One Thousand and One Nights

Fr.pngLe livre des Mille et Une Nuits (persian: هزار و یک شب, arabic: كتاب ألف ليلة وليلة) originates from the popular oriental folklore (of, mainly, arabs but also including persians, indians and from North Africa). It was first brought to prominence in Europe by Antoine Galand in the early 18th century, who added the most famous stories, those of Ali Baba and of Aladdin, which he said to have heard (orally) from a Christian Maronite storyteller (Hanna Diab) visiting Paris. The other famous story, Sinbad the sailor, is also an external addition.

Also known as the Arabian Nights in the English world, it revolves around the king Shahryar being narrated the tales by his wife Scheherazade. Authentic tales (not added by Galand) include:

  • The Fisherman and the Jinni.
  • The Three Apples.
  • Le Cheval enchanté.

A record of Galland's original French translation is available here.

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