morebedsidebooks's review
adventurous
4.0
“Do you mean to say,” she said, “that your lamp is to blame for the jinni? Remove it from my sight; I want nothing to do with it. I beg you to sell the ring too. It is forbidden to deal with the jinn: they are demons. Our prophet said so.”
“After all the lamp has given us,” replied Aladdin, “I would not sell it just yet. My wicked uncle desired this lamp more than all the gold and silver which he knew to be in those rooms. He knew its power well enough to want nothing more from that vault. Since chance has made us aware of its virtues, let us use it, but discreetly, lest we attract the envy of our neighbors. As for the ring, allow me to keep it and have it always on my finger. Without it, you would not have seen me again. Who knows when some other danger might strike, and I would need its deliverance?” His mother could hardly object, and let him do as he pleased.
Yasmine Seale is an esteemed French-Syrian translator, and her 2018 English translation Aladdin was notable. Though the original story from the French may not meet the overstated promotion.
The prose itself certainly comes to life. Aladdin from a rebellious youth that one worries will never amount to anything to possessing the lamp and clever Prince as well dramatic. However, the Princess Badr al-Budur being “equally active” feels like an overemphasis. A beautiful princess (as we know since Aladdin scandalously peeps) assumed content until she faces more than one trial once Aladdin becomes smitten with her. Yet, his hand in one of the first woes she undergoes is never revealed. I at least wanted to see the Sultan, who is partly to blame, and his daughter all work that one out together. But these characters don’t talk to each other about things they probably should. Then even the frightful similar circumstances leading to the climax of the story, though necessitating courage on the part of the Princess and acting as saviour, is through a ruse that in the book has its conception with Aladdin.
Obviously, there are many aspects that have captured the imagination and led to Aladdin or the Magic Lamp being retold and refashioned for centuries. The introduction by editor Paulo Lemos Horta also attests as much. French Orientalist Antoine Galland during a trend for folklore in France put Aladdin down to pen hearing it from Syrian writer and traveler Ḥannā Diyāb in 1709, including the tale in a translation of an Arabic manuscript of One Thousand and One Nights. And so round the world translations and variations can be found.
Only that’s the thing, Aladdin is fantastical but also a bit of a whole melting pot. Diyāb got around almost as much as Aladdin. Every time it gets told it’s going to reflect the good and bad of who tell it and who they’re telling it to. All in all, this book is a lovely edition of an old tale often associated with One Thousand and One Nights And if you’re hungry for more from Seale’s hand the very pretty “The Annotated: Arabian Nights” released in 2021 offers a selection, along with by the title you might guess to include the French tales of Diyāb’s. And I can’t wait for more of the Nights in English which is forthcoming.
Content Warnings
Minor: Kidnapping, Death of parent, Antisemitism, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Confinement
arcookson's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
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