A new translation of The Arabian Nights has recently been published by Penguin casting aside many of the inaccuracies from the 19th Century version by Sir Richard Burton that most of us are familiar with.

The wonder of Shahrazad's 1001 tales has inspired countless writers and artists, some of their beautiful illustrations can be found at TopFoto.

Click here for The Arabian Nights

rv9687-4 The Magic Carpet
©Roger-Viollet / TopFoto