Heir to the wise Daniel, Hâsib is a young woodcutter promised to a great future. When his greedy companions abandon him in the middle of the forest, he meets the Queen of Serpents. She then tells her story, a fabulous adventure filled with gods and demons, princes and prophets. From Kabul to Cairo, journeys intertwine with intrigues and spiritual quests while the fabulous nights follow one another. An enchanting and intricately designed interpretation of the story of Hâsib Karîm ad-Dîm, through which David B. opens for us the gates of the Thousand and One Nights. For mature readers.

Notorious for the delight he took in tweaking the sexual taboos of the Victorian age-as well as the delight he took in the resulting shock of his bashful peers-British adventurer, linguist, and author CAPTAIN SIR RICHARD FRANCIS BURTON (1821-1890) is perhaps best remembered for his unexpurgated translation of the Eastern classic The One Thousand and One Nights, more famously known today as The Arabian Nights. Originating in Persian, Indian, and Arabic sources as far back as the ninth century AD, this collection of bawdy tales-which Burton was the first to bring to English readers in uncensored form-has exerted incalculable influence on modern literature. It represents one of the earliest examples of a framing story, as young Shahrazad, under threat of execution by the King, postpones her death by regaling him with these wildly entertaining stories over the course of 1,001 nights. The stories themselves feature early instances of sexual humor, satire and parody, murder mystery, horror, and even science fiction. Burton's annotated 16-volume collection, as infamous as it is important, was first published between 1885 and 1888, and remains an entertainingly naughty read. Volume V includes: [ "The Loves of the Boy and Girl at School" [ "The Caliph Harun Al-Rashid and the Three Slave-Girls" [ "The Water-Carrier and the Goldsmith's Wife" [ "The Woman's Trick Against Her Husband" [ "The Devout Woman and the Two Wicked Elders" [ "The Mad Lover" [ "The Angel of Death and the Rich King" [ "The Shipwrecked Woman and Her Child" [ "The Pious Black Slave" [ "The Blacksmith Who Could Handle Fire Without Hurt" [ "The Queen of Serpents" [ and many others.

This volume explores a dimension of reality usually scoffed at by rational-thinking individuals living in modern industrialized societies, but still experienced by these same individuals when they are in a stage of sleep known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep; this is the stage in which vivid and bizarre dreams are a person’s living reality. While in this stage, we believe what we experience is real, but then deny its reality upon awakening as we go about our daily routines. Yet, in many cases, a dream with vivid imagery and bizarre goings on is communicating with the dreamer in an archaic language directly associated with an “Otherworld” reality. This reality exists within us and expresses concepts and ideas about our realm of existence that pertain to our waking lives, as well as to an alternate, archaic life with its own language and ideas transcending physical reality. By studying various myths and folk tales, along with cinematic portrayals of otherworldly experiences, commentary from modern individuals, and reports from traditional shamans who are experts at traversing the Otherworld reality, this text discerns the features and characteristics of this supernatural realm. Contemporary research into the Otherworld marks this realm as corresponding to the unconscious substratum of the human psyche, what C.G. Jung referred to as the collective unconscious. Certain scientists have found evidence of its connection with various aspects of brain functioning, suggesting that the brain in many ways encourages a belief in the Otherworld. However, it would be a mistake to call the Otherworld a figment of the human imagination, since this realm seems to have a type of physical existence. The book considers the Otherworld to exist and provides reasons why rational-thinking individuals are hesitant to accept its existence even when their brains are telling them: the Otherworld is real, and you have just experienced it.

In this dystopian fantasy from a New York Times–bestselling author, a teen put in quarantine due to a mysterious illness uncovers a government conspiracy. As a lethal plague sweeps through the land, Ani Mells is shocked when she is unexpectedly captured by the governor’s wardens and forced to submit to a test for the deadly Scourge. She is even more surprised when the test results come back positive, and she is sent to Attic Island, a former prison turned refuge—and quarantine colony—for the ill. The Scourge’s victims, Ani now among them, can only expect to live out short, painful lives there. However, Ani quickly discovers that she doesn’t know the whole truth about the Scourge or the Colony. She’s been caught in a devious plot, and, with the help of her best friend, Weevil, Ani means to uncover just what is actually going on. But will she and Weevil survive long enough to do so? The Scourge is an explosively thrilling tale of adventure and intrigue, courage and heart from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen. “Nielsen’s polished fantasy smoothly combines medieval elements with hints of mystery and romance . . . it delivers a significant message about how misinformation breeds intolerance.” —Publishers Weekly “The characters are well defined and memorable. Feisty Ani, a likable character who is thoughtful and strong, drives the story forward and keeps readers wanting to know more . . . “ —School Library Journal

Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821–1890) was a British explorer, geographer, translator and diplomat. Burton's best-known achievements include a well-documented journey to Mecca, in disguise; an unexpurgated translation of One Thousand and One Nights; the publication of the Kama Sutra in English and an expedition with J. H. Spake to discover the source of Nile. Musaicum Books present his greatest works as an author, translator and explorer. His works and the works about his life act as the true legacy of his untamed travel spirit and eternal curiosity. Content Translations: Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana Book of Thousand Nights and A Night (Complete Edition) The Perfumed Garden of the Cheikh Nefzaoui Ananga Ranga Vikram and the Vampire Travel Writings: First Footsteps in East Africa Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah To the Gold Coast for Gold Two Trips to Gorilla Land and the Cataracts of the Congo Unexplored Syria Historical Research: A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry The Sentiment of the Sword: A Country-House Dialogue Poetry: The Kasîdah of Hâjî Abdû El-Yezdî The Gulistan of Sa'di Priapeia Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus Poem to His Wife Alma Minha Gentil, Que Te Partiste Em Quanto Quiz Fortuna Que Tivesse Eu Cantarei De Amor Tao Docemente No Mundo Poucos Annos, E Cansados Que Levas, Cruel Morte? Hum Claro Dia Ah! Minha Dinamene! Assim Deixaste Biography and Further Readings: Life of Sir Richard Burton by Thomas Wright Romance of Isabel Lady Burton: The Story of Her Life Journal of the Discovery of the Source of the Nile by J. H. Speke What Led to the Discovery of the Nile by J. H. Speke Arabian Society in the Middle Ages Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia