Tuhat ja yksi yötä

Bookshelves: Culture/Civilization/Society, Literature

Summary

"Tuhat ja yksi yötä" by Valfrid Hedman is a collection of Middle Eastern folktales compiled in the early 20th century. The work draws on the narrative tradition of tales narrated by the clever Scheherazade to delay her execution at the hands of the vengeful Sultan Shah-Riar. The stories include adventures of various characters, including a merchant, a fisherman, and the legendary figures of Sinbad and Aladdin, weaving themes of wisdom, fate, and morality through enchanting tales. The opening portion of the collection sets the stage with the story of Shah-Riar and his brother, Shah-Zenan, who are both rulers with deep familial bonds. After Shah-Zenan discovers his wife's treachery, he tragically enacts revenge, leading Shah-Riar to resolve to marry a new woman each day, only to execute her the following morning due to distrust of women. The narrative introduces Sheherazade, the vizier's daughter, who offers herself to the Sultan in a bid to save the lives of the women from his wrath. Her cunning strategy of storytelling is highlighted during the initial chapters, exemplifying her intelligence and resourcefulness amidst dire circumstances. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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