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Written by Sir Richard Burton - Audio book performed by Philip Madoc - Music: Rimsky-Korsakov

Abridged Fiction - 3 CASSETTES - 3.7 hours

Publisher, Naxos Audiobooks (1995)

"Burton's ornate Spenserian-sounding English translation expresses the exotic and erotic nature of some of the stories. Philip Madoc's graceful reading has just the right edge of urgency and confidentiality." --Gramophone

Though The Arabian Nights are generally known as stories for children, they were originally tales for adults full of adventure, sexuality, violence and the supernatural. They certainly inspired the imagination of Sir Richard Burton, the 19th century explorer, linguist and erotologist who brought all his worldly experience and a superbly expressive prose style to bear on the tales of Sindbad the Seaman and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Scheherazade must keep her king entertained with stories if she is to avoid the promised sentence of death. Philip Madoc's sonorous performance allows the tales to weave their own enchantment as they have done down the centuries.