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The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (annotated) — Gothic

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The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (annotated)

Name: The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (annotated)
Price: 5.75 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781523474462

✍️ Edgar Allan Poe

Reader Score

4.5

(4 reviews)

$5.75 ~~$8.00~~ Save $2.25 (28%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A humorous sequel to Arabian Nights featuring Sinbad's final voyage annotated by Poe.

This volume presents a unique narrative structure where footnotes describe real-world events from the mid-nineteenth century. The main text tracks Sinbad's eighth journey, while the annotations provide factual counterpoints to the fantastical elements. The King’s reaction drives the plot toward its grim conclusion. Readers will find this approach both amusing and slightly unsettling as the boundary between myth and reality blurs. The annotations serve to highlight the absurdity of the original tales by contrasting them with documented history. This method creates a distinct reading experience that relies on the tension between the story and its scholarly commentary.

Key Themes

Sinbad's final voyage annotated anomalies Scheherazade's execution

Literary Context

Poe published this tale in Godey's Lady's Book in February 1845. It responds to the Middle Eastern tradition of One Thousand and One Nights. The work reflects Poe's interest in blending humor with supernatural fiction during his lifetime.

Edgar Allan Poe

📚 all books by this author (764) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Gothic tales that subvert traditional horror tropes · Scholarly analyses of Arabian Nights adaptations

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Gothic

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2016 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781523474462

📚 This Book in Collections

📚 Horror Anthologies & Story Collections 💵 Horror Paperbacks Under $10

📝 Description: The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (annotated)

Edgar Allan Poe wrote a short story titled The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade for Godey's Lady's Book in February 1845. This work functions as a humorous sequel to One Thousand and One Nights, focusing on the final voyage of Sinbad the Sailor. The narrative follows Sinbad and his crew through various mysterious encounters that challenge their understanding of reality. The text distinguishes itself by presenting these anomalies as footnotes rather than part of the main narrative flow. These notes describe actual modern events from Poe's lifetime, grounding the fantasy in contemporary occurrences. The King remains skeptical of these tales, except when they involve elephants carrying the world on a turtle. This specific detail stands out as the only element he accepts without doubt. The story concludes with the King expressing disgust at Scheherazade’s outlandish weaving. He orders her execution the following day for her elaborate fiction. This edition includes annotations to clarify these elements. It suits readers interested in Poe's lesser-known works and those who enjoy the intersection of classic folklore with nineteenth-century realism. It may not appeal to those seeking traditional horror or straightforward adventure tales without literary context.

💎 Our verdict on The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade (annotated)

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This annotated edition appeals primarily to literary enthusiasts who enjoy deconstructing classic narratives rather than those seeking traditional horror or straightforward adventure. The reliance on tension between story and commentary may alienate readers preferring immersive fantasy without scholarly interruption. While the humorous sequel aspect is clever, the focus on factual counterpoints can feel dry for general audiences. It suits academic curiosity but lacks the visceral impact of Poe’s darker works. Readers expecting genuine terror or unadulterated escapism will likely find the blend of realism and satire too restrained. However, those fascinated by the blurring of historical fact and fictional myth will appreciate this unconventional exploration of narrative authority.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the intersection of classic folklore with nineteenth-century realism will find this edition particularly engaging. It offers a distinct reading experience by contrasting fantastical elements with documented historical events, creating a tension between myth and reality. The humorous approach to Scheherazade’s storytelling provides an amusing yet slightly unsettling commentary on narrative credibility. Those who appreciate Poe’s lesser-known contributions to periodicals like Godey's Lady's Book will gain insight into his satirical voice. The annotations clarify the contrast between the King’s skepticism and the accepted absurdity of elephants carrying the world, highlighting the absurdity of original tales through scholarly counterpoints.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seekers of Poe’s satirical wit and fans of metafiction will revel in this oddity. If you prefer straightforward horror or dislike footnotes interrupting narrative immersion, skip it.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 4 reviews

Andrew K.

August 1, 2026

A new favorite

Bought this for my brother and ended up reading it first. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins.

Grace G.

June 9, 2026

Solid horror

This has been on my wishlist for months. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. The font runs small in this edition. Recommended with reservations.

Tom A.

April 3, 2026

A modern classic

Bought this for my brother and ended up reading it first. There's real craft in how much is left unsaid. The prose is clean and the scares land because the characters feel real. A keeper.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, it is primarily a humorous satire that blends fantasy with contemporary events, focusing on narrative structure rather than traditional scares.

They clarify historical references and ground the magical elements in Poe’s era, enhancing the metafictional play between legend and reality.

📖 Who should read this

Seekers of Poe’s satirical wit and fans of metafiction will revel in this oddity. If you prefer straightforward horror or dislike footnotes interrupting narrative immersion, skip it.

📜 Historical context

Poe penned this tale as a humorous sequel to Arabian Nights for Godey's Lady's Book, subverting expectations by anchoring Sinbad’s fantastical voyages in contemporary nineteenth-century realism through annotated footnotes. It bridges classic folklore with Victorian skepticism, challenging the King’s disbelief until an absurdly logical elephant-turtle cosmology finally breaks his resistance, reflecting Poe’s playful interrogation of truth and fiction.