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COSIMO CLASSICS Arabian Nights in 16 Volumes by Translated by Richard F Burton
Notorious for the delight he took in tweaking the sexual taboos of the Victorian ageas well as the delight he took in the resulting shock of his bashful peersBritish adventurer linguist and author CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (18211890) is perhaps best remembered for his unexpurgated translation of the Eastern classic The One Thousand and One Nights more famously known today as The Arabian Nights. Originating in Persian Indian and Arabic sources as far back as the ninth century AD this collection of bawdy taleswhich Burton was the first to bring to English readers in uncensored formhas exerted incalculable influence on modern literature. It represents one of the earliest examples of a framing story as young Shahrazad under threat of execution by the King postpones her death by regaling him with these wildly entertaining stories over the course of 1001 nights. The stories themselves feature early instances of sexual humor satire and parody murder mystery horror and even science fiction. Burtons annotated 16volume collection as infamous as it is important was first published between 1885 and 1888 and remains an entertainingly naughty read. Volume I includes: Burtons introductory forward Story of King Shahryar and His Brother Tale of the Trader and the Jinni Tale of the Wazir and the Sage Duban Tale of the Prince and the Ogress Tale of the Ensorcelled Prince The Porter and the Three Ladies of Baghdad Tale of the Three Apples The Reeves Tale Tale of the Jewish Doctor and others.show more