The Arabian Nights (Transatlantic Classics)

Having invited his brother, Schahzeman, to pay a royal visit, Schahriar finds his fraternal guest sadly out of humour. The cause of Schahzemans ailment is his wifes infidelity, which he has remedied by smiting her and her lover. His mood improves when he discovers that Schahriar is being similarly duped, that faithless spouses are commonplace; but explaining his miraculous recovery leads his brother to take drastic action regarding the occupants of the royal bed. To ensure his consorts chastity, Schahriar has each new bride executed on the morning after the nuptials. Eventually, the stock of eligible females is depleted, leaving Wazir the supplier of fresh maidenhood in despair. Wazirs daughter, Scheherazade, volunteers herself for the task, armed with nothing but the countless tales she has collected over many years. The stories, always left tantalizingly unfinished at dawn, ensure her safety and that of all the virgins of the kingdom. The Arabian Nights tales, including the adventures of Sindbad and Aladdin, are full of wonder and exotic charm, transporting readers to distant lands that have become part of our imaginative landscape. These are the stories lauded by Robert Louis Stevenson as more generally loved than Shakespeare; a collection that captivates in childhood and still delights in age.