"In tide of yore and in time long gone before, there was a King of the Kings of the Banu Sásán in the Islands of India and China, a Lord of armies and guards and servants and dependents . . . So he succeeded to the empire; when he ruled the land and forded it over his lieges with justice so exemplary that he was beloved by all the peoples of his capital and of his kingdom." The Book of the Thousand Nights and A Night is a collection of Middle Eastern, West Asian and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age. It is often known in English as the Arabian Nights.The stories proceed from an original tale of ruler Shahryār and his wife Scheherazade where some stories are framed within other stories, while others begin and end of their own accord. This edition contains more than 1001 tales of romance, erotica, supernatural and adventure along with copious notes transport you into the land of magic and nostalgia.

Notorious for the delight he took in tweaking the sexual taboos of the Victorian age-as well as the delight he took in the resulting shock of his bashful peers-British adventurer, linguist, and author CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890) 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 tales-which Burton was the first to bring to English readers in uncensored form-has 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 1,001 nights. The stories themselves feature early instances of sexual humor, satire and parody, murder mystery, horror, and even science fiction. Burton's annotated 16-volume collection, as infamous as it is important, was first published between 1885 and 1888, and remains an entertainingly naughty read. Volume IV includes: [ "Ni'amar Bin Al-Rabi'a and Naomi His Slave Girl" [ "The Sweep and the Noble Lady" [ "The Mock Caliph" [ "Ali the Persian" [ "The Lover Who Feigned Himself a Thief" [ "Caliph Al-Maamum and the Strange Scholar" [ "The Man of Al-Yaman and His Six Slave-Girls" [ "The Man Who Stole the Dish of Gold Wherein the Dog Ate" [ "The Woman Whose Hands Were Cut Off for Giving Alms to the Poor" [ "The Ruined Man Who Became Rich Again Through a Dream" [ "The King's Daughter and the Ape" [ and many others.

"The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night," translated by Richard F. Burton, is a renowned collection of Middle Eastern folktales and stories, commonly known as "One Thousand and One Nights" or simply "Arabian Nights." Volume 04 of this collection contains a selection of enchanting tales, each with its own unique characters, settings, and themes. The stories in Volume 04 often feature elements of fantasy, adventure, and romance, and they are set in a variety of exotic locations, ranging from the bustling markets of Baghdad to the mysterious and magical realms of the Arabian desert. Readers can expect to encounter captivating characters like cunning viziers, brave heroes, beautiful princesses, and treacherous villains as they immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Arabian folklore. Richard F. Burton's translation preserves the vivid and imaginative storytelling of the original Arabic tales, allowing readers to experience the magic, wonder, and moral lessons that have made "One Thousand and One Nights" a timeless and cherished work of world literature.

Medieval Indian Mindscapes: Space, Time, Society, Man centres on how Indians in pre-colonial times perceived their world. It compares the specific features of their 'mental programmes' with that of their counterparts in other pre-modern societies. While analysing the importance of space in the medieval world view, the book discusses how medieval Indians comprehended their territories and the landscape as 'their own' vis-a-vis the 'alien' space; the development of territorial-cultural and territorial-political identities, and knowledge about other lands and peoples. In a discussion of medieval temporality, the book also studies the ways of perceiving and reckoning time, attitudes to the historical past and the manifold ways of recording it. A special chapter on 'Society' deals with socio-ethical values and behavioural stereotypes of major estate and caste groups like the feudal landlords, priests and officials, merchants and craftsmen, peasants and the lower castes in villages. The book also has a chapter on the medieval Indian perception of Man, his appearance and peculiarities as they pertained to the a≥ behaviour, social status, and the steady development of individuality. Medieval Indian Mindscapes will be of interest to medievalists as well as general readers, keen to know more about the dynamics of pre-modern history and culture.