A New Trend Emerged in Recent Times

An eighteenth-century translation that may not have possessed literary greatness but had a lasting and extensive impact was that of the “Arabian Nights.” The initial rendition into French by Antoine Galland as “Les Mille et une nuit” spanned twelve volumes (1704-1717), followed by a partial translation from French into English in 1712 and a complete translation in 1778. Although incomplete, the first significant direct translation from Arabic was undertaken by William Lane (London, 1839-1841), and the Arabian Nights effortlessly captured the imagination of readers, establishing itself as the most beloved work of Oriental literature. It saw approximately thirty English and French editions throughout the eighteenth century, and since then, it has been published countless times. For ordinary readers, these folk tales from a different realm provided an escape from the harsh realities of life. Ballet dancers found in them novel themes and approaches, while for all readers, they offered a departure from common sense and the cold logic of reason, immersing them in a world where fantasy became a reality. Consequently, these tales stood in opposition to classical literature, aligning with the spirit of the romantic movement. Complemented by an increasing body of travel literature, these Oriental tales painted a vivid, enchanting, exotic, and enigmatic image of the Islamic world, drawing it closer to the hearts and minds of Westerners. By the mid-nineteenth century, a noticeable shift had occurred in the scholarly view of Islamic culture, thanks to the efforts of English and French professors and further