Book Review: The Caliph Haroun Al Raschid-A Tale from the Arabian Nights

The Caliph Haroun Al Raschid-A Tale from the Arabian Nights: A Book from the Golden Age of Illustration by Albert Seligman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is one of six in a series that brings you tales of the Arabian Knights. Each book contains a specific group of the tales. Here you’ll find the adventures of Caliph Haroun Al Raschid.

What sets this series apart from other versions of these classic stories, besides Edward Lane’s excellent translations, is the artwork. Literally every page is graced with stunning scenes created by artists from the Golden Age of Illustration (late 1800s-early 1930s). Over 100 watercolors, black and white line drawings, and engravings are waiting to dazzle your eyes. Editor Albert Seligman has taken the time to ensure that the artwork’s colors are the best they can possibly be.

If you are new to the tales of the Arabian Knights, jump in! This book and its companion volumes are a fine place to start. Those who appreciate the artwork of the Golden Age of Illustration are going to want the entire series, both for reference and pure enjoyment.

My personal favorite illustration is on page 63, done by Maxfield Parrish in 1909. The scene is deceptively simple at first; a man walks down a long staircase with massive pillars at the top. The scene is dappled with playful shadows and light in some places, while deeper shadows literally swallow everything they touch in darkness. You can feel the shift in air temperature, I swear you can almost smell the stonework cooling in the shade. (Stonework has a scent. I know this from experience.)

There are so many illustrations just waiting to draw you in, as they bring to life to outlandish stories from long ago. This is truly a book to read repeatedly, and treasure.