TALES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS

To save herself and others from being executed, beautiful Scheherazade weaves suspenseful stories, leaving them unfinished, so her sultan husband won't kill her. In this selection, listeners hear her tale of Aladdin and his magical lamp, and Ali Baba, who must outwit murderous thieves to gain unimaginable riches in a hidden cave. Tavia Gilbert narrates Andrew Lang's distillation of these classic stories in a way that makes them sound splendid and stately. With their long-ago settings and unfamiliar details, they often seem faintly biblical. Gilbert's distinct way of speaking emphasizes colorful details (the jeweled windows of Aladdin's palace, gold gleaming in a cave) while absorbing listeners in the stories' life-and-death suspense, which makes them best suited for slightly older listeners. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2009]