Literature buffs: My 10th grader just finished reading

[Needleroozer]

Andrew Lang's Arabian Nights, and would like a "tougher" translation. Sigh. He keeps wanting books that aren't listed in TWEM! This wasn't even on his list, but was for my 7th grader, lol.

Were these originally translated by Richard Burton? Is there a translation you can recommend for him? He is a fine reader, and really enjoys older translations (the more flowery the old english, the happier he is, lol). I looked on Amazon, but there are so many options, and I can't begin to judge all those choices!
Help please.

[Kate in Arabia]

I answered you on the highschool board, but I'll put it here as well just in case:

Oh, thank you for asking this question! I went and pulled out my Muhsin Mahdi edition (Arabic); he edited a 14th century Syrian text and had it published. Gave me a great reminder that I should consider reading through it again!

The English version I have is based on Mahdi's text, it is a translation by Husain Haddawy:

http://www.amazon.com/Arabian-Nights.../dp/0393313670

If he is interested in this cultural genre, might I also suggesting trying to get a hold of translations of Ibn Battuta's Rihla? My thesis was on the Rihla, I found his writing to be "youthful" and engaging. If interested I can share what editions I have of that as well...

hth!

Kate

[Eliana]

Andrew Lang's Arabian Nights, and would like a "tougher" translation. Sigh. He keeps wanting books that aren't listed in TWEM! This wasn't even on his list, but was for my 7th grader, lol.

Were these originally translated by Richard Burton? Is there a translation you can recommend for him? He is a fine reader, and really enjoys older translations (the more flowery the old english, the happier he is, lol). I looked on Amazon, but there are so many options, and I can't begin to judge all those choices!
Help please.

Burton's translation is a classic, and, as far as I know, the only complete translation available... though I haven't seen the complete version anywhere in recent years, just selections from his translation. (I read it in college from a 4 or 5 volume set - since it is very much not my thing, I didn't keep it, but I know it was at least 4 large volumes, perhaps more.) I do believe it might be available online.)

Husain Haddawy did a translation based on the earliest extant version - which has about a third of the material and does not include some of the stories we associate with the Arabian Nights. Perhaps in response to the protests, he came out with a second volume which includes many of the more familiar stories.

Haddawy's translation is, however, supposed to be clearer and more accurate. Burton is fairly long-winded and includes his own personal digressions and reflections here and there.

The Mathers translation is a translation of the French version of the AN - which completely changed the flavor of the book - it is supposed to be a good translation, but it isn't the AN, imnsho.

LB, perhaps you already know this, but some sections of the Arabian Nights read like pornography - they are very explicit and there are quite a few of them. These are not indirect references, they include anatomic specificity and an attitude towards s*x, s*xuality, and women as s*xual objects which I, personally, would not want to give to a young person still developing his/her own sense of these things. Ymmv, but I wanted to be sure you knew what you were handing him! :)

Our children enjoy Geraldine McCaughrean's adaptation (http://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Arabian-Nights-Oxford-Collections/dp/0192750135/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205955827&sr=1-1), but it is probably less than what your son is wanting. I don't think there is a PG rated abridged translation, I think all the non-X rated ones are adaptations rather than translations.

[Needleroozer]

LB, perhaps you already know this, but some sections of the Arabian Nights read like pornography - they are very explicit and there are quite a few of them. These are not indirect references, they include anatomic specificity and an attitude towards s*x, s*xuality, and women as s*xual objects which I, personally, would not want to give to a young person still developing his/her own sense of these things. Ymmv, but I wanted to be sure you knew what you were handing him! :)

Eiliana,
I did *NOT* know this! :eek: Thank you very much for the heads up! :blink:

[Needleroozer]

I answered you on the highschool board, but I'll put it here as well just in case:

Oh, thank you for asking this question! I went and pulled out my Muhsin Mahdi edition (Arabic); he edited a 14th century Syrian text and had it published. Gave me a great reminder that I should consider reading through it again!

The English version I have is based on Mahdi's text, it is a translation by Husain Haddawy:

http://www.amazon.com/Arabian-Nights.../dp/0393313670

If he is interested in this cultural genre, might I also suggesting trying to get a hold of translations of Ibn Battuta's Rihla? My thesis was on the Rihla, I found his writing to be "youthful" and engaging. If interested I can share what editions I have of that as well...

hth!

Kate

Thank you so much for these suggestions. Are either of these too "racy" for a teen, per Eliana's comment?

[Faithr]

Did anybody ever see the movie, Au Revoir Les Infants? There is a scene in the movie where one boy is reading the racy parts of the Arablian Nights out loud to his friend. They're at a boarding school and it's after lights out so they are furtively reading it by flashlight and the boy listening, drops right off to sleep in the middle of a very interesting part. It is a funny scene! The movie is great but it does have a lot of adolescent crudeness about s*x in it.

[Kate in Arabia]

Thank you so much for these suggestions. Are either of these too "racy" for a teen, per Eliana's comment?
I was flipping through the Haddawy translation.. he has a rather extensive preface in which he talks about the other translations; Burton in particular he mentions liked to exaggerate some bits for the "shock value"; even so, there are s*x scenes in there. I didn't re-read the whole thing, but even in the prologue there's a group thing going on.. I didn't find the writing to be gratuitous, but it's there nonetheless. I mean, it is a central part of the premise of the whole story -- that the king discovers his wife sleeps around, so he mistrusts women and thereafter marries a girl and has her executed the next morning... which is why Shahrazad comes up with this way of extending her life.

Haddawy's book is meant for adults. It reminds me of the Canterbury Tales, some of which are quite, umm, more for adults, lol. Looking back at your original post, that this is for a 7th grader, I don't think this is a good choice, I guess I was thinking highschool?

**ok, reading your post again (it's really late over here) I see that you have a 10th grader.. I still think I would hold off, unless you are open to it (I don't want to presume). If you are interested, you can pm me and I can send you some excerpts, if that would help... **

[Kate in Arabia]

Needle, I sent you a PM...

[Needleroozer]

Needle, I sent you a PM...

Thanks for looking at the book again Kate. I think you are right- this does not sound appropriate for my Boy right now. I had no idea that it was so racy! Guess we will call it good with the Lang version.

Thanks again,
LB