Arabische Nächte

"Arabische Nächte: Erzählungen aus Tausend und eine Nacht" by Edmund Dulac is a collection of short stories, likely written or compiled in the early 20th century. This work adapts and retells classic tales from the legendary Middle Eastern anthology known as "One Thousand and One Nights". The stories revolve around exotic adventures, magical beings, and dramatic twists of fate, with recurring characters such as Sultan Scheherban, his brother Schahseman, and the clever Schehersad, who uses storytelling as both a survival strategy and an art. The opening of "Arabische Nächte" first introduces a frame story: After suffering the betrayal of their wives, two royal brothers, Scheherban and Schahseman, set out to witness the infidelities of women for themselves and come to believe all women are unfaithful—leading Scheherban to decree he will take a new bride each night and execute her the next morning. When nearly all eligible women are gone, the vizier’s daughter Schehersad bravely volunteers to marry the king, intending to end his cycle of violence by enchanting him with her tales. She immediately begins with the story of the poor fisherman and the malevolent spirit, a narrative that blends suffering, wit, and magical intervention. Subsequent stories quickly introduce further characters in magical predicaments, including the tale of a petrified prince under a wicked enchantment and the fateful events surrounding an enchanted ebony horse, showcasing the rich blend of moral lessons, adventure, and fantasy that defines the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)