Like The Odyssey or Hamlet, this is one of those books that is required reading for the privilege of walking upright. Burton’s translation has been taken to task occasionally for being a bit rigid and archaic, but I thought his tone and language suited this tale-within-a-tale fantasy epic rather well.

Those who’ve read The Arabian Nights will likely fondly recall the book with exceeding fondness until there comes to them the Destroyer of delights, the Sunderer of societies, and the Garnerer of graves. Moreover, they tell of another such tale…

For some reason the website has decided I have read this, even though I keep leaving the tick box empty! I”VE ONLY JUST BOUGHT IT AND HAVEN”T OPENED IT YET

A spur of the moment purchase from one of the second-hand book stalls at the lunchtime market.

slowly working my way through, reading a tale here or there when the urge hits me.