The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.
Commonly Called the Arabian Nights' Entertainments
Edward William Lane's translation of The Thousand and One Nights, first published between 1838 and 1840, was the first English version made directly from the Arabic, and the first to treat the tales as a document of Arab life rather than a French fairy book. This first of three volumes, revised by his nephew Edward Stanley Poole, opens with the frame story of Shahriyar and Shahrazad and the earliest cycles of tales, from the merchant and the jinni through the fisherman and the porter of Baghdad to the stories told by the barber. Lane's copious notes on manners, religion, dress and magic are a book in themselves; his omissions are declared, and the prose has a grave, formal music. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.
The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. by Anonymous can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. online?
Yes. The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. in the public domain?
Yes. The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. by Anonymous is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Edward William Lane. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.?
About 17 h 32 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I.?
The Thousand and One Nights, Vol. I. by Anonymous is filed under "Children's Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
