1815 The Arabian Nights

Description

Illustrated, Leather Binding

The fourth edition of this work, being the fourth edition of Forster's translation. Complete in four volumes. 'Arabian Nights', or 'One Thousand and One Nights', is a collection of folk tales from the Middle East. It was collected over centuries, with the roots of the tales being traced from Greek, Indian, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Jewish folklore. The tales are being told by Scheherazade to the King Shahryar, in a bid to save her life. After discovering his wife was cheating on him, he killed her, and vowed to marry a new virgin every day, and then behead them the next. In this vein, he had killed one-thousand and one women before marrying Scheherazade. Scheherazade entices the King by telling him a story on their first night together, pausing halfway through as the sun came up. The King, being absorbed by the story, keeps Scheherazade alive, eager to hear more from her. Volume I illustrated with a frontispiece, and five plates. Volume II illustrated with a frontispiece, and five plates. Volume III illustrated with a frontispiece, and three plates. Volume IV illustrated with a frontispiece, and four plates. Translated by Edward Forster, an English cleric and author.