The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Nights

This medieval Arabic story collection is framed by King Shahriyar, who takes a new wife each night and has her killed at dawn, and Scheherazade, who postpones her death by telling tales that never quite finish. Nested stories introduce merchants, jinn, caliphs, sailors, and clever women; famous cycles include Sindbad, Aladdin, and Ali Baba in later recensions. Settings move between Baghdad, Cairo, and islands of marvel. The book is a framed anthology of wonder and intrigue, not a single novel and not a history of the caliphate.

Quarter bound in white parchment, red paper boards patterned in gold. Glassine dust-jackets. Mottled grey four-volume slipcase.