Translated from the Persian by
DUNCAN FORBES
REVISED AND EDITED, WITH INTRODUCTION
BY
WILLIAM ROUNSEVILLE ALGER
Boston, U.S.A., and London
GINN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS
1896
Copyright, 1896, by
GINN & COMPANY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
This remarkable and fascinating romance, in its English version, wasoriginally published under the auspices of the Oriental TranslationFund sixty-five years ago. Issued in the form of a costly folio, itwas buried in great libraries, and scarcely found its way at all tothe general public. The publishers of the present edition, becomingacquainted with the rare merits and the intense interest of the work,have resolved to bring it, in a more available shape, to the attentionof the large class of refined readers who cannot fail to be bothdelighted and edified by it.
The preface by the accomplished translator of the work from thePersian dealt much with philological matters which are of no interestsave to critical students or linguists. Omitting these portions,re-arranging and condensing the rest, and adding some new matter, thepresent editor seeks here simply to furnish such an introduction aswill enable those who approach the work to occupy the right point ofview for an appreciative perusal of it. He has inserted in the textitself, in order not to encumber the pages with footnotes, suchchanges or explanatory phrases as will remove any obscurities whichmight perplex the reader.
The story consists of seven connected tales, of the same generalcharacter with those of the Arabian Nights Entertainments. In excitinginterest, in ethical charm, in imaginative richness of startlingadventures, it is not one whit inferior to the very best of thoseworld-renowned masterpieces. It is a magnificent specimen of thatideal freedom of genius which creates its own world, peoples it withits own productions and events, and sympathizes, in vivid interiorreproduction, with the romantic experiences of its characters andtheir destinies. Herein it is a valuable education of the reader indramatic liberty of mind, fertility of fancy, quickness and strengthof emotional action and reaction.
The whole production is also marked by an eminently humane and heroicspirit. The illustrious personage who figures as its hero, and whosethrilling adventures it records, was in his time regarded as anunequalled pattern of bravery, wisdom, and generosity. Hatim ben Ubaidben Sa’id, chief of the tribe of Taï, lived in the latter half of thesixth century of the Christian era. His native country was Arabia