Andrew Lang

Andrew Lang’s rendition of *Arabian Nights* emerged from his deep interest in fairy tales, folklore and oral traditions. Well known as an author, critic, journalist and historian, Lang specialised in children’s literature and was regarded in his time as an authority on folklore, mythology and religious literature. Earlier English translators had sought to distance their versions from Antoine Galland’s influential French translation, accusing him of diluting the sophistication of the original material in favour of a version shaped for European entertainment. Lang, however, relied heavily on Galland’s translation for his own acclaimed rendition. His selection of stories preserves the distinctive framework and many of the defining characteristics of *Arabian Nights*, while presenting them in a form accessible to younger readers. Through its voyages, magical objects, strange creatures, enchanted worlds and encounters with the supernatural, Lang’s version retains the sense of wonder and adventure central to the collection while bringing its rich tradition of storytelling to a new generation of readers.