpted translations. This is an amazing resource for fantasy fans of all stripes; I don't think most people are aware of just how big the Arabian Nights actually is. They know of Ali Baba and Aladdin, and that's about it. Now these books are available to everyone. The language is a little stilted, sure, but it's still quite readable.
Anyway, hope folks enjoy.
As it turns out, they have—along with a bunch of other translations and excerpted translations. This is an amazing resource for fantasy fans of all stripes; I don't think most people are aware of just how big the Arabian Nights actually is. They know of Ali Baba and Aladdin, and that's about it. Now these books are available to everyone. The language is a little stilted, sure, but it's still quite readable.
Anyway, hope folks enjoy.
