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Very few story collections have been so much loved as the Arabian Nights. The stories are delightful, and the framework in which they are set -- the tale of Shahrazad (Sheherazade) who is condemned to death, and who saves herself by telling one story after another -- provides a unique 'arabian' spice to the tales. While Arab scholars concentrated their praise on the glories of classical poetry and literature, the people enjoyed these simple tales of life in Mesopotamia (Iraq) in the first millennium of our era. Paradoxically, the stories were 'discovered' by western travellers such as Burton, and have enjoyed a tremendous reputation ever since, while classical arabic literature is virtually unknown to us.

I'm certainly not going to spoil the tale of the Fisherman and the Djinni, or the tales of Sindbad the Sailor, by revealing their plots. They remain as fresh and timeless as the day they were first told. Or rather, the night...

© Ian Alexander 2004