Talk:The Book of One Thousand and One Nights

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[edit] Intro and Timeline

Why was my intro and timeline deleted? It was the most encyclopedic version of the collection?

Especially the timeline.

WTF???

Wikipedia just lost my contributions. I'm tired of putting in so much work just to have it deleted for no apparent reason. The 1001 Nights is the topic of my PHD diss, so I think I have some experience with researching it.

You know what? Don't put them back up, they are now private content and I'm going to put the info on my own website. You guys can keep this shabby 4th grade version of something.

stan goldsmith 21:11, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

I thought the timeline was particularly useful. Why has it been deleted? According to my sources it was accurate. I will add it back in if there are no further comments on the topic here in the next few days. Taranah 18:14, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Sorry I got mad. I worked hard on that info. What about the introduction? My introduction was much more comprehensive and gave a good overview of the Nights than what is up. Not sure why there has to be Farsi translations of the names of the characters too, unless you also want to include Arabic, Urdu, Russian, etc.

stan goldsmith 18:24, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

Wikipedia doesn't allow insertion of original research (WP:NOR). - Marmoulak 22:44, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

I support the policy about no original research, but the timeline was compiled from two specific references that Stan listed:

Dwight Reynolds. "The Thousand and One Nights: A History of the Text and its Reception." The Cambridge History of Arabic Literature: Arabic Literature in the Post-Classical Period. Cambridge UP, 2006.
Robert Irwin. The Arabian Nights: A Companion. Tauris Parke, 2004.

Both references are considered reliable and authoritative. I have not read the modified introduction carefully so I can't comment on whether any original research was introduced, but I would certainly like to see a scholarly timeline included in the article. Taranah 23:38, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

I think a small amount was -- the part regarding the mystery of the Nights is the sort of thing that'd need sourcing, I think. We can't make a claim like that on our own. Most of the other changes are simple to verify from the text of the Nights itself; it's easy to see, for instance, that some of the stories are framed within other stories. As far as the timeline goes, it all appears verified between those two sources. I see no explanation for the removal of Galland, and it certainly seems rather important in the publication history according to those sources, so I've reverted that as well. I would ask for a more detailed discussion here before any further removals of any of this information, since it seems consensus is toward its inclusion. Shimeru 08:21, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

Thanks & as for the timeline it is original content created by myself that was culled from information in those books (not copyright infringement).stan goldsmith 21:54, 27 February 2007 (UTC)

Right, sorry if that wasn't clear. What I mean is, it isn't original research in the sense that Wikipedia uses the term -- it's verified in third-party sources, not something you came up with in its entirety. Shimeru 07:51, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] older comments

My memory has misled me. The Book of Esther does not say that the king would execute a bride per day. I don't know why I thought so, but I just reread the story (at [[1]]) and I was wrong.

Even if 1000 represents infinity, 1000 + 1 would not be a transfinite number larger than infinity. Although I suppose if "1000 + 1" is taken to mean "The first number after infinity", then it does represent a transfinite number.

"moribund detail"??? - Jmabel 03:49, 8 Apr 2004 (UTC)

My Burton edition claims that Aladdin is actually from a book called "The Blue Fairy Book", and is included with the rest of the tales just because it is so good. But I don't know anything further - anyone else up on this? Graft 23:39, 29 Apr 2004 (UTC)

No, but the whole text of Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Blue Fairy Book, including the selections from Arabian Nights, is on-line at http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/LanBlue.html Wetman 23:50, 29 Apr 2004 (UTC)

The article of which this is the talk page notes that Aladdin is a late addition to the collection, but not that late: the earliest edition in which it is found predates The Blue Fairy Book by nearly two centuries. For that matter, the Burton edition also predates The Blue Fairy Book, although by an interval closer to two years than two hundred. --Paul A 06:48, 24 May 2004 (UTC)

[edit] "Shahrastini"

'...better-known in English as "Scheherazade" or "Shahrastini"' (italics mine). Really? I've never heard "Shahrastini" in my life. Unless someone can vouch for a well-known edition that uses this variant, this should be removed. -- Jmabel | Talk 03:42, Dec 17, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] easy reading but not bowdlerized

does there exist a version of English translation such that it is not censored in anyway but with more moden easy-reading style than Sir Burtons? Xah Lee 22:32, 2004 Dec 19 (UTC)

The answer is in the article, "a critical edition based on the 14th century Syrian manuscript in the Bibliotheque Nationale, compiled in Arabic by Muhsin Mahdi and rendered into English by Husain Haddawy, the most accurate and elegant of all to this date." OneGuy 03:59, 20 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Thanks! I found it on amazon.com, and will check it out at library if i have a chance. I was reading Burton's version, fully enjoying it, and thought about translating it myself. Btw, if any are interested in Burton's version with interesting words or phrases highlighted as a way of studying English, here it is: http://xahlee.org/p/arabian_nights/an1.html Xah Lee 02:26, 2004 Dec 21 (UTC)

[edit] Violence Against women?

Err, Reading the book now, the amount of violence against women is incredible. One of the first stories, about a man who if he tells his wife the story will die, is resolved when the man decides to beat his wife with a Stick untill she stops nagging him, or dies. She stops nagging him, and they live happily ever after...

WTF!!! --195.7.55.146 15:19, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Yes, the book does contains some violence towards women, but there's also plenty dealt out to the men.

You seem to be implying that the book is sexist or misogynist in some way - this is absurd in a book in which women outwit men throughout. Sdrawkcab 17:10, 9 May 2005 (UTC)sdrawkcab

Thats because every second woman happens to be a Witch or a sorceress, it is very misogynist. Just re-reading a piece where a man is seduced by not one, not two but three women with a terrrbile Secret (Aside from that they happen to prostitutes) --Irishpunktom\^talk 13:21, July 12, 2005 (UTC)

Accusations of misogyny (and racism) are not absurd at all, and I'd say the misogyny in 1001 Nights is extremely vicious. But does it matter, in the end? It did not detract from my pleasure in reading the book. 201.81.252.13 18:01, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Iran/Persia

In the historical context of this article, is it really appropriate to link "Persia" to Iran? -- Jmabel | Talk 06:41, Apr 16, 2005 (UTC)

Yes. But there isn't an explicit connection to Iran in the present article anyways, more should be added. – Kaveh ^(talk) 12:43, 17 Apr 2005 (UTC)

Sorry, but why is this appropriate? The use of the name "Iran" in English is entirely to refer to the modern nation-state. Our article Iran is entirely about that modern nation-state. Wouldn't Persian Empire be a more appropriate link? -- Jmabel | Talk 01:22, Apr 18, 2005 (UTC)

This is a very common misunderstanding. "Iran" is not only the modern nation-state. In fact, "Iran" is completely and exactly the same (and has always been the same) as the "Persian Empire". There has been no significant change to the status of the country or its status of being an empire, the only thing that happened is that Iranians asked the people allover the world to use the same name for this country that has been always used by its people. It is relevant to stress this point in order to prevent the misunderstanding that Iran is a new country merely standing in the same place where the Persian Empire once was (Such as Iraq or Turkey, for example). Iran IS the Persian Empire. In fact, until the 1979 revolution the official name of the country was the Empire of Iran, and the government was called the imperial government of Iran. The king (Shah) had the status of an emperor, which is why he was addressed with the title "Imperial Majesty", and not only Majesty. Even today the essence of the government has to a large extent remained the same. I think it is important to stress these seemingly insignificant but important details.

There has been no significant change to the status of the country or its status of being an empire

That is the utterly most disturbing and ignorant claims I’ve ever heard. The answer to the question is YES, there have been significant changes in the geography of Iran for the past 200-150 years. Most of the States in the Caucasus and Former USSR states in Central Asia were part of the Persian Empire during the Qâjârs- In case you wouldn’t know, the Qâjârs were another Iranian royalties (before the Pahlavis) and after the fall of the Qâjârs and the crowning of Rezâ Shâh, The Persian Empire/Iran became what we know today. And yes it is also wrong to connect the term “Iran” for 1001 nights, simply because parts of Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and other non-Iranian states were officially under Persian ruling even in the late 1800.

[edit] The Book of One Thousand and One Nights

The Book of One Thousand and One Nights is an Arabic Literature master piece, which combined Folk Stories from many countries, including persia. It should not be confused with the persian "Hazar Afsanah" (A Thousand Legends), which is apart from the frame-story of Shahrazad totally different!!

So tell us how the name Shahrzad and Shahryar are Arabic. Also tell us how Arabian people had big cities before Islam, they used to live in small town-as Mecca was the biggest city- and in "tribes" so how it could be Arabic if their name is Shahrzad. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.43.81.122 (talk • contribs) 15 Jan 2006.

[edit] Shahrzad

I may be completely wrong, but I don't think it is correct to say that Shahrzad means "born in the city". Considering the alternate ways of pronouncing the word "Shahrazad" or "Scheherazade" it seems that the word is a simplified version of Shahr+Azad or Shahr+Azade, which would mean the libertarian, or liberator (Azade) of the city. Also, "Shahr" in older persian usually means country, or the whole nation, not simply "the city". I think this meaning would also be much more consistent with the role her character has in the story. I'm looking forward to read your opinions about this. (anon 19 July 2005)

I believe that you are correct because the writer put both Shahryar and Shahrzad that both contains shar-which means city- —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.43.81.122 (talk • contribs) 15 Jan 2006.

[edit] 1001 nights has Persian roots

The name of the storyteller is Shahrzad which is a pure Persian name. I have heard from some Professors of Persian literature that 1001 nights originates from 1000 Afsane (1000 Legends). It is also noteworthy that the name of the city which many of the stories take place in (Baghdad) is Persian. (anon 8 Aug 2005)

Baghdad was the capital of the Islamic world for a significant time, Baghdad is where the Caliphate ruled from after Damascus, I think you are stretching it a wee bit. --Irishpunktom\^talk 17:37, August 15, 2005 (UTC)

It helps to check Wikipedia itself as to the origins of Baghdad. You will see that there is no "stretching it" and the origins of it is Persian. (Babak October 11, 2005)

[edit] "Medieval"

The article states that the stories are "a piece of medieval Middle-Eastern literature". But then it says that they were compiled in the 9th century. So which is it?

Jonatan 20:15, 15 October 2005 (UTC)

Some people consider the Middle Ages to begin after the fall of the Western Roman Empire; by that standard, this would be medieval. The term "Dark Ages" certainly does not apply to Persia, though it would reasonably apply to Europe at this time. -- Jmabel | Talk 23:56, 16 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Abbasid or Arab

Which should it be? the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid or the Arab Caliph Harun al-Rashid?

Philip Stevens 12:41, 22 October 2005.

How about both? Yuber^(talk) 12:59, 22 October 2005 (UTC)

It is an Arabic and also an Abbasid Caliph. It doesn't matter what you say. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.43.81.122 (talk • contribs) 15 Jan 2006.

[edit] Prince of Persia?

Why is the Prince of Persia linked here, does it have anything to do with the Nights? Philip Stevens 15:28, 19 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] It is Persian

The story is completely Persian because of the names and also it was the Arabic version of 1000 myths or Hezar Afsaneh which was completely Persian. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 82.43.81.122 (talk • contribs) 15 Jan 2006.

Yes I also believe that this is Persian and Arabs want to be unfair to us. Iranians have to prove their identity to the world. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Maziar fayaz (talk • contribs) 20 Jan 2006.

[edit] Indian Roots

I just listened to this podcast about the Abbasid Caliphs (MP3), where they claim the origin of the stories is actually India. It is claimed that the stories travelled from India to Persia. 20:40 in the podcast. Jaco plane 20:44, 6 February 2006 (UTC)

I think most scolars agree that it has indian roots, but the majority of the stories were added in two periods in the middle east. The fist bunch of new additions often contained magic and mythological creatures. The other bunch was added in Baghdad and the more urban style made most of the added stories relativley realistic. Then various stories were added and removed. Many of the more ertotic stories are for instance of egyptian origin. // Liftarn

According to most scholars, many if not most of the stories in the Nights have origins in ancient Indian story collections such as the Panchatantra and the Jataka. The others are of Persian and Arabic origin. Overall, I see it as an Persian-Indian-Arabic work. The basic framework, however, is Persian. Afghan Historian 20:22, 27 April 2006 (UTC)

As I wrote a bit down on this page there are three layers. There are also other influences liek Jewish[2] and different versions also contain different stories so they may for inctance include stories from Egypt too. // Liftarn

[edit] Possible Plagiarism: `1001 Nights` is A Mere Translation of the Persian Masterpiece `1000 Myths`

How unfortunate that a story that begins with, “This is a story about a Persian (Iranian) King who lived during the Persian Sassanid dynasty...... ”, and a story whose main characters at the nucleus of the story are ALL Persian, with pure--original Persian names like Shahrzad, is being represented to the world as `Arabian Nights`. It is very much possible that `the Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor` chapters in the book were inspired by some Indian-Chinese mirabilia; however, there is nothing wrong with that, such that the Persian author who penned this masterpiece was simply inspired by them. Wasn’t Shakespeare inspired by some old Jewish, European, and even Oriental folktales? That is what authors do; they get inspired, and then they use their imagination. Yet, what is important to realize is that the written [proof] indicates where the story is from, and it is useless to try and go beyond the physical evidence, i.e. the facts. And, all the evidence proves this was an Old Persian folktale. Nevertheless, 1000 years ago there were no plagiarism, or copyright laws, because if there were, this Persian body of work would have rightly been called, `The Persian Nights`.

About Baghdad: Baghdad is where Babylon used to be, and back then it was a province of the Persian Achaemenid Dynasty, and Ctesiphon in Babylon was the capital of two enormous Persian Empires; namely the Parthian and the Sassanids. Later-on, Arabs move in the area, when the Persian `Sassanid Dynasty` fail. The city Baghdad was designed and built by a Persian Jew--Mushallah, and the name is Persian, meaning, Bagh=garden, and dad or daad=gave. It is mind boggling that over 90 percent of Islamic scientists, tales like 1001 Nights, even architectural designs, poetry, paintings, you name it, were the contribution of Persian poets, scientists etc., yet Arabs take credit for it. Zmmz 04:43, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

-- "back then" that area was a province of Babylon. Babylon is not Persian. Later Persians moved to the area from the east. It is not suprising to see some "persians" again trying to "own" everything middle-eastern. -Ur

[edit] Verifications?

From Borges, The Garden of Froking Paths:

I remembered too that night which is at the middle of the Thousand and One Nights when Scheherazade (through a magical oversight of the copyist) begins to relate word for word the story of the Thousand and One Nights, establishing the risk of coming once again to the night when she must repeat it, and thus to infinity.

Can anyone verify whether this actually happens? (Or does happen in some well-known erroneous version?) This was one of Borges's fictional works, so it's hard to say whether he's making up his references.

Also, how many stories are there? It isn't exactly 1001, as I understand. How many is it? Or are the interconnections too vague to make an exact count possible? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 136.142.21.64 (talk • contribs) 12 Feb 2006.

[edit] Inline citations

Some of the facts in the article, while plausible, are a little surprising. Would inline citations be practical in this article? Andjam 12:44, 10 April 2006 (UTC)

I recommend cite.php over inline citations, but something like that, sure. - Jmabel | Talk 01:40, 22 April 2006 (UTC)

One of my first encounters with the book was ascribed to Edgar Allen Poe, yet I see nothing here about him, but I had been under the impression that he had had a hand in at least some western versions of the myths. I have encountered much confusion (including my own) as to the origins of the story---Dragonwlkr 13:31, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

Is this what you are referring to? The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Philip Stevens 13:50, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Only Translations Available?

I admit I haven't looked as extensively as I should have, but offhand I don't see links to anything that's not a translation. (I am making an assumption that there is an original language for this, in Arabic...or Persian...or something that's not written in the letters I'm typing at the moment. I've seen one site that has a picture of two pages in Arabic script, but that appears to be it.) Given I'm studying Arabic, I would love to find a site that has the stories in the original language (if one exists). And for those who dislike translations as a rule, it would be nice to have easy access to a good untranslated copy. Anyone know where one might exist? Kilyle 22:40, 16 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Arabic WikiSource

http://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/%D8%A3%D9%84%D9%81_%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9_%D9%88%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A9

Here you can find the tales in arabic (the original tales) but also if you are studying Arabic I think that the tales text is not easy.

There are many collections of tales in Persian and Arabic, and you'll find many with similarities. But you won't find exactly the set translated by Antoine Galland in the eighteenth century, which we know as The Book of One Thousand and One Nights. --Wetman 06:59, 14 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is a "literary epic" ?)

No, I'm afraid you're wrong. The correct question was "What is a collection of tales within a framing device." What was your wager? --Wetman 07:24, 17 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] What is the Indian name?

Does anyone know the Indian name of 1001 nights? I think it shuld be added along with the Arabic and Persian names.

I don't think it ever was compiled (or it may have been, but it haven't survived), but it was spread westward as oraly transmitted folktales. Some indian compilations include Pañcatantra and Kathāsaritsāgara. The 1001 Nights has several layers and you can see three distinct types of stories. First there is the stories of inidan origin with creatures like djinns (according to some people it may come from Pañcatantra[3]). Then some persian folk tales were added (I don't have my reference handy, but I think this includes stories like Ali Baba and Sinbad). The third major layer was added in Baghdad. This layer contains no or very little supernatural creaturs, magic and such. Examples are the story of the little judge (or was it caliph?). // Liftarn

I don't think Ali Baba was a Persian folk tale (the name is Arabic and was not used in Persia before Islam), and there is no way djinns could have Indian roots! The Jinns (i.e. Genies) are supernatural beings in ancient Arabian Mythology, so they must have Arabian roots.

OK, as I said I don't have my reference book handy, but there are indeed three different layers of stories in the collection. // Liftarn

[edit] Calender

What is a "Calender" ?

I have a (grossly overabridged) version that contains several stories about Three "Calenders" - each blind in one eye who were sons of kings.

Unfortunately, the modern Wikipedia entry under calender is about a machine involved in the paper industry...

It's the admittedly misleading transliteration of the Persian word for a Sufi mystic. There's an article about them on Wikipedia under the title of "Qalandar." Haddawy refers to them as dervishes with a footnote describing them as, "Members of a Muslim order of mendicant monks, vowed to a life of poverty." (Haddawy 1990:76) Mjannin 23:38, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Improving the Article

I think something more should be said about the textual and editorial history of the Nights. For instance, it's my understanding that most modern translations are based on one of five 19th-century editions, refered to by their place of publication: Calcutta I (1814-1818), Bulaq / Cairo I (1835), Calcutta II (1839-1842), Breslau (1824-1843) and Bulaq II. The Burton translation is a free rendering of Calcutta II, and I think Mardras translated Bulaq I. Maybe a seperate section should be added to the article dealing with this kind of information, as well as a list of various translations. Kmbush40 07:14, 29 October 2006 (UTC)

If you have something solid and citable on this, this would be an excellent addition. - Jmabel | Talk 20:35, 31 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Burton's translation and the rare book market

Good article. How much would Burton's edition be worth on the rare book market? In 1998 a Lebanese friend of mine, and a lover of rare books, found the complerte set of Burton's rtanslation for sale in Baghdad in the Bookseller's Market (Mutannabi Street), for $200. It had a bookplate from the British Council - in fact the entire library was for sale there on the footpath. PiCo 02:40, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

Apparently nearly US$3000 in very good condition. In general, Abe Books is a great place to answer this sort of question. If it's English-language and on the market at all, there is about an 80% chance of finding it on that one site. - Jmabel | Talk 04:01, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Alasnam

There is an orphan article Alasnam that looks like it should be linked to from this article. I do not have the knowledge of this subject to included it, can someone here do it? Jeepday 14:18, 12 November 2006 (UTC)

The article is badly written and deals with a subject of extremely minor importance (or of extreme unimportance). I don't think it's worth linking. PiCo 05:56, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks PiCo, I will make appropriate notations on that article. This section can be deleted in a week or so Jeepday 13:24, 13 November 2006 (UTC)

We generally keep them, and eventually archive them. It might lead someone to give that article some attention. - Jmabel | Talk 03:55, 16 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Odd inclusion

Why is there a mention of a musical piece called La Noche de las Noches? The title (which means "the night of nights") doesn't suggest any obvious connection. - Jmabel | Talk 02:45, 26 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] This book is Persian

This book is Persian. For any Arab who doesn't understand, just read it once and you'll see that the core history is in Sassanid Persian Empire. The stories were collected by Persians and written in a single book. Of course, after all those uncivilized Arabs burning Persian and Egyptian book (in the Alexandria Library for example) that many original versions of books will be lost. --Arad 23:15, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

But it is a collection of Persian, Arabic, and Indian stories. The origin of each story can be determined by looking at the setting, what creatures it contains and if it contains magic or not. // Liftarn

Yes, indeed they were collected from all over Asia, but the person who wrote the all in one book called 1001 Nights and edited them and used different name (Iranian name obviously) was in fact Persian. --Arad 00:00, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Can u give an evidence about " Of course, after all those uncivilized Arabs burning Persian and Egyptian book (in the Alexandria Library for example) that many original versions of books will be lost. " It is well-known when Alexandria Library destroyed!!!!!!. Also you should know that old Persian is different than Middle Persian and modern Persian, and around 30% of the Persian language vocabularies were brought from Arabic. Educate your self then write. And stop being racist. Aziz1005 20:34, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

My dear Arab. If you had a bit of education you could see that: In 642, when Arabs attacked, "The library and its contents were destroyed in 642 during the war. The Lighthouse was destroyed by earthquakes in the 14th century, and by 1700 the city was just a small town among the ruins." (from Wikipedia itself). Also, indeed after that bloody conquest of Arabs, there is going to be many words from Arabic into Persian. And please stay away from subjects you don't know. And don't judge people when you have no idea. --Arad 00:21, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Arabic or Persian?

Now I assume that there is a strong Iranian presence here, and that's why people are changing the article to make it say this book is Persian. This is the only explanation I can think of, there being no factual evidence offered.

To those people I say: please stop spreading mis-information. If you have a good argument, then present it here on the talk page, else don't change the page to reflect your own prejudices.

As far as the actual 'case' goes, all we can say is that the book is a collection of stories, and this collection has grown over several centuries. It is a tenable position that some of the oldest come from Persia, India, or other places, but there is little evidence to support this thesis. In fact, some of the more typically 'foreign' names in the book may have been invented by Arab bards just for that purpose: to sound foreign and imposing.

IMHO, once the first stories were written in arabic, they formed a snowball effect, and the book continued to change until it has acquired its most recent form, sometime in the 18th or 19th century after the invention of printing came to the Arab World. As such, the core and the meat of the book is defintely Arab, even if we accept the idea that it's 'nucleus' is not.

Now let me add that this isn't a matter of national pride, it is a matter of historical accuracy. As such, one also must recognize that the book's fame comes from its reputation in non-arab countries (especially the west) much more so than it's reputation in the Arab World. This is also the case with the 'Rubaiiyat of Omar Khayyam' and to a lesser extent with the Chinese "Journey to the West'. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 90.153.128.12 (talk) 01:48, 27 January 2007 (UTC).

Note: This article is literally littered with the word 'Persian'. Will you stop that?

Please log in. Also stop this nonsense. The fame of 1001 Nights was far more heard in Iran than in West. for centuries Iranians told these stories. Same for Khayyam. And Persia is a NON-Arab country and it not a part of your so called arab World. Also, you're humble opinion is also wrong. This book was first written in Persian (just spend some time reading it and you'll see it starts in the Sassanid Persian Empire. And it wasn't a book which got added up. It was a collection of stories, from the beginning, written by a Persian, which wrote many folk and other stories in a single book. The stories and originally from all over the Asia, but it was written by a Persian.

Note: This article is literally littered with the word 'Arab'. Will you stop that? --Arad 02:29, 27 January 2007 (UTC)

----Dear Arad :

I found in some website that the original version of 1000 nights and night is in (The oriental institution)not sure about the translation, in Chicago University and it is in Arabic from the 9th century this is the article in Arabic if u can read the source because I am not good at translating or writing in English قطعة قديمة جدا تعتبر الأقدم في العالم حتى اليوم، موجودة في المعهد الشرقي بجامعة شيكاغو ترقى الى القرن الثالث للهجرة، راجع (كوركيس عواد : المخطوطات العربية في الدور الأمريكية ص 34 الرقم3) وللدكتورة نبيهة عبود دراسة مفصلة عن هذه القطعة بعنوان:Abbott(Nabia) A Ninth Century Fragment of (Thousand and one Nights), Journal Eastern Studies , Vol, VIII, 1949, PP 129-164.

And remember, I agree with u that there is some Persian influence but this does not mean the tale is completely Persian.....There are a lot of stories from Arabic heritage; Basra, Baghdad and Damascus were mentioned in the stories. I have written there it is an Arab-Indo-Persian tale and u deleted that and wrote Persian only.....Why? Aziz1005 22:27, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

OK, i see your point. I never said the book's stories are all Persian. Of course they all come from around Asia and some maybe from Africa. But I said the book was written by a Persian. And also, I never deleted the Arab-Indo-Persian. If I did, I'm sorry, but I think it was another user. But thank you for the research you did. Have a nice day --Arad 22:29, 29 January 2007 (UTC)

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