Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights (Puffin Classics) [Paperback]

Anonymous (Author), William Harvey (Illustrator), N. J. Dawood (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1997 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Puffin Classics

This book features some of the best-loved stories in the world, originating in Persia, India and Arabia, retold especially for children.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140367829
• ISBN-13: 978-0140367829
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #586,674 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Eastern stories that have captured the Western imagination!, July 3, 2001

By 

Godly Gadfly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights (Puffin Classics) (Paperback)

The Tales from the Arabian Nights are ancient stories of romance, suspense, mystery, magic and adventure originating from Persia, India and Arabia, originally functioning as the daily entertainment of ordinary people. They are woven together under the premise that they saved the life of Shahrazad, a queen whose husband executed each of his new wives after one night of marriage. By beginning an exciting story every evening, but withholding the ending, Shahrazad was able to convince the breathless king to spare her for another day until the next installment. Of course, after 1001 nights of devious story-telling, she had saved her life forever.

First introduced to the Western world in the eighteenth century, these stories have attained great popularity, and been retold many times, with "Aladdin" even being made into a Disney film. This collection features only a small selection of the best and most popular tales. Unlike many editions, it doesn't reflect the contemporary versions of the stories, but seeks to be faithful to the authentic Arabic sources. N.J. Dawood is well-equipped to retell these stories from the original Arabic. Born in Baghdad, Dawood attained a reputation as a scholar and received a university education in London. Amongst other projects he has translated "The Koran" and a complete collection of "Tales from the Thousand and One Nights."

Because this version intends to be faithful to the original Arabic, readers should not expect a sanitized Western interpretation. If you are looking for a fresh style that brings these stories to life for children in a modern Western audience, this is likely not the edition for you. These stories are unashamedly Arabic in character, and the religious aspect (Islam) is dominant throughout, where health and wealth, wine and women are bestowed as the blessing of Allah for obedience. But despite this, these stories continue to capture the Western imagination. Expect to read stories about powerful genies (jinees), magical lamps, talking animals, distant voyages, and impossible adventures.

This volume (a companion to "Sinbad the Sailor and Other Tales from The Arabian Nights") contains the well-known stories of "Aladdin", and "The Ebony Horse". Also represented are the lesser-known but equally fascinating "Khalifah the Fisherman" and "The Dream". A great opportunity to read stories that have stood the test of time in another culture - these are classics, and make a good introduction to the original cultural flavour of "Tales from the Arabian Nights"!

5.0 out of 5 stars The Classic Stories Retold Splendidly, April 24, 2011

By 

THe Neuro - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights (Puffin Classics) (Paperback)

Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights, by Puffin Classics(retold by N.J. Dawood), is a marvelous telling of the original tales of the Arabian nights - how Queen Shahzarad's entertaining King Shahriyar for 1,001 nights by telling him wondrous stories, all with the goal of his ending his inhumane practice of marrying a woman one night and killing her the next morning.
N.J. Dawood does a marvelous job of tying the stories together into one exciting narrative that is very entertaining for any reading youth. The book is not very suitable for an adult but children of all ages will love it. At 201 pages long, Dawood uses just the right number of words to tell the stories of Aladdin and his(almost)all powerful lamp, a King who unjustly kills his falcon, an ebony horse and the mishaps it and its owner encounter, and so on. These stories of kings and queens, princes and princesses, magicians and sorcerers, fishermen and merchants - all will enrapture the reader so that they will love this book. In other words, this book is a masterful retelling of a masterpiece.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, August 27, 2007

By 

S. Miller - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aladdin and Other Tales from the Arabian Nights (Puffin Classics) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book, stayed up all night reading it and i couldn't put it down it was so exciting, i highly recommend this book :)