First english translation directly from arabic. Edward William Lane (1801-1876) was a British Orientalist whose career began as an engraver working under the supervision of Charles Heath before a trip to Egypt captivated him so utterly that he proceeded to dedicate his life's work to the study of Egyptian people and their language. Lane spent three years in Cairo in the 1820s where he lived exclusively in Muslim areas of the city and primarily associated himself with the locals, who knew him as Mansur Effendi. He adopted local dress and learnt Arabic fluently, which allowed him to move freely in Egyptian society and set him apart form other 'Egyptologists' of the 19th century. It was the recording of the close observations that made his work so valuable and his Account of the Manners and Customs of Egyptians (1836) is still considered to be an important text to both Eastern and Western students of the Arab world.

This translation of the Arabian Nights is the first authentic translation into English directly form the Arabic original. It is believed that Lane undertook this task, along with his translation of the Kur'an (1843), because of his personal conviction that major Middle Eastern literary works should be communicated to the English reading public. This translation of the Arabian Nights remained the leading English translation of the text for many decades after publication and was only superseded in 1888 by the emergence of the Richard Burton translation.

First edition, 3 volumes, large 8vo (250 x 165 mm), engraved titles, engravings throughout by William Harvey, some faint scattered spotting mostly affecting preliminary leaves else clean internal condition, ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper of vol. 1, original decorated cloth over boards, red morocco labels to spines lettered in gilt, edges a little rubbed and bumped, spines slightly faded, three volumes cocked, preserved in bespoke slip-case.