The Annotated Arabian Nights

Starting in 1999 with the publication of The Definitive Annotated Alice, the Norton and Liveright annotated books have become the leading series of classic, illustrated works in the English language. The long-anticipated publication of The Annotated Arabian Nights extends this tradition with a strikingly modern translation-the first of Shahrazad's tales into English by a woman-as well as erudite notes that will illuminate the stories for both dedicated readers and newcomers.

Yasmine Seale's translations from both Arabic and French capture the musicality and rhythm of the Nights' poetry and prose, while Paulo Lemos Horta's annotations wrestle with the extraordinarily complex origins and history of the stories, showing that, far from being inventions of French antiquarians or English explorers, they have clear antecedents in Arabic folklore and tradition. This stunningly illustrated edition selects core stories as well as treasured later additions such as "Aladdin" and "Ali Baba" to offer an unparalleled account of a cornerstone of world literature that can be treasured by children, students, and literature-lovers alike.

“"This lavish edition of an essential title is perfect for devotees of the tales and an ideal introduction for first-time readers."”

"[A] gorgeous illustrated volume... On display again is the spectacular panoply of storytelling, from tales of magic and wonder to murder mysteries to instructional fables to sexual burlesques. But also contained in this heaping volume is the history of how the tales coalesced, a story every bit as intricate and engrossing as those that enchanted the mad king... Ms. Seale and Mr. Horta have produced a book that is true to the bounty and profusion of this gloriously mongrel collection... balance is everywhere in The Annotated Arabian Nights, which seeks to ‘reclaim’ the tales from the most extreme effects of European imperialism, yet does so without the censorious feeling of exclusion or expulsion." -- Sam Sacks - The Wall Street Journal
"[A] 700-page equivalent of Aladdin’s Cave of Wonders... redresses the 19th-century’s Orientalizing bent and occasional racism, while also reminding us that women, and not just Scheherazade, are at the heart of these wonderful stories... This is one present that anybody would be thrilled to open." -- Michael Dirda - The Washington Post
"[Q]uietly momentous... new readings can bring to light fresh meanings—and enduring truths. In 2017 Emily Wilson managed that in a new translation of Homer’s ‘Odyssey,’ the first by a woman to be published in English. The new ‘Arabian Nights’—a selection from a complete edition in the making—does the same... [Ms. Seale’s] proficiency in Arabic, English and French, along with her poet’s ear, have yielded a lyrical and accessible new text. Mr. Horta contributes annotations that give context to her choices, and has selected hundreds of illustrations that let readers travel visually through the tales and their history." -- The Economist

Yasmine Seale is a writer who works across poetry, translation, criticism, and visual art. Paulo Lemos Horta is an associate professor of literature at New York University Abu Dhabi, and the author of Marvellous Thieves: Secret Authors of the Arabian Nights. He lives in Abu Dhabi and Barcelona. Paulo Lemos Horta is an associate professor of literature at New York University Abu Dhabi, and the author of Marvellous Thieves: Secret Authors of the Arabian Nights. He lives in Abu Dhabi and Barcelona.

"An astonishing work of scholarship and joy, one that provides rich historical context and firmly recenters the original storytellers without whom world literature would be much bereft--all while Yasmine Seale's lyrical, engrossing translation delights the ear, leaving a new generation to beg 'just one more tale!'" --Shannon Chakraborty, author of the internationally best-selling Daevabad Trilogy "The complex, profound, and varied nature of the tales comes alive anew. The importance of the Arabian Nights and their universal influence on storytellers remain unrivaled. Reading this magnificent edition, handsomely illustrated, curated and contextualized with scholarly dedication, and translated with a superb ear for rhythm and flow, will keep you enraptured as if on that very first night--in which King Shahriyar relinquishes his rage in order to know what tale would come next." --Guillermo del Toro, filmmaker "Praise be to the good jinni who granted three wishes to anglophone fans of the Arabian Nights: a crisp, true translation that captures the letter and spirit of the life-sustaining stories Shahrazad tells, authoritative commentary that guides us through the intricacies of the collection, and, finally, incandescent illustrations that draw us into a palace of literary treasures." --Maria Tatar, Harvard University "The generative power of the Arabian Nights is infinite, and there is no better place to experience it than in this superbly edited and lavishly illustrated book." --Martin Puchner, author of The Language of Thieves "Seale's impressive new translation and Horta's annotations reveal depths of meaning and humor that have remained largely hidden from English-speaking audiences. . . . A remarkable accomplishment." --G. Willow Wilson, award-winning author of The Bird King and Invisible Kingdom The Annotated Arabian Nights includes:

"[A]n electric new translation . . . Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that illuminate the stories and their settings. . . . The most striking feature of the Arabic tales is their shifting registers--prose, rhymed prose, poetry--and Seale captures the movement between them beautifully." --Yasmine Al-Sayyad, New Yorker A magnificent and richly illustrated volume--with a groundbreaking translation framed by new commentary and hundreds of images--of the most famous story collection of all time.

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