Book Review: Edmund Dulac’s Arabian Nights

EDMUND DULAC’S ARABIAN NIGHTS AMERICAN WEEKLY ILLUSTRATIONS: TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS by Albert Seligman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The March, April and May 1925 issues of The American Weekly featured ‘Characters from the Arabian Nights’. These illustrations have been collected into this magical, vibrant book.

In “The Sultana”, Scheherazade tells one of her enthralling Arabian Nights stories, not just with her voice, but also with her hands and her eyes. Her slight head-tilt and smile add to the experience – I can almost hear her saying, “You won’t believe what happens next!”

“Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp” isn’t your cliche image with Aladdin releasing a jolly bald man from his little lamp. This blue and gold overpoweringly huge genie looks quite alien. His intense gaze and predatory smile gives me the feeling that things aren’t going to go well for Aladdin.

The Caliph Haroun Al Raschid, star of “The Three Calenders and the Five Ladies of Baghdad” liked to dress like a commoner and mingle with his subjects. However, he’s portrayed here wearing a rather fancy headdress which might even be a crown. His expression seems untrustworthy, to my eye. This illustration makes me curious enough to hunt down the story once again.

On the flip side, I’d enjoy spending time with the rather plump (his shirt buttons are straining and close to popping off) Ali Baba, who displays a very pleasant, relaxed expression. Clearly something’s gone very well for him recently.

The girl with the tongue twisting name, “The Princess Badroulboudour–The Sweetheart of Aladdin” plays a musical instrument in serene surroundings. The use of pale rose and soft greens sets a tranquil mood.

But we leave tranquility behind on the next page. In spite of her relaxed, serene expression, there’s nothing peaceful about what’s going on in “Morgania Pours the Boiling Oil on the Forty Thieves”. I can almost hear the hissing steam rising from the thieves’ hiding-bags as she tilts boiling oil into each.

“The Prince and The Talking Bird” is charming for its pattern-play, from the flowering hedge to the texture of the bird’s feathers to the three different designs in the prince’s outfit.

One of my favorite illustrations is “Sinbad the Sailor and the Roc”. It looks so cartoony to me! The situation is absurd, with Sinbad tied to one of the roc’s feet as they fly so far up in the sky that three land masses can be seen below them. From the crazy expression on the roc’s face, to Sinbad’s awkwardly stiff legs, this one just makes me laugh.

Deep red and purple tones make “The Enchanted Horse” a striking image. The prince riding the horse looks so startled. His wild eyes are especially compelling.

The first half of the book ends with “New Lamps for Old–Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp”, another engrossing study in facial expressions.

“Tales from The Arabian Nights” was the theme from December 1950 to February 1951. This second half of the book includes a retelling of each story that inspired the illustrations. If you’ve never read the stories before, you’re in for some fun.

We start with a wild-eyed, slightly goofy looking genie carrying Princess Budour into the scene in “The Genie Dehnesh brings Princess Budour to compare her with Prince Kemerezzeman”. The three humans in the illustration are beautiful, especially when compared to that genie! The story is both silly and sweet, and ends with a teaser that there is more to this story which will be concluded in the next issue. Scheherazade would be pleased. As promised, the story was wrapped up in the next issue, illustrated by “Princess Budour, reigning disguised as a king, often sat on a balcony overlooking the sea, hoping the next ship would bring her beloved”.

The story of “Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Princess Perie-Banou” is marvelous. It’s filled with brotherly rivalry, challenges, wisdom, rescue, and ultimately, a grand plot revealed. The story was continued in the next issue, where “Prince Ahmed Finds the Sorceress”.

The final two illustrations, “Ali Baba dumps bags of gold before his amazed wife” and “Morgiana dances with the dagger before Ali Baba and the Captain of the thieves” tell one of the most well-known of the stories. The illustrations are particularly fun thanks to all the character’s facial expressions. Take time to really look at each of them.

If you aren’t familiar with the tales from the Arabian Nights, this volume can be your introduction to a wealth of fantastical stories. If you’ve already read the stories, you’ll enjoy seeing them come to life in Edmund Dulac’s unique illustrations.

View all my Goodreads reviews