The Arabian Nights Entertainments


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(3.8 stars; 94 reviews)

The Arabian Nights Entertainments invites listeners into a mesmerizing world of ancient tales, where magic, adventure, and wisdom intertwine. This collection features a rich tapestry of stories that have captivated audiences for centuries, showcasing the vibrant culture and folklore of the Middle East.

At the heart of these narratives is the clever Scheherazade, who spins enchanting tales each night to delay her fate. From daring heroes and cunning villains to mythical creatures and moral lessons, each story offers a glimpse into the human experience, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and the quest for knowledge.

Originally translated into English from Arabic in the 18th century, this version by Andrew Lang brings a unique perspective to these timeless stories. The vivid imagery and engaging storytelling make it a delightful experience for both children and adults, ensuring that the magic of The Arabian Nights continues to resonate through the ages.

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

Preface 5:38 Read by Neeru Iyer
The Arabian Nights 7:06 Read by Elli
The Story of the Merchant and the Genius 7:50 Read by Elli
The Story of the First Old Man and of the Hind 6:09 Read by Elli
The Story of the Second Old Man and of the Two Black Dogs 6:01 Read by Elli
The Story of the Fisherman 6:11 Read by Elli
The Story of the Greek King and the Physician Douban 4:53 Read by Julie VW
The Story of the Husband and the Parrot 3:33 Read by Julie VW
The Story of the Vizir Who Was Punished 16:57 Read by Barry Eads
The Story of the Young King of the Black Isles 6:04 Read by Barry Eads
The Story of the Three Calendars, Sons of Kings and of Five Ladies of Bagdad 19:49 Read by Steven Rushing
The Story of the First Calendar, Son of a King 11:17 Read by Steven Rushing
The Story of the Second Calendar, Son of a King 14:55 Read by Steven Rushing
The Story of the Envious Man and of Him Who Was Envied 25:30 Read by TriciaG
The Story of the Third Calendar, Son of a King 27:56 Read by TriciaG
The Seven Voyages of Sinbad the Sailor 6:59 Read by Dawn Larsen
First Voyage 11:29 Read by Dawn Larsen
Second Voyage 13:02 Read by Dawn Larsen
Third Voyage 14:37 Read by Nathan
Fourth Voyage 13:47 Read by Nathan
Fifth Voyage 10:48 Read by Ric F
Sixth Voyage 13:05 Read by Nathan
Seventh and Last Voyage 10:52 Read by Nathan
The Little Hunchback 15:34 Read by Linda Ferguson
The Story of the Barber's Fifth Brother 19:22 Read by Linda Ferguson
The Story of the Barber's Sixth Brother 11:21 Read by Linda Ferguson
The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura (Part I) 22:39 Read by Gabi
The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura (Part II) 26:39 Read by TriciaG
The Adventures of Prince Camaralzaman and the Princess Badoura (Part III) 27:04 Read by TriciaG
Noureddin and the Fair Persian (Part I) 24:50 Read by wilwarin
Noureddin and the Fair Persian (Part II) 24:45 Read by wilwarin
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp 31:37 Read by Floyd Wilde
The Adventures of Haroun-al-Raschid, the Caliph of Bagdad 5:41 Read by ValerieSuydam
The Story of the Blind Baba-Abdalla 16:03 Read by Ric F
The Story of Sidi-Nouman 22:07 Read by Naila Baig-Ansari
The Story of Ali-Colia, Merchant of Bagdad 19:30 Read by Ric F
The Enchanted Horse (Part I) 22:19 Read by Barry Eads
The Enchanted Horse (Part II) 21:34 Read by Barry Eads
The Story of the Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister (Part I) 20:05 Read by Dale A. Bade
The Story of the Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister (Part II) 19:33 Read by Dale A. Bade
The Story of the Two Sisters Who Were Jealous of Their Younger Sister (Part III) 19:02 Read by Dale A. Bade

Reviews

Hard to understand


(1 star)

The first reader has a very thick accent- German I think? and I found it very hard to understand or listen to without paying very close attention. I want listening to this to be a relaxing enjoyable activity, not so much work.

Thanks


(5 stars)

This audiobook is great! I found all the readers very good. Only the quality of some of the later files made listening a bit hard. Thanks!

Mostly good


(3 stars)

most of the readers were clear and easy to understand. some were fuzzy recordings but overall worth the listen.

Classic Arabian tales worth listening to


(5 stars)

An interesting listen, and one I've wanted to hear most of my life. It did take a considerable chunk of time but it was worth it. I listen when I'm creating art or knitting and for a large chunk of this book I was on bedrest during my last pregnancy with my daughter. Some of the stories are quite unpleasant, and the treatment of women is quite deplorable, but it was from a long time ago (I don't believe in censoring and cancelling old fiction, it may be wrong but it's interesting to see positive changes today compared to previous times) and also interesting to see how some stories evolved over the years, for example how in Aladdin it was the ring as well as the lamp that he used. I liked some of the stories I'd never heard before, and find it interesting that magic seems to be both reviled and also celebrated. The talking birds, enchanted horses and djinn have given me a wealth of ideas for stories and d&d campaigns I may run one day. I'd recommend it.

great collection


(2 stars)

I wish the reader would slow down a bit,that could be done with some minor digital editing if she can't. It's kind of hard to listen to in a relaxed fashion due to the speed and the German? accent, one has to really concentrate on getting the words at the expence of enjoying the story.


(0.5 stars)

Wish they had someone I could understand reading the book 🤦‍♂️😜


(3.5 stars)

The first reader was hard to understand but the rest was good

Thank You to all Readers and LibriVox for this wonderful collec


(4 stars)