It is a
collection of 1001 stories which was first recorded in the 9th
Century, with
tales brought together from China, India, Egypt, Iraq, Iran and places in
the East.
In 942 AD the collection contained only 264 stories. It is believed that
others,
including “Aladdin” were added later during European translations in the 18th
Century, when the number increased.
Originally these tales were supposed to be the stories told by Scheherazade
to her
husband, the King. The King, set on revenge after his first wife was
unfaithful to him,
decided to marry each day, and execute his wife the next morning. Not
surprisingly
the wives were in short supply, and it became the turn of the Vizier’s
daughter, Scheherazade.
Scheherazade hit on a plan to remain alive for as long as possible, and each
night
would tell her husband a thrilling story, promising to complete it the
following day.
Eventually, after 1001 nights of entertaining stories the King abandoned his
cruel
plot, and Scheherazade was saved
( Courtesy:
http://www.its-behind-you.com/storyaladdin.html )
More Stories from
Arabian Nights
