The strangest magic

Translation: Abla Aouda Number of pages: 509 pages Publisher: Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority Cover: hardcover Marina Warner moves, in her encyclopedic book, lightly between time and place to trace the history of myths, legends, and magic, starting with ancient civilizations such as Greek, Persian, and Indian, passing through the Arab Islamic civilization, until reaching later European civilization, and connecting all of that with the fascination of imagination and the sweetness of narration in the tales of One Thousand and One Nights, explaining the influence of these tales on the development of folklore literature, especially in 18th-century Europe, through what she called the phenomenon of "One Thousand and One Nights." The author sees in the journey of these extended tales a bright image of cultural exchange and civilizational dialogue away from political and military conflicts that marred the relationship between East and West, from the First Crusades until the European colonial era. Since their arrival in Europe during the Enlightenment, the tales of "The Nights" have become an integral part of the main current of literary and popular culture, influencing prominent writers and thinkers after they read them in multiple languages, such as Voltaire, Goethe, Beekford, and other writers who were affected by the magic of these stories. This was the first seed that grew to produce magical realism literature, as many critics agree. Undoubtedly, this translation will be a qualitative addition to the Arab library and an indispensable reference for researchers in the fields of folklore, anthropology, and comparative literature, in addition to providing enjoyment and benefit to readers in general.