The twelve volumes of Les Mille et Une Nuits, published between 1704 and 1717, established Antoine Galland as the first European translator of the famous collection of tales. This work fundamentally altered European perspectives on Islamic culture and literature, marking a pivotal moment in the history of cross-cultural literary exchange during the early eighteenth century.
Early Career and Travels
Born in 1646 in Rollot, Galland completed his foundational schooling in Noyon before relocating to Paris for studies in Greek and Latin. His linguistic capabilities led to his attachment to the French embassy in Istanbul in 1670. Throughout the 1670s, he engaged in extensive travel across Syria and the Levant. During these expeditions, he functioned as an archaeologist and antiquary, sketching monuments and collecting inscriptions and ancient coins for royal cabinets, including that of Colbert.
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Upon his return to the Kingdom of France, Galland utilized his fluency in Arabic, Turkish, and Persian to assist scholars such as Melchisédech Thévenot and Barthélemy d'Herbelot de Molainville. Following d'Herbelot's death in 1695, Galland completed the Bibliothèque orientale, a significant encyclopedia of Islamic culture published in 1697. In 1709, his expertise led to his appointment as the chair of Arabic at the Collège de France, a position he held until his death in 1715 in Paris.
The Translation of The Thousand and One Nights
Galland began his translation of The Thousand and One Nights using a Syrian manuscript. To suit the literary tastes of his era, he adapted the text by removing poetry and erotic passages. In 1709, he expanded the collection after meeting Hanna Diyab, a Maronite Christian from Aleppo who recounted fourteen additional stories from memory. This process resulted in the inclusion of narratives, such as Aladdin and Ali Baba, which lack earlier documented Arabic versions.
Broader Literary Output
Beyond his work on The Thousand and One Nights, Galland maintained an active research agenda. He published Paroles remarquables, bons mots et maximes des orientaux in 1694 and an account regarding the history of coffee, De l'origine et du progrès du café, in 1699. His posthumous bibliography includes Contes et fables indiennes de Bidpai et de Lokman, released in 1724, alongside various manuscripts covering Turkish history and a translation of the Qur'an.
Fast facts
- Born: 1646, Rollot, France
- Died: 1715, Paris, France
- Primary Languages: French, Arabic, Persian, Turkish
- Key Role: Chair of Arabic, Collège de France
- Major Work: Les Mille et Une Nuits
- Travel Regions: Syria, Levant, Istanbul
Questions readers ask
Did Galland translate all the tales in the Nights from written manuscripts?
No, he translated the primary volumes from a Syrian manuscript but integrated seven stories from oral accounts provided by Hanna Diyab.
What was Galland's professional background besides translation?
He worked as an orientalist, numismatist, archaeologist, and held the title of antiquary to King Louis XIV.
Achievements
- Notable work: Les Mille et Une Nuits
