There exist a number of systems designed to transliterate Arabic words into approximate English renderings; far too many, in fact, for a work of general interest. In this book, which is written for a broad readership by a non-Arabist, words that have familiar English forms, such as caliph, sultan, genie, Koran and roc are retained for the sake of familiarity, even if these terms have not been, linguistically speaking, transliterated into their closest phonetic equivalents (such as Qur’an, which is nearer to the Arabic pronunciation than the hard western “K” used in Koran).
As for names, the same rule applies. Although there are more accurate renderings of names like Scheherazade and Dinarzade available (Shahrazad and Dunyazad, respectively, being among the most common), these forms are the ones with the greatest familiarity for the greatest number of readers, and for that reason are retained here. It is also for that reason that I have decided to use a more popular and simpler Arabic word for “storyteller”—rawi—rather than the more acceptably accurate term al-hakawati. It is simply a matter of making things easier for readers.
Moreover, while there are countless versions of the Arabian Nights in print, the frame story involving Queen Scheherazade contained in the opening of many—but certainly not all—editions has been retold here in modified form as a reminder that the tales that follow are part of a larger and more immediate story occurring simultaneously with the recited ones, as well as the oft-forgotten fact that the most extraordinary figure in the entire Nights is the one actually doing the telling.
As far as quotations go, after some thought I’ve decided to use the Sir Richard Francis Burton English translation almost exclusively as a source text. Verbose, archaic and even as frequently unpleasant as is Burton’s style, it remains nonetheless the lengthiest version of the Nights in English, as well as one of the most famous translations of any book in existence, and even today retains an (admittedly prolix) antique flavour appropriate to the subject.
Regarding that subject: When discussing an Arabic text, I prefer to use its Arabic name, Alf Laila wa Laila—literally, “A Thousand Nights and One Night”—while otherwise employing interchangeably the common western titles of The Thousand and One Nights and the Arabian Nights for European-language editions. All versions of the work, however, are designated simply as “the Nights.”
Finally, while it’s hardly necessary to say it, it should be said, anyway. Any errors of fact, text, translation or anything else remain solely the responsibility of the author, and are not reflective of those associates, colleagues or friends who aided or otherwise supported the writing of this book. They remain blameless, although each deserves a 1001 salaams for their efforts.