Mardrus translated from the Arabic into French. Mathers then translated from the French into English.

This collection of Arabic folk tales shouldn't need any introduction. I read the free Kindle version in four volumes because I assumed it was the least abridged. Now that I've finished, I'm not so sure it was the best version to pick because it seemed to be missing some of the most famous tales (for example, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Sinbad the Sailor, and Aladdin). I also think the translation was a bit too literal and would have been better if the translator had interpreted the feel of the stories instead of just translating word for word. What I liked about this version was that it really gave me a good feel for the Arabic culture. As for the stories themselves, some of them were good, some of them were not so good, but that's what you expect from such a massive collection. ( )