STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, Retold by Laurence Housman by Housman [Dulac illus.] Laurence - [c. 1920]

London: Hodder and Stoughton, for Boots Pure Drug Co., [c. 1920]. First edition thus. With 20 tipped-in color plates by Edmund Dulac and with occasional line-drawing decorations throughout. 4to, in publisher’s original rust-colored cloth lettered and pictorially decorated in gilt and black on the spine and upper cover. 319 pp. A beautiful copy, very bright, very clean and in unusually nice condition. The plates are all pristine. BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED BY EDMUND DULAC. Here we find a collection of stories from the ARABIAN NIGHTS superbly illustrated by Edmund Dulac. Selected from the original Persian fairy tales are: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, Sinbad the Sailor, Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, and many others colorfully rendered on tipped-in plates. Dulac's illustrations conjure the mysterious atmosphere of the oriental text and transport the reader to a lyrical world of grace and beauty. Dulac’s affinity for oriental design becomes apparent in the exquisite, almost jewel-like images; there is the profound influence of oriental art and especially Persian miniatures in this group of exotic paintings. Intricate colors and patterns are juxtaposed to create lyrical scenes as in, Supposing Me Asleep and Aladdin in the Cave. Stark simplicity is felt in the interstices between graceful lines and brilliant colors as in The Lady Bedr-el-Budur and Princess Badoura. The artist achieved intense effects in shading and atmosphere in his nocturne scenes such as The Lady Advanced to Meet Him. As we turn the pages, we feel drawn into a mysterious world of exotic moods and mysterious encounters.
“The Arabian Nights gave Dulac an opportunity to indulge in his nocturnes; the the softness of the gleam of moonlight on stone, or on shadowy figures, and his use of ultramarine, indigo and Prussian blue, mingled with purples and violets, brought to the illustrations the calm and mystery of Eastern nights.”-Colin White
STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS is especially important in understanding Dulac’s creative growth as it is believed that here, for the first time, he imposed an inner order and self-discipline. The success of the work was astonishing for its time and overshadowed other publication events for some time thereafter. “Leicester Galleries displayed the Dulac watercolors for THE ARABIAN NIGHTS in the autumn of 1907, at the same time the book was (originally) released. With unanimous praise the book was received by the critics and every picture sold even before the exhibition was opened to the general public. In light of this overwhelming success, Leicester Galleries promptly signed a contract with Dulac for one book a year, the subject to be chosen jointly between them and in consultation with Hodder & Stoughton.”-Susan Meyer.
Dulac treated each picture with a seriousness that brought him great praise, showing that he, like any fine easel painter could accomplish great art, even for use in the book arts. The book sealed his reputation and set him permanently on the long course of success he would enjoy throughout his career.
This lovely edition of STORIES FROM THE ARABIAN NIGHTS, liltingly illustrated by Dulac, will be a cherished addition to any library.