Translations Across Time...
Below are different translations of One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights into English. The collection of translations detailed date from the 19th century to the current 21st century. For a more expansive timeline of publication history, click here. What has been identified as a translation has often been argued as an adaptation, but we encourage you to pick up these texts and decide for yourself. Although fault may be found in each of these translations and questions of authenticity raised, we can give thanks to those below who have stood in the gap to communicate these timeless tales in English and make them accessible to our Western eyes and ears.
Below are different translations of One Thousand and One Nights or The Arabian Nights into English. The collection of translations detailed date from the 19th century to the current 21st century. For a more expansive timeline of publication history, click here. What has been identified as a translation has often been argued as an adaptation, but we encourage you to pick up these texts and decide for yourself. Although fault may be found in each of these translations and questions of authenticity raised, we can give thanks to those below who have stood in the gap to communicate these timeless tales in English and make them accessible to our Western eyes and ears.
New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. 1856. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Edward W. Lane: 1856
Edward W. Lane produced the first known translation directly from the Arabic to English of The Nights, entitling it, The Thousand and One Nights. Prior to Lane, all English translations had been done from Galland's German translation. Lane lived in Egypt for several years before publishing his version of The Nights and even decided to include various ethnographic and cultural notes in his translation. A review on James Cullins Bookseller notes, “It reigned as the leading English translation of the Nights for decades, and its copious notes are stimulating micro-essays of enduring value” (ODNB).Click here to read more on this translation or click here to buy Lane's groundbreaking translation.
Edward W. Lane produced the first known translation directly from the Arabic to English of The Nights, entitling it, The Thousand and One Nights. Prior to Lane, all English translations had been done from Galland's German translation. Lane lived in Egypt for several years before publishing his version of The Nights and even decided to include various ethnographic and cultural notes in his translation. A review on James Cullins Bookseller notes, “It reigned as the leading English translation of the Nights for decades, and its copious notes are stimulating micro-essays of enduring value” (ODNB).Click here to read more on this translation or click here to buy Lane's groundbreaking translation.
Live Auctioneers. 2010. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Richard Burton: 1885-88
This translation is particularly famous for its footnotes and its orientalist disposition. Richard Burton took on the task of translating The Nights in order to serve his own specific purposes noted in his prologue. Burton achieved not only critiquing Victorian society and their repressed ideas about sexuality, but he simultaneously appropriated another culture. Burton believed himself to be a social scientist of sorts and considered his translation an ethnography. Take a look for yourself here and don't say we didn't warn you.
This translation is particularly famous for its footnotes and its orientalist disposition. Richard Burton took on the task of translating The Nights in order to serve his own specific purposes noted in his prologue. Burton achieved not only critiquing Victorian society and their repressed ideas about sexuality, but he simultaneously appropriated another culture. Burton believed himself to be a social scientist of sorts and considered his translation an ethnography. Take a look for yourself here and don't say we didn't warn you.
The Imaginary Museum. 2008. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
John Payne: 1882-89
John Payne translated The Nights around the same time as Burton, both of them publishing their versions in multiple volumes. His translation was done with the aspiration of being true and faithful to the original. He translated his text from the Egyptian and Indian manuscripts. His translation, unlike Burton's only circulated in private and was limited to 500 copies. Payne never traveled east of England, but taught himself Arabic and committed himself to translating The Nights in their entirety. His translation is undoubtedly considered more reliable and accurate that Burton's. If you would like to read John Payne's translation of The Nights, click here.
John Payne translated The Nights around the same time as Burton, both of them publishing their versions in multiple volumes. His translation was done with the aspiration of being true and faithful to the original. He translated his text from the Egyptian and Indian manuscripts. His translation, unlike Burton's only circulated in private and was limited to 500 copies. Payne never traveled east of England, but taught himself Arabic and committed himself to translating The Nights in their entirety. His translation is undoubtedly considered more reliable and accurate that Burton's. If you would like to read John Payne's translation of The Nights, click here.
Loyal Books. 2015. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Andrew Lang: 1898
Andrew Lang was best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. This, in addition to his interest in the study of anthropology encouraged him to pen his own translation of The Nights. Lang is known for writing many fairy and folk tales and translated The Nights in a similar fashion, entitling his translation Arabian Nights Entertainments. This translation is known for its accessibility and consumption being identified alongside fairy and folk tales. To read Lang's translation, click here.
Andrew Lang was best known as a collector of folk and fairy tales. This, in addition to his interest in the study of anthropology encouraged him to pen his own translation of The Nights. Lang is known for writing many fairy and folk tales and translated The Nights in a similar fashion, entitling his translation Arabian Nights Entertainments. This translation is known for its accessibility and consumption being identified alongside fairy and folk tales. To read Lang's translation, click here.
General World EBooks. 2015. Web Image. Oct. 6 2015
Edward Powys Mathers: 1923
This translation is different in that it was made directly from the French translation rather than the Arabic "original," and it was made from the least accurate and complete translation by Joseph Charles Mardrus which was not translated from any original text. Based on this assessment alone, it is hard to confirm whether or not Mathers' translation can even be considered a translation. However, this translation is still in print and consumed by English audiences today, enjoyed for its charming prose. Though questions of authenticity of the text remain, it is noted as an enjoyable translation. To buy a volume of Mathers' translation, click here.
This translation is different in that it was made directly from the French translation rather than the Arabic "original," and it was made from the least accurate and complete translation by Joseph Charles Mardrus which was not translated from any original text. Based on this assessment alone, it is hard to confirm whether or not Mathers' translation can even be considered a translation. However, this translation is still in print and consumed by English audiences today, enjoyed for its charming prose. Though questions of authenticity of the text remain, it is noted as an enjoyable translation. To buy a volume of Mathers' translation, click here.
Amazon. 2008. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Husain Haddawy: 1990-95
It was assumed that the Mardrus/Mathers translation would rule with authority, but when Muhsin Mahdi published a new version of The Nights from the original Syrian manuscripts in Arabic, Hussain Haddawy took to then translating Mahdi's work into English. In the introduction of Haddawy's translation identifies its superiority to all previous translations on the basis of its authenticity and faithfulness to the original. Additionally. Haddawy considers himself a mediator of culture and language having grown up in Afghanistan hearing The Nights told to him as a child and having lived in a Western context for the latter half of his life. Though all translations are imperfect, Haddawy does explain his intentions and methodology in the translation process thoroughly in his introduction and proves successful as serving as a mediator for his audience. To buy a copy of Haddawy's translation, click here.
It was assumed that the Mardrus/Mathers translation would rule with authority, but when Muhsin Mahdi published a new version of The Nights from the original Syrian manuscripts in Arabic, Hussain Haddawy took to then translating Mahdi's work into English. In the introduction of Haddawy's translation identifies its superiority to all previous translations on the basis of its authenticity and faithfulness to the original. Additionally. Haddawy considers himself a mediator of culture and language having grown up in Afghanistan hearing The Nights told to him as a child and having lived in a Western context for the latter half of his life. Though all translations are imperfect, Haddawy does explain his intentions and methodology in the translation process thoroughly in his introduction and proves successful as serving as a mediator for his audience. To buy a copy of Haddawy's translation, click here.
The Imaginary Museum. 2008. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Malcolm and Ursula Lyons: 2008
This translation was done by man and wife in 2008 and is one of the most recent translations to English of The Arabian Nights. Malcolm is a former professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge. While the majority of the stories were translated from the Arabic, Ursula translated the stories of "Aladdin," "Ali Baba," and "Sinbad" from the French manuscript written by Robert Irwin. The tales are split into three volumes with a preface by the author introducing each volume. This translation is considered to be easy for consumption by the modern Western audience. However, because of it's flatness and ease of consumption, should it be considered an adaption instead?
This translation was done by man and wife in 2008 and is one of the most recent translations to English of The Arabian Nights. Malcolm is a former professor of Arabic at the University of Cambridge. While the majority of the stories were translated from the Arabic, Ursula translated the stories of "Aladdin," "Ali Baba," and "Sinbad" from the French manuscript written by Robert Irwin. The tales are split into three volumes with a preface by the author introducing each volume. This translation is considered to be easy for consumption by the modern Western audience. However, because of it's flatness and ease of consumption, should it be considered an adaption instead?
NPR Books. 2013. Web Image. 6 Oct. 2015
Hanan Al-Shaykh: 2013
This most recent translation of The Nights is called a "re-telling" by the translator, Hanan Al-Shaykh, but is comparable to Haddawy's translation. Although it is also translated from the Mahdi edition, Al-Shaykh decides to translate only nineteen tales. Additionally, Al-Shaykh makes the choice to not return to the outer frame narrative of Shahrazad and The King as other translations have, but to stay with in the lower diegetic level. This translation is quite enjoyable and refreshing as it is translated by an Arabic woman, thus proving to be the most authentic bridge from the original to a modern English translation. To read more about this translation, click here. To buy this translation, click here.
This most recent translation of The Nights is called a "re-telling" by the translator, Hanan Al-Shaykh, but is comparable to Haddawy's translation. Although it is also translated from the Mahdi edition, Al-Shaykh decides to translate only nineteen tales. Additionally, Al-Shaykh makes the choice to not return to the outer frame narrative of Shahrazad and The King as other translations have, but to stay with in the lower diegetic level. This translation is quite enjoyable and refreshing as it is translated by an Arabic woman, thus proving to be the most authentic bridge from the original to a modern English translation. To read more about this translation, click here. To buy this translation, click here.
