Scheherazade

by Anthony O'Neill

It is nearly twenty years since Scheherazade spun her tales for a thousand and one nights; the tales that saved her life and immortalised the city that she had never seen - until now. Scheherazade and her husband, King Shahriyar, arrive in Baghdad to a rapturous welcome from the Caliph and his people, but within hours the Queen is kidnapped from her bathhouse, and disappears.

An ancient prophecy leads the Caliph to despatch a motley crew of sailors on a rescue mission. As the seven unlikely saviours venture deeper into the unforgiving desert, losing camels, supplies, and all sense of direction, Scheherazade must face her abductors alone. And once again she begins to spin a tale to save her life...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy

544 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2001

About the author

Anthony O’Neill is the son of an Irish policeman and an Australian stenographer.

He was born in Melbourne and lives in Edinburgh.

He is the author of Scheherazade, a revisionist Arabian Nights epic; The Lamplighter, a psychological horror novel set in Victorian Scotland; The Empire of Eternity, a history-mystery involving Napoleon Bonaparte and the early years of Egyptology; The Unscratchables, a Swiftian satire featuring dog and cat detectives; and The Dark Side, a crime novel set on the far side of the moon.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Captain Goodvibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without question one of the most amazing and memorable books I've ever read. An utterly extraordinary piece of writing. I'm gutted that not every reviewer has given it the full five stars, because anyone who likes reading and getting utterly lost in a book should take this challenge on. I won't deny, it's not a 'page turner' in the traditional sense of the phrase, indeed quite the opposite. It took me a long time to read because I could usually only take on half a dozen pages at a time; it's such a sensory overload experience. The incredible characters, narrative, descriptions, and sheer wondrousness of the world that Anthony O'Neill creates are almost too much to take in. I kept finding myself re-reading sentences, paragraphs, even pages, over and over again. The author often uses long descriptive lists to set a scene - a technique oft-encountered in modern literature but often mind-numbingly tedious to plough through - but in this book it's just gold. You have to read through the lists because they do invoke the scene so perfectly, and often there's the odd gem of sheer comedy in there too.

Some reviewers had issues with the somewhat unlikely developments at the end of the plot, but I didn't care a jot, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book one little bit. I am utterly in awe of the author; to create a world like he has done, so utterly convincing, so many layers of plot and detail, such complex characters, and with such enjoyable text too, it's just an absolutely incredible feat of writing. It's not a book for the faint-hearted, you do have to work at it. But not EVER because it's dull, dry or joyless. I've used the phrase already, but 'sensory overload' is probably the best summary I can give. It's an utterly astonishing book.

[Janson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great Australian authors, O'Neill's Scherazade is a tour de force of imagination and literary pyrotechniques. Reminiscent of Umberto Eco's Name of the Rose, it combines the same serious literary consciousness with a rollicking good yarn populated with a delightfully diverse group of characters. Few other books do as fine a job of evoking another place and time so vividly. I has no equal in that regard, except, perhaps, Patrick Suskind's brilliant Perfume: my other favourite historical novel. O'Neill has clearly submersed himself in his subject, ths sight, the smells and the sounds of Baghdad come wafting to us through a thousand years with the clarity of today. Unforgettable.

[Bruce McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scheherazade was the legendary storyteller of the tales of the One Thousand and One Nights, which she told to her husband King Shahriyar to avoid being executed. As a consequence, she was the most celebrated storyteller and desired woman of her age. Harun al-Rashid, the Caliph of Baghdad invited Shahriyar and Scheherazade to Baghdad, the real reason being his intention to bed her. But on a night when she visited a bath house, she was abducted and her companions - eunuchs and female attendants - were murdered. A note was left that indicated Scheherazade had been kidnaped and was being held for ransom. As a result of a prophecy, the ragtag crew of a ship and the nephew of a merchant were sent out as couriers carrying the ransom. Meanwhile to avoid being killed, Scheherazade spun a fantastic tale of a hero intent on rescuing her, much as she did with her husband. As the rescuers stumbled through the desert, it seemed that the prophecy was but a figment of their imagination. Or was it? The various parties took many twists and turns towards their destinies. Will the beautiful Storyteller be rescued? And who will survive the arduous mission?

I found this to be a wonderful story that appeared well researched and well planned, until the fantastical ending which I felt did not deserve the trust that I, the reader, had built up over 500+ pages. Although the ending was like one of Scheherazade’s fantastic tales. Nevertheless, I thought the story deserved 4 stars out of 5.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable 'reinvention' of the famous storyteller. The story picks up 20 years after the '1001' nights. We meet a fascinating woman, aware of her power, who submitted to a brutal tyrant to stop more girls being beheaded by him. A sacrifice marriage. Her husband is definitely a selfish despicable thug - she has lived by her wits.
Then there is the story of the monk who reads a prophecy about her and Baghdad and a group of sailors destined to fulfil the prophecy.
Although I found the story dragged a little n the middle (going through the desert) the writing style was engaging and delightful. "There is nothing more sensuous than walking naked through the starlit streets of a foreign metropolis. ... Her only robe was the night, and even this fled, inadequate, before her radiance. She soaked in the sultry air, swelled out her breasts, girded her loins, and walked leisurely, and with supreme confidence, down a street paved wth quilts and beaver skins." p.72 Prose poetry.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75/5

Well written but at times slow. The story was really interesting and not like anything I’ve read before

I think some of it went over my head as I didn’t understand the full story? Especially the ending I’m not so sure what happened there

It was also really unexpectedly sad but the writing was good at making me feel the intended emotion

I really liked the setting in historical Baghdad, and the characters were developed really well

[Uttara Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful read, and everything I look for in a book. A story that is captivating and real enough to keep you hooked, enough historical references to transport you into another world, detailed and believable character development which makes you invest in the characters, and just the right amount of magic and mystic thrown in to reflect the times! I’d love to try other books by this author.

[Catchy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing writing, but the book was a difficult format to hold, very heavy and thick. Other than that it is a credit to the writer even though I got a bit bored with some sections on Poetry and Philosophical ideas. Will definitely read more of Anthony O'Neils books.

[Rich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever atmospherics a bit long winded

[Susu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wild idea and premise: Definitely entertaining and worth to enjoy. Some lengths are easily forgiven.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

super 50/50 on this one because the writing style was so much fun except the women were soooooo written by man

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me a bit to get into but once into the story it was an ok read.

The story is about Scheherazade getting kidnapped and her having to tell stories to keep herself alive. At the same time a prophesy tells of a group of seven who are to rescue her but it is said only one returns.

The ending was a bit weird for me.

[Steven Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely vividly written tale which brings to life the exotic richness of the Arabian Nights in an historical tale which takes the fictional character of Scheherazade, beauty and raconteur, and images her life some years after the events in the famous classic. A terrific cast of characters and a thoroughly engaging plot ensure that this tome entertains from beginning to surprising end. Superb prose, masterful storytelling, one of my favorite books and O'Neil's best (with perhaps the exception of The Unscratchables which is an entirely different kettle of catnip).

[Rasbora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book but found the ending a bit fantastical in a disappointing way. Perhaps I missed some larger meaning? Don't know. Up until the end section, however, I thought it was a great read! Really interesting setting/story, set in ninth-century Baghdad. I'd still recommend it.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it even more on the second read.

[Lucy Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book perplexed me - some of it is very beautiful, witty and amazing. There is quite a bit of irony in some of it - maybe the authors intention. Not really what i expected.

[Merima Smajic]

Read it loong time ago. Still remember it.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Las mil y una noches explicadas desde otra perspectiva.