Hanan Al-Shaykh

Lebanese author Hanan Al-Shaykh provides us with a retelling of the Arabian Nights, ancient stories collected from across India, Persia and the Arab empire that date back to the 14th Century. Hanan has chosen 19 tales, a bawdy, humorous collection that is part myth and part folk tale with jinnis, princesses and adventurers. The frame story is that of the courageous and clever Shaharazad (Scheherazade), who chooses to marry King Shahrayar, risking her life in doing so. The King, after discovering his wife’s infidelity, has sworn to marry a virgin every night, then every morning to have her executed. After their marriage, Shaharazad begins telling the King a story, stopping each night at a gripping point, and then continuing the tale the next day if he does not execute her. She is such a powerful storyteller that every morning the King refuses to execute her so he can hear the end of the story.

The stories themselves are told with simplicity, almost childlike at times, despite the often sexual nature of them. They usually revolve around the interaction between men and women. The stories very cleverly interlock almost like a set of Babushka dolls, a story within a story within a story…I enjoyed the rich imagery: beautiful women, juicy dates, opulent palaces, and lush fabrics. Traditionally the stories return to the frame story of Shaharazad and the King but in this version the ending felt rushed and Shaharazad does not quite seem to get her dues for the amazing stories of which she is the teller. 4 stars.… (mere)