Aladdin & The Wonderful Lamp

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp had been one of the most loved of all the 1001 Nights stories since it was first translated from Arabic into French by Antoine Galland. It was translated into English by Edward Lane around 1840 and its popularity has only increased since then. This edition uses the Lane translation, but I have edited it to modernize the text a bit by changing obsolete words and expressions, while preserving the original charm and Victorian manners. It is suitable for children and adults alike.

The story begins after Aladdin loses his father and is aimless wandering the streets. A stranger from Africa approaches him and claims to be his uncle, the brother of his recently deceased father. He lavishes Aladdin and his mother with money and clothes, and promises to buy him a shop to make his living.

During a visit, the African, who is really not his uncle, but a wicked magician, takes Aladdin on a long walk far from the city and by means of magic shows him a secret cave. He commands Aladdin to find a bronze lamp, remove the oil, and bring it to him at once. Aladdin complies, but with the lamp tied to his waist, can not exit the narrow passage from the cave. The magician becomes angry, and closes the entrance, with Aladdin stranded inside.

As Aladdin is despairing of his fate, he wrings his hands together over a ring the magician had given him and a huge genie appears, announcing he is the slave of the ring, and must grant any wish by the owner of the ring. Aladdin wishes to be transported out of the cave and instantly finds himself outside again. He runs home as fast as he can.

While telling his mother all that has happened, and being now left destitute by the false uncle Aladdin decides to try to sell the lamp for money to buy food. His mother offers to polish it to bring a better price, and as she begins to rub the lamp another even bigger genie appears. He announces that he is the Genie of the Lamp, and slave to the owner. Aladdin’s mother faints, but Aladdin commands food, and the genie instantly complies with 12 silver trays of delicious victuals.

One day Aladdin hears that the daughter of the Sultan, the beautiful Princess Badroulboudour will be visiting the baths, and decides to hide himself in order to view her. He instantly falls in love, and vows to marry her. He tells his mother, who tries to discourage such insolence. But with the aid of his mother and the slave of the lamp Aladdin forms a plan to win the Princess and live in splendor.

The rest of the story, which I will not spoil for you, is how he weds the Princess, loses her and his palace.to the revenge of the wicked African magician, but triumphs in the end. It is a story of clever and cunning, love and hate, and good finally defeating evil.

Fortunately for us, Aladdin’s popularity over the ages has inspired the most talented artists and illustrators to try their hand at telling the story. The illustrators in this edition include- Edmund Dulac, René Bull, Thomas Mackenzie, Helen Stratton, WH Robinson, FOC Darley, Walter Crane, Jules Worms, Thomas Dalziel, AB Houghton, Louis Rhead, Frances Brundage, Milo Winter, HJ Ford, JD Batten, John Hassall, Elizabeth Mackinstry, Virginia F Sterrett, Monroe S Orr, Raymond de la Neziere and others.

There are six books to this new illustrated Arabian Nights series-

• Aladdin & The Wonderful Lamp
• The Seven Voyages of Sindbad the Sailor
• Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
• The Caliph Haroun Al Raschid
• The Enchanted Horse
• Scheherazade

Publisher - Dulacebooks

Language - English

Case Bound - PPC

Contributors

By author

Albert Seligman

Edward Lane

Published Date - 2026-01-01

ISBN - 9789564252209

Dimensions - 25.4 x 17.8 x 1.1 cm

Page Count - 136