A Motif Index of The Thousand and One Nights [Hardcover]

In 1704 the French Orientalist Antoin Galland introduced to the Western world a translation of The Thousand and One Nights. Over the course of two subsequent centuries, numerous editions followed. Many of these, like Gallands, included texts of stories not found in the indigenous manuscripts of the Nights but selected by the European editors from other literary and oral collections of ordinary folktales and legends. Thus, the original work acquired a Western designation as The Arabian Nights, a title unknown among the masses in Arab lands. Now, three centuries later, original publication of The Thousand and One Nights is being celebrated with widespread, renewed interest in the work. Hasan El-Shamys motif-index, based on an authentic folk edition of Alf laylah wa laylah, provides scholars of various fields accurate information about the content of this classic piece of Arabic folk tradition.

Acknowledgments
A Note on Transliteration
Introduction
List of Abbreviations and Signs
A Note on Data Presentation, Abbreviations
A. Mythological and Related Belief Motifs
B. Animals
C. Tabu
D. Magic and Similar Supernatural Occurrences
E. The Dead
F. Marvels
G. Ogres and Satan
H. Tests
J. The Wise and the Foolish
K. Deceptions
L. Reversal of Fortune
M. Ordaining the Future
N. Chance and Fate
P. Society
Q. Rewards and Punishments
R. Captives and Fugitives
S. Unnatural Cruelty
T. Sex
U. The Nature of Life
V. Religion and Religious Services
W. Traits of Character
X. Humor
Z. Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
Other References to Motifs
Titles of Tales according to Burton's Translation (Nos. 1-169)
Alphabetical Index of Motifs
Register of Tale-types
References to Tale-types
Appendix: Titles of Tales 170-262 in Bl3%