Arabian Literature

"Is it possible, that by telling these tales, one might indeed save one's self?" The character, Scheherezade thought so. In fact, she tells each of the Arabian Nights tales in order to survive a little longer at the mercy of her listener, the Sultan. The Arabian Nights stories are some of the world's great treasures. They have existed for thousands of years, consisting of tales told in Persia, Arabia, India and Asia. The Arabian Nights have inspired writers the world over with the ancient power of story.

On nights 566 to 578, Shahrazad entertained her sultan with the tale of the City of Brass. She told how a Caliph sent an expedition under Emir Musa to explore in Africa. There they found a vast deserted castle, a jinni imprisoned in a pillar, and finally the City of Brass itself, with its people lying dead in the streets and houses.

There was an old, poor fisherman who cast his net four times a day and only four times. One day he went to the shore and cast his net. When he tried to pull it up, he found it to be heavy. When he dove in and pulled up the net, he found a dead donkey in it. Then he cast his net again and netted a pitcher full of dirt. Then he cast his net for a third time and netted shards of pottery and glass.

I was a king, and the son of a king; and when my father died, I succeeded to his throne, and governed my subjects with justice and beneficence. I took pleasure in sea-voyages; and my capital was on the shore of an extensive sea, interspersed with fortified and garrisoned islands, which I desired, for my amusement, to visit; I therefore embarked with a fleet of ten ships, and took with me provisions sufficient for a whole month.

There was an emperor of Persia named Kosrouschah, who, when he first came to his crown, in order to obtain knowledge of affairs, took great pleasure in night excursions, attended by a trusty minister. He often walked in disguise through the city, and met with many adventures, one of the most remarkable of which happened to him upon his first ramble, which was not long after his accession to the throne of his father.

When people need something, Inverness, New Jersey tailor Lincoln Blackthorne is the man they turn to and in turn Linc generally gets them what they want. Sometimes — like every time he turns around — there's somebody else there trying to do Blackthorne out of what he's after...usually threatening bodily harm and more often than not attempting to make good on the threat. 

Selections include "The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree and the Golden Water", "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves", "The Story of the City of Brass", "The Story of the Fisherman and the Genie", and "The History of the Young King of the Black Isles".

Like Scheherazade, Stevenson, the consummate storyteller is at the peak of his craft. Who can resist the charm of the medieval romance in "The Sire de Maletroit's Door", the strangely enigmatic rogue Villon of "A Lodging for the Night", or the sheer delight of "Providence and the Guitar"?

Discover the endless fascination of ancient Arabian culture with six ancient tales we selected for you for their power of evocation, wisdom and humor. These stories are from the "Arabian Nights", also known as "One Thousand and One Nights", which is a collection of much more ancient folk tales, fairy tales and poems collected over the centuries. They come from ancient and medieval Arabic, Persian, Mesopotamian, Indian, and Egyptian folklore and literature. This makes "The Arabian Nights" a priceless treasure, as it takes us to the very roots of humanity's cultural treasures in a delightful and passionate way.

Starring Brian Blessed and Rory Bremner, 1001 Arabian Nights is the first tale from The Opus Pocus: a series of symphonies transformed into funny, action-packed stories helping children to discover the magic of classical music, starting with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's dazzling composition Scheherazade. Here is the first chapter of the first story from The Opus Pocus, 1001 Arabian Nights or The Princess, the Pirate and the Baboon! It's a hairy tale of a princess, a sultan, a genie, and a shipwreck, and an unlucky pirate who keeps getting turned into a baboon!

The padded footsteps of a white tiger pass a servant girl in the hallway of an Arabian palace. The prince's toys rise up to defend him from a band of mercenaries. A sinister man takes control of the palace while the Sultan is away...but what is his purpose? Another of Raver's tales of hidden magic, The Enchantress is a short story that takes the listener to a fictional land and into the mind of a mysterious young woman.

Galahad and Steve are still trying to find their footing in a new marriage as a gay couple, and each feels like they have taken the leap a little too quickly. They decide to go on an expensive boat cruise to save their relationship. All hell breaks loose when Steve meets Khalid, a wealthy Arabian royal who has fallen hopelessly for Steve. Events quickly unfold as Galahad goes beyond the call of duty to save his dying marriage. Are the vows of marriage enough to keep them together, or will an Arabian night shatter the bonds of their union?

Aladdin is a young lad dwelling in ancient China; his parents are in despair, as he is a never-do-well and won't ever do anything. A sorcerer from the Maghreb persuades him to retrieve a wonderful oil lamp from a magic cave. But then, the socerer attempts to double-cross Aladdin, who resists only to find himself trapped in the cave. Luckily, he has kept the magical object and a world of adventures opens before him.

El sultan ha sido enganado por una esposa y condena a muerte a cuanta mujer se case con el despues de la noche de bodas. Sherezada aplaza su destino contandole cada noche un cuento que se interrumpe en el momento culminante y hace que el sultan, interesado, le vaya perdonando su vida para que ella continue con la historia.

Blackstone Audio presents an eclectic mix of stories, plays and sketches dedicated to the thinking paranoiac. Gore, sex, horror, literature and edifying morals - what more could you want from an audiobook?

Giant birds and magic carpets share the skies with flying horses and mighty genies. Brave adventurers set out to find jeweled palaces and caves stuffed with treasures. So sit back and listen and like King Sharhya of the story let our Sheherezade enchant you with tales of romance and delight.

Ten of the best known tales from The Arabian Nights including: "The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water", "The Fisherman and the Jinni", "The Young King of the Black Isles", "Gulnare of the Sea", "Aladdin", "The Story of Prince Agib", "The City of Brass", "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves", "Codadad and His Brothers", and "Sinbad the Sailor".

There was, in olden time, and in an ancient age and period, in the land of the Persians, a king named Shahzeman, and the place of his residence was Khorassan. He had not been blest, during his whole life, with a male child nor a female; and he reflected upon this, one day, and lamented that the greater portion of his life had passed, and he had no heir to take the kingdom after him as he had inherited it from his fathers and forefathers. So the utmost grief befell him on this account.

"You must know, my lord," said the wretched prisoner, "that my father, named Mahmoud, was monarch of this country. This is the kingdom of the Black Isles, which takes its name from the four small neighboring mountains; for those mountains were formerly isles, and the capital where the king, my father, resided was situated on the spot now occupied by the lake you have seen. The sequel of my history will inform you of the reason for those changes.

There formerly reigned in the city of Harran a most magnificent and potent sultan, who loved his subjects, and was equally beloved by them. He was endued with all virtues, and wanted nothing to complete his happiness but an heir.