The Thousand and One Nights in Arabic Literature and Society by Richard Hovannisian (University of California, Los Angeles)
The Thousand and One Nights has captivated audiences for centuries, conveying universal messages through the adventures of historical and non-historical figures. Yet, since medieval times, it has not been considered worthy of serious literary debate, and has been marginalised in the tradition of high Arabic literature. Andre Miquel, the recipient of the twelfth Levi Della Vida award, has successfully defied this taboo, and in a brilliant combination of medieval and modern studies has emphasised the continuity, rather than the compartmentalisation, of Arabo-Islamic culture. In this volume, Andre Miquel's theme-setting essay is followed by contributions from Jamel Eddine Bencheikh, Roy P. Mottahedeh, Fedwa Malti-Douglas, Seeger Bonebakker, Muhsin Mahdi, and Stanislav Segert, who examine the literary and societal components of The Thousand and One Nights.