The Arabian Nights - Which edition is best?

[surfing_oz]

Hello all!
I am new to this network but have been an avid reader for many years and have a question that I can't find the answer to myself, so thought I would ask the experts :)

From what I can gather on "The Arabian Nights" there have been many, many, editions and translations.

I was going to buy a copy of "Three Tales from the Arabian Nights" in the Popular Penguins series (http://www.penguin.com.au/products/9780141194684/three-tales-arabian-nights-popular-penguins) but then acquired a copy of Amabel Williams-Ellis' "The Arabian Nights" (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2145338.Arabian_Nights) from my Grandmother's house (although her edition was from 1957, not like what I've linked).

My Grandmother's edition of the text is obviously a children's book (old library book stamped with "JUNIOR LIBRARY" on title page), but I am curious to know if The Arabian Nights is in fact fiction for children or if there are multiple editions for both adults and children respectively? Would the Popular Penguin edition be more adult targeted, because the diction of my copy is very tame.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this post :)

Best wishes, surfing_oz

[Pierre Menard]

I've heard the most positive things about Richard Burton's classic translation as well as the newer Malcolm C. Lyon's translation for Penguin, which I believe he did with his wife and is also one of the largest collections of Arabian Nights tales.

[Des Essientes]

I have heard that in Egypt The Arabian Nights are indeed considered literature for children, and for women, and that the stories from the Arabian Nights are never told in the coffeehouses where men hang out. There they like to hear the stories about Antar. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/12788/12788-h/12788-h.htm#ANTAR
I recommend Burton' translation of The Nights, because of all the weird information and schemes he put in his footnotes. He even wonders about the feasibility of breeding half monkey humans to create a race of servants!

[Charles Darnay]

If you're going to get "Arabian Nights" get the full thing. There are several "Tales From..." editions that only have the highlights. While some stories are better known than others, and some are better than others, the way it comes together as a whole is magnificent.

I am not terribly familiar with the different editions. I read....http://www.oup.com/us/catalog/general/subject/LiteratureEnglish/WorldLiterature/OtherRegions/?view=usa&ci=9780199555871

I liked it because (a) I got for free! and more importantly (b) it's a recreation of the original 18th century English translation.

[surfing_oz]

Sorry for the late reply :S

Des Essientes - Half monkey-humans sounds like the Wizard of Oz, haha! :)

Thanks very much for the information. I'm heading to the library tomo' and checking to see if they have Burton's edition and the one CHARLESDARNAY recommend.

Thanks again, surfing :)

[serhanbener]

Malcolm C Lyons edition is omitting a lot of material.

[Calidore]

This website is dedicated to the 1001 Nights. Among other things, it has a listing of the contents of numerous versions, and also has the complete texts of many public domain translations.

http://www.wollamshram.ca/1001/index.htm