🔥 Bestseller The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Edgar Allan Poe — Gothic

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The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Edgar Allan Poe

Name: The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Edgar Allan Poe
Price: 15.25 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781542660730

✍️ Edgar Allan Poe

Reader Score

4.5

(8 reviews)

$15.25

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Poe corrects the fate of Scheherazade using an obscure source.

The text functions as a literary critique that identifies a significant omission in the popular version of the Arabian Nights. Poe utilizes the Tellmenow Isitsoornot to demonstrate that the vizier's daughter's story was truncated. He positions this finding within the context of American literature, noting its absence from previous citations except for a single potential reference. The argument rests on the idea that the known ending is merely partial. This approach allows Poe to expand the narrative scope beyond the standard collection. It appeals to scholars examining the transmission of Eastern tales in Western contexts.

Key Themes

Scheherazade's fate Arabian Nights correction Oriental investigations

Literary Context

Poe engages with Oriental investigations and the Tellmenow Isitsoornot, a work scarcely known in Europe. He positions his critique within American literature, referencing Curiosities of American Literature to establish a lineage of inquiry that had previously overlooked this specific source material.

Edgar Allan Poe

📚 all books by this author (764) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · M.R. James · S.T. Coleridge

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2017 📖 26 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781542660730

📝 Description: The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe presents a literary correction in The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade. He draws upon the obscure work Tellmenow Isitsoornot to challenge the established narrative found in the Arabian Nights. This text argues that previous accounts of the vizier's daughter have been strangely in error regarding her ultimate fate. Poe suggests the original denouement is incomplete rather than entirely false, implying it failed to go far enough in its storytelling. The author qualifies himself as a serious investigator who consulted this rare volume during Oriental studies. He notes that the source material is scarcely known even in Europe and has never been quoted by American writers, except possibly the author of Curiosities of American Literature. This publication aims to fill a gap in literary knowledge by revealing what was left out of the famous collection. This work suits readers interested in Poe’s lesser-known essays and his engagement with Orientalist traditions. It does not suit those seeking traditional horror or supernatural fiction, as it is a critical commentary on folklore rather than a story itself. The text remains a specific intervention into the history of the Arabian Nights.

💎 Our verdict on The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade Edgar Allan Poe

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

This volume serves as a specialized literary intervention rather than a conventional horror story. It is strictly for scholars and critics analyzing Poe’s lesser-known essays or the history of Orientalist literature in America. The text does not suit readers seeking supernatural thrills, ghost stories, or psychological terror. As a critical commentary on folklore, it lacks narrative tension and emotional resonance typical of Poe’s fiction. Those expecting a tale from Arabian Nights will be disappointed by its academic tone. It is a niche work for those fascinated by textual omission and the reconstruction of lost narratives within literary history.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking to understand Edgar Allan Poe’s critical voice beyond his famous fictions will find this work essential. It appeals to those interested in the history of the Arabian Nights and how Western interpretations have shaped or distorted Eastern tales. Scholars examining the transmission of folklore and American literary engagement with Orientalist traditions will gain valuable insight into Poe’s rigorous investigative approach. By revealing a truncated narrative regarding the vizier's daughter, this text offers a unique perspective on literary correction. It is ideal for readers who appreciate intellectual puzzles and the expansion of canonical stories through obscure, rare source materials rather than traditional plot-driven narratives.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Seek out this volume if you cherish Poe’s obscure essays and enjoy dissecting his critiques of Orientalist literature. However, avoid it entirely if you desire traditional ghost stories or supernatural thrills, as this is a scholarly correction rather than a tale of terror.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 8 reviews

Nathan R.

July 25, 2026

Excellent find

This has been on my wishlist for months. It is the kind of horror that rewards reading with the lights on. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it.

Katie G.

July 6, 2026

Very good

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. Not a jump-scare book; it gets under the skin and stays there. Recommended with reservations.

Hannah R.

April 26, 2026

A new favorite

This has been on my wishlist for months. A few scenes I will not forget, whether I want to or not. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Shipping was quick too.

Ruth L.

January 16, 2026

Good addition to the shelf

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. Some chapters are hard to read in the best possible way. My only quibble is that the middle third sags a little. Good, with the caveats above.

Diana K.

May 6, 2025

Worth the read

Added this to the shelf next to the ones I reread. The dread is in the pacing, not in gore, which is exactly how I like it. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. Recommended with reservations.

Amanda V.

April 23, 2025

A modern classic

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. The ending is bleak and honest, not a twist for the sake of one.

Hannah R.

March 29, 2025

Dread done right

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. It pairs well with the classics it is clearly in conversation with. A keeper.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. It is a critical essay where Poe corrects folklore interpretations.

It remains obscure, cited rarely even in America, making it a rare find for scholars.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Poe positions himself as a serious investigator here, challenging the established narrative of Scheherazade’s fate found in the Arabian Nights. By referencing the obscure 'Tellmenow Isitsoornot,' he argues that previous accounts were incomplete. This work stands as a unique intervention in literary history, filling a gap by revealing what was left out of the famous collection.