Tales from Arabian Nights

by Frances Jenkins Olcott (Adapted By)

The beautiful Scheherazade's royal husband threatens to kill her, so each night she diverts him by weaving wonderful tales of fantastic adventure, leaving each story unfinished so that he spares her life to hear the ending on the morrow.

This is the background to the Arabian Nights. In this selection made by that master of folklore and fairytale Andrew Lang, the reader meets Aladdin with his wonderful lamp, the Enchanted Horse, the Princess Badoura, Sindbad the Sailor, and the great Caliph of Bagdad, Haroun-al-Raschid.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

211 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1966

About the author

Frances Jenkins Olcott (1872–1963) was the first head librarian of the children's department of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh in 1898. She also wrote many children’s books and books for those in the profession of providing library service to children and youth. She was born in France to American parents.

Reviews

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these stories. I thought this was a very good translation. All the stories were clean and focused adventure. I learned a lot about culture, especially in the way people spoke and interacted with each other, which I really appreciate. A good read if you’re looking for something a bit different and lots of short stories.

[Hugh Atkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice little book from the old Whitman Classics series. I have become a collector of these books, and I read the ones I haven’t already read. Most of these tales have been recreated, augmented, updated, etc. in cartoon shows, on television, or in the movies over the years. These are the original tales and differ quite a bit from the versions I usually have seen, mostly with the violence and slavery toned down. I love the look and feel of these Whitman Classics.

[Lik C · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Open Sesame". We are taken into the world of Arabian nights, the origins of familiar tales of Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba, to name a few. I didn't know their origins until I've read this collection. They're not fairy tales, but more on tales of deceit, which can get tiring after a while. I guess this collection taught me to be wary in all transactions. "Close Sesame".

[Ex Libris Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing stories! Couldn't put this book down, I read it in one weekend. They were all stories I was vaguely familiar with, but it was great to read the actual stories that have been told for centuries throughout Arab history.