The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night is sold in Amazon nearly for a price of 60£. It is paperback. Do you know why is it so expensive?
The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night is sold in Amazon nearly for a price of 60£. It is paperback. Do you know why is it so expensive?
Maybe it's OOP?
They are selling it in entire Amazon. If you by it volume by volume it is nearly 30USD a volume.
Give me the link, if possible, I will check.
"The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them."
— Chekhov
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415045438/Originally Posted by Intuition
I located this version on amazon.com... it happens to be out of print, or largely unavailable: "--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title."
This is most likely the case because I noticed that each volume in paperback is 28.00$+ whereas each digital copy (kindle version) is around seven dollars at maximum. The price difference varies too largely.
"The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them."
— Chekhov
My advice to you would be (if you're set on getting this version) to buy an ebook reader... as you could most likely buy this set for around 40 dollars U.S. instead of 100 dollars. Of course, the ebook reader would cost quite a bit, but it would most likely be a good long run investment if you read avidly.
"The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them."
— Chekhov
Oh, the Mardrus-Mathers one. I've got that and while I've only read vol. 1 so far, I enjoyed it.
Be advised that this version is a double-translation, English from a "literal French translation" from the original Arabic. It also tends to get knocked down for having not been translated by the "official" manuscripts and for including extraneous stories. However, the quality of the writing gets praise, especially the translated poetry.
Apparently a new modern translation of the complete work by Malcolm Lyons was published last year. You may want to have a look at that.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -- Mahatma Gandhi
Mardrus is considered one of the best translators of the Nights, but as Calidore pointed, it is not an english translation, so you may enjoy another edition.
Many Thanks.I decided to wait. I hope the prices decline.
Malcolm C. Lyons translation is not complete. He omits all the prayers and omits some material.
Mathers/ Mardrus translation is very good. It is very funny and readable. Mathers correctly translated it from French.
It seems as if it really depends on how you would prefer reading it:
excerpt from Burton:
excerpt from Lyons:"Behold, there stood before him an honourable woman in a mantilla of Mosul [footnote] silk, broidered with gold and bordered with brocade; her walking shoes were also purfled with gold and her hair floated in long plaits. She raised her face veil [footnote] and, showing two black eyes fringed with jetty lashes, whose glances were soft and languishing and whose perfect beauty was ever blandishing, she accosted the Porter and said in the suavest tones and choicest language, 'Take up thy crate and follow me.'"
As you can see, Burton is somewhat archaic, although being archaic is somewhat more suitable for a novel written a thousand years ago."A woman came up to him wrapped in a silken Mosuli shawl with a floating ribbon and wearing embroidered shoes fringed with gold thread. When she raised her veil, beneath it could be seen dark eyes, which, with their eyelashes and eyelids, shot soft glances, perfect in their quality. She turned to the porter and said in a sweet, clear voice: 'Take your basket and follow me.'"
I'm just curious, which version did you decide to buy if the price declined?Many Thanks.I decided to wait. I hope the prices decline.
"The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them."
— Chekhov
I would buy Burton, but he is a notorious "mis"translator of 1001 nights, adding details and excess like crazy.
In other words, the Lyons' translation may have been more accurate in that case? I realize that his excerpt happens to be a great deal shorter.
"The role of the artist is to ask questions, not answer them."
— Chekhov
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