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Reading workshops on “The Thousand and One Nights”

From May 09, 2023 until June 10, 2023The workshops will be held on Saturdays, May 27, June 3 and 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
MADRID
Casa Árabe headquarters (at Calle Alcalá, 62). The workshops will be held on Saturdays, May 27, June 3 and 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 5 euros for each workshop.
In Spanish.

As one of the activities forming part of “The Thousand and One Nights of the Book Fair at Casa Árabe,” we are hosting these workshops on May 27, June 3 and June 10, at which we will be analyzing the paths taken by this amazing book, and examining why it has left such a permanent mark behind on universal literature. You can register now.

“The Thousand and One Nights” is a fundamental read. As far back as we an remember, it has always been on our parents’ bookshelves, sitting right near “The Bible” and “Don Quixote.” Everyone has heard of it. We have all listened to some of its tales being told on the radio, in the theater, at the cinema....

However, this book has not always had “a thousand and one nights,” and it has never contained a thousand and one stories. Depending on the language into which it has been translated, it is called by different names and was only published in Arabic long after coming out in French, German, English and Italian. It was originally a wonderful, instructive book, while at the same time sinful and lewd. Its stories and adventures have been the source for thousands of books and novels, and it has been unabashedly plagiarized, to such a degree that one cannot even claim a definitive version has been published today.

It is one of the most incredible, marvelous books ever to have existed. Reading the book is like rediscovering a love for literature. On its pages one can find heroes and heroines, villains and scoundrels, kings and beggars, proverbs, sayings, fables, morals and poetry. Some of the stories are terrifying, while others seem to be forebears of the “noir” novel itself, as well as stories about vampires and automatons. Some include the movie-like ploys of drama, sex and action, while others have stories about the purest love. Some of them have great endings, while in others the bad guy gets off scot-free. Practically all known literature can be found condensed into this one prodigious book.

Jesús Urceloy is hosting three workshops to investigate these wonderful stories through reading, with the participation of everyone in attendance: the characters, the intrigue between them, the society in which they live, the plots and narrative resources, the subsequent storytelling which has drawn from these tales.

The workshops are intended for the general public, and they will be held on Saturdays, May 27, June 3 and June 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In order to participate, you must buy a ticket. Tickets may be purchased separately on the basis of interests and availability. To be used as a basic text will be the translation by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez using the canonical edition by Jean Charles Mardrús. A true classic.
Reading workshops on “The Thousand and One Nights”
  • Reading Workshop 1. Sheherazade: Telling tales to live
    Source: Wikisource

    Reading Workshop 1. Sheherazade: Telling tales to live

    From May 12, 2023 until May 27, 2023The workshop will be held on Saturday, May 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
    MADRID
    Casa Árabe headquarters (at Calle Alcalá, 62). The workshop will be held on Saturday, May 27, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 5 euros.
    In Spanish.
    On Saturday, May 27, the first of the three workshops we are organizing as part of “The Thousand and One Nights of the Book Fair at Casa Árabe” will be taking place, all dedicated to this Middle Eastern literature classic. Buy your ticket now to participate.
    Directed by Jesús Urceloy, the workshop will take a closer look at the amazing stories that the book contains, with the participation of everyone in attendance: the characters, the intrigue between them, the society in which they live, the plots and narrative resources, the subsequent storytelling which has drawn from these tales.

    To be used as a basic text will be the translation by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez using the canonical edition by Jean Charles Mardrús. A true classic.

    IMPORTANT NOTE:
    The Thousand and One Nights is a book of stories. These tales are intertwined and connected in a circular way through the voice of a main narrator (Sheherazade). Thus, within one story other stories secondary to the first may arise, with up to five such stories coexisting all at the same time. A story may also be developed with several adventures linked together, as is the case with Sinbad the Sailor. Although we always recommend reading the proposed texts in their entirety, Jesús Urceloy will set the guidelines for any pre-workshop preparation, so that you will not have to read every single one of these sub-plots and prevent reading similar or repetitive adventures.
  • Reading Workshop 2. Ali Baba: We are all Thieves

    Reading Workshop 2. Ali Baba: We are all Thieves

    June 03, 2023The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
    MADRID
    Casa Árabe headquarters (at Calle Alcalá, 62). The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 5 euros.
    In Spanish.
    On Saturday, June 3, the second of the workshops we are organizing to mark “The Thousand and One Nights of the Book Fair at Casa Árabe” will be held at Casa Árabe’s headquarters in Madrid. Tickets now being sold online.
    Directed by Jesús Urceloy, the workshop will take a closer look at the amazing stories that the book contains, with the participation of everyone in attendance: the characters, the intrigue between them, the society in which they live, the plots and narrative resources, the subsequent storytelling which has drawn from these tales.

    To be used as a basic text will be the translation by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez using the canonical edition by Jean Charles Mardrús. A true classic.

    We will begin with a commented Introduction to the book, the circumstances surrounding it and related anecdotes, as well as the importance of Sheherazade as a figure, and her sister Duniazad.

    We will take a closer look at the following points with regard to the stories proposed for Sessions 2 and 3:

    1- The place it occupies, circumstances of the story within the book’s history, which adventures frame it, whether they provide continuity or its characters play roles in other narratives.

    2- Reading the text. The student will have been provided with the story in advance. The story must be read it in order to be able to examine the text more readily and to be able to highlight any findings or bring up any questions.

    3- Analysis. We will all comment on the formal and literary processes involved in the text, as well as its implications in world literature and society.

    4- Bibliography and documentation. Students will be provided with all of the materials available to take a deeper look at each story.

    IMPORTANT NOTE:
    The Arabian Nights is a book of stories. These tales are intertwined and connected in a circular way through the voice of a main narrator (Sheherazade). Thus, within one story other stories secondary to the first may arise, with up to five such stories coexisting all at the same time. A story may also be developed with several adventures linked together, as is the case with Sinbad the Sailor. Although we always recommend reading the proposed texts in their entirety, Jesús Urceloy will set the guidelines for any pre-workshop preparation, so that you will not have to read every single one of these sub-plots and prevent reading similar or repetitive adventures.
  • Reading Workshop 3. Sultan Mahmud’s Two Lives

    Reading Workshop 3. Sultan Mahmud’s Two Lives

    June 10, 2023The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
    MADRID
    Casa Árabe headquarters (at Calle Alcalá, 62). The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. 5 euros.
    In Spanish.
    The last session in this series of three reading workshops will be held on Saturday, June 10, the last day of “The Thousand and One Nights of the Book Fair at Casa Árabe in 2023.” If you don’t want to miss out buy your ticket in advance!
    Directed by Jesús Urceloy, the workshop will take a closer look at the amazing stories that the book contains, with the participation of everyone in attendance: the characters, the intrigue between them, the society in which they live, the plots and narrative resources, the subsequent storytelling which has drawn from these tales.

    To be used as a basic text will be the translation by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez using the canonical edition by Jean Charles Mardrús. A true classic.

    We will begin with a commented Introduction to the book, the circumstances surrounding it and related anecdotes, as well as the importance of Sheherazade as a figure, and her sister Duniazad.

    We will take a closer look at the following points with regard to the stories proposed for Sessions 2 and 3:

    1- The place it occupies, circumstances of the story within the book’s history, which adventures frame it, whether they provide continuity or its characters play roles in other narratives.

    2- Reading the text. The student will have been provided with the story in advance. The story must be read it in order to be able to examine the text more readily and to be able to highlight any findings or bring up any questions.

    3- Analysis. We will all comment on the formal and literary processes involved in the text, as well as its implications in world literature and society.

    4- Bibliography and documentation. Students will be provided with all of the materials available to take a deeper look at each story.

    IMPORTANT NOTE:
    The Arabian Nights is a book of stories. These tales are intertwined and connected in a circular way through the voice of a main narrator (Sheherazade). Thus, within one story other stories secondary to the first may arise, with up to five such stories coexisting all at the same time. A story may also be developed with several adventures linked together, as is the case with Sinbad the Sailor. Although we always recommend reading the proposed texts in their entirety, Jesús Urceloy will set the guidelines for any pre-workshop preparation, so that you will not have to read every single one of these sub-plots and prevent reading similar or repetitive adventures.
The reading and analysis will be divided into the following sessions:

Session 1. Sheherazade: Telling tales to live Session
2. Ali Baba: We are all thieves Session
3. Sultan Mahmud’s two lives

We will begin with a commented introduction to the book, including the circumstances surrounding the work and related anecdotes, as well as the importance of Sheherazade as a figure, and her sister Duniazad.

We will take a closer look at the following points with regard to the stories proposed for Sessions 2 and 3:

1- The place it occupies, circumstances of the story within the book’s history, which adventures frame it, whether they provide continuity or its characters play roles in other narratives.

2- Reading the text. The student will have been provided with the story in advance. The story must be read it in order to be able to examine the text more readily and to be able to highlight any findings or bring up any questions.

3- Analysis. We will all comment on the formal and literary processes involved in the text, as well as its implications in world literature and society.

4- Bibliography and documentation. Students will be provided with all of the materials available to take a deeper look at each story.

IMPORTANT NOTE: “The Thousand and One Nights” is a book of stories. These tales are intertwined and connected in a circular way through the voice of a main narrator (Sheherazade). Thus, within one story other stories secondary to the first may arise, with up to five such stories coexisting all at the same time. A story may also be developed with several adventures linked together, as is the case with Sinbad the Sailor. Although we always recommend reading the proposed texts in their entirety, Jesús Urceloy will set the guidelines for any pre-workshop preparation, so that you will not have to read every single one of these sub-plots and prevent reading similar or repetitive adventures. 
Jesús Urceloy (Madrid, 1964).
A poet, writer and editor, Urceloy has been a professor of creative writing with expertise in poetry since 1997. He also puts on reading and classical music activities. He directs the collection “Sola nocte” at the publishing house Ars Poética. He teaches courses at the Fuentetaja writing workshops, the Escuela de Escritores, the bookstore “Sin tarima” and the Kune Foundation. He directs the Poetrés reading event series at the Iván de Vargas Library in Madrid.

His most notable works include La profesión de Judas (Judas’ Profession, Sial, Madrid, 2001), Berenice (Amargord, Madrid, 2005), Diciembre (December, Centro de Poesía José Hierro, Getafe 2008), winner of the third Margarita Hierro Award, Piedra vuelta. Obra reunida 1985/2014 (Turned Stone: Collected works, 1985-2014, Amargord, Madrid, 2014), 91 poemas contra la niebla (91 Poems Against the Fog, Ars poética, Oviedo, 2017), Tres caminos hacia Londres (Three Roads to London, Altolibros, El Escorial 2021), Luz Violenta. Antología 1998 / 2021 (Violent Light: Anthology 1998-2021, Reino de Cordelia, Madrid, 2021) and Todo bien (Everything’s Fine, Libros del aire, Santander, 2022). He has authored literary editions which include Todo Sherlock Holmes (“All of Sherlock Holmes,” Cátedra, Madrid 2003, 19th edition, 2022) and Las 1000 noches y una noche (The Thousand and One Nights, Cátedra, Madrid, 2018, 4th edition, 2018), Tres poemas multiusos de tres escritores rusos, along with Julia García Urceloy, (Three Multipurpose Poems by Three Russian Writers, Ars poética, Oviedo, 2018) and 88 Octavas reales (88 Royal Octaves, Sola Nocte, Oviedo, 2023)

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