Overview

In a stunning collection, Reda al-Dabbagh has unearthed a treasure trove of Syrian fairy tales, bringing the East to life in a compendium rivalling the Arabian Nights for its grandeur and beauty, fable and fantasy. In his introduction, al-Dabbagh discusses the impact of civil war on his homeland, and how fairy tales have the power to unite us in our darkest moments. In stories that spring from the page with pace and precision, we meet a wicked genie, a foolish sultan, a hungry hyena, a runaway princess... Grandmother's Stories: Tales from Old Syria is a dazzling depiction of Eastern tradition transcribed and translated for modern readers young and old. With colourful characters, exotic settings, and plenty of twists and turns, these are fairy tales to read for years to come.

Full Product Details

9781941634783

Table of Contents

Reviews

'A treasure chest of enchanting and beautifully written tales from a rich and vibrant culture which is sadly disappearing before our eyes. Keen-eyed readers will no doubt draw parallels between some of these Syrian tales and certain staples of the Western canon of folklore. Reda al-Dabbagh has done us a great service in collecting and translating these spellbinding stories, which reveal that our two cultures are not quite so different after all.' Nigel Newton, Founder and Chief Executive of Bloomsbury Publishing; 'Grandmother's Stories read like dreams in print. Here are tales of warfare, romance, vengeance and magic composed and narrated with eerie originality.' Robert Irwin, Novelist, Middle East editor of the Times Literary Supplement and Professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies; 'I can imagine Reda al-Dabbagh as a small child listening with rapt attention to the stories told to him by his grandmother - Syrian folk tales of love and war which he relates in a very clear and engaging way. Once you start reading one of his stories you can't put it down.' Sir David Green, former Director-General of the British Council and Chairman of the Prince's School of Traidtional Arts.

Author Information

Reda al-Dabbagh is a collector of Arabic literature, and has a passion for translating unpublished works of classical Arabic fiction. He comes from an important leather-manufacturing family in Syria and was educated in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available