Arabian Nights

The king’s new bride, Scheherazade, is to be put to death. Using a clever strategy, she delays her imminent execution by recounting a series of interlinked stories, each leading into the next, which collectively form The Arabian Nights.

Full of adventure, mystery and magic, Scheherazade’s stories are unforgettable. A merchant has a terrifying exchange with a genie, a woodcutter discovers glorious riches in a cave, and Sinbad embarks on a perilous journey full of sea monsters and supernatural forces. Depicting themes of greed, morality and good fortune, there is something to learn from each of her stories.

Featuring the well-known stories of Aladdin and Ali Baba, this edition is translated and edited by Andrew Lang, a renowned Scottish folklorist and anthologist, and includes black and white illustrations by H. J. Ford.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library: a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics bound in real cloth with ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

There is no single known author of The Arabian Nights. The stories have come together over time and are believed to have origins in the Sanskrit, Persian and Arabic languages across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Andrew Lang, born in the Scottish Borders in 1844, was an anthologist, poet, novelist, critic and historian who was best known for curating and translating collections of fairy tales, myths and legends. He had a prolific career before he died in 1912.