Arabian Nights

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: If you are looking for some romance, drama, and adventure then this is the book to read. No matter what you are into this book has it all. From the ever wondering world of tales and enchantment to finding the right in people. This book has it all.

Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Poetry !
Review: In the Arabian Nights you don't just read a nice, evolving story, you go deep into your unconcient, reaching hiden feelings that emerge to make you remember where your true nature belongs to. The best book I've ever read !

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic storytelling
Review: It's a safe guess that most people are familiar with The Arabian Nights or at least some of the stories from The Arabian Nights. However there are so many more stories than the few presented in fairy tale books or in the recent tv mini-series. I decided I wanted to read all of the stories.

I did some research into different translations and versions. I chose this one because it was a new translation and the translator was of Middle-Eastern origins. Haddaway explains in the introduction how his style of writing, the sentences structure, and word choice reflect the cadence and style of the stories he heard told as a boy growing up.

The language is beautiful, well written, and very funny. There is the occasional problem with vague pronoun use, but English pronouns can be very tricky for non-native speakers (and for native speakers as well). These problems are few and far between and don't detract from the stories. I highly recommend this edition of The Arabian Nights.

Rating:
Summary: what an excellent edition
Review: previous reviews said alot for its content selection.
Let me say something else.
1. translation. The sentences are very fluent and easy to understand! English is my second language, but to me this book is very easy to read. No big words!
2. binding. it has cloth hard cover. The quality of the paper and printing are just good.
The only problem is that the font is a little bit smaller than I expect. It is still easy to read since the printing is very good, but I prefer to make the font bigger even if I pay $5 more.

In short, a good version for you to collect!

Rating:
Summary: The best story telling ever!
Review: Read it. It's perfect. Wonderfuly magical

Rating:
Summary: The Arabian Nights
Review: This is by far the best edition of the Arabian Nights in English. The stories presented here are very different from what one would expect after hearing the fairytales previously titled as such. In fact, the original Arabian Nights (as this is advertised) seems to anticipate many works of western literature in its style, in its action and its character. To give some examples: Prosper Merimee's Carmen (for the first thirty or so pages) relating Carmen's shopping spree is almost identical to the beginning of the story "The Tale of the Porter and The Three Ladies" in this edition of the Nights. This should not be surprising since Merimee was an avid Orientalist and may have borrowed from eastern works. Canto 28 of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso and the Prologue to this edition are also strikingly similar, both relating the adventures of two men leaving their faithless wives. This may simply be coincidence, but then somehow they sound alike. The list could very well go on, and this work may have influenced world literature much more than it is given credit. To think of it, even the current overly realistic style seems anticipated by some less discreet passages in this book, which detract from the overrall enjoyment of it.Sometimes, one gets the impression that one is reading a modern work, when in fact reading the translation of a 14th century text...

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Edition
Review: This translation by far has been my favorite. Muhsin Mahdi did an a terrific job of translating the old text. The book reads very easily as sentance structure and grammar are quite good. The introduction was very helpful as it throughly explains how this text was handed down and sometimes changed over the years. This book contains the first 300 or so nights only, so this isn't a complete edition. Containing only the first third is a bit of a disappointment, as you won't be able to put this one down. These tales are full of life at its richest tales of love, sex, danger, and much more are sure to give you a sleepless night. You will quickly see how the King was taken by these tales as you will be when you try to put this one down.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Edition
Review: This translation by far has been my favorite. Muhsin Mahdi did an a terrific job of translating the old text. The book reads very easily as sentance structure and grammar are quite good. The introduction was very helpful as it throughly explains how this text was handed down and sometimes changed over the years. This book contains the first 300 or so nights only, so this isn't a complete edition. Containing only the first third is a bit of a disappointment, as you won't be able to put this one down. These tales are full of life at its richest tales of love, sex, danger, and much more are sure to give you a sleepless night. You will quickly see how the King was taken by these tales as you will be when you try to put this one down.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely, magical translation
Review: This translation of some of the most beloved tales of the Arabian nights is irresistable.

Rating:
Summary: Enthralling
Review: When I have started reading this collection of Arabic stories I was very pleasantly surprised by the excellent translation. The language flows smoothly and practically dances on the pages. The translation has engaged me and kept my attention, until I have finished the book alltogether. This rendition couldnt have possibly been improved.
As for the tales, this is not like Disney's Alladin or Sindbad. Do not be deceived into believing that the stories are effulgent with simple innocence. In parts, there is mild violence and subtle obscenties. However subtle, one might still consider them inappropriate for children. To make it simple, if this was a movie it would be rated pg-13. This aspect aside, the stories flow smoothly with enthralling tales of adventure, magic, and of course the cliche themes of love. Even though the tales of this book have been displayed on television, this rendition flavors them with fresh originality. The only regret is that one wont be guessing about the outcome of the adventures as the ending has been millions of times entrusted to the media and us...