International Workshop: New Perspectives on the "Orphan Stories" in the One Thousand and One Nights

Conveners

Prof. Dr. Christina Vogel (Romanisches Seminar, UZH)

Dr. Johannes Thomann (Asien-Orient-Institut, Islamwissenschaft, UZH)

Outlines

The so-called "orphan stories" are a group of tales in Galland's Mille et une Nuits that were orally communicated to Antoine Galland by Hanna Diyab from Aleppo on the occasion of his visit to Paris in 1709. They were published in volumes nine to twelve of Galland's Mille et une Nuits in 1712-1717. Some of these became the most famous stories of the One Thousand and One Nights, such as Aladdin and Ali Baba. Their origins; their narrator, Hanna Diyab; their transformation by the editor, Galland; and their reception in the 20th century are all research topics that have received much attention in recent years. In the present international workshop, some of the most distinguished specialists will present their newest results and address current research questions, some of which have hitherto been subjects to much controversy.

Program

February 28, 2020, 9 am - 5:30 pm; University of Zurich, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, Room RAA E29, Rämistrasse 59, 8001 Zürich

February 29, 2020, 9 am - 11:30 am; University of Zurich, Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies, Room RAA E08, Rämistrasse 59, 8001 Zürich

Detailed Program and Information: Flyer Workshop (PDF, 513 KB)

Public Lectures

February 27, 2020, 6:15 pm: Inventing Aladdin: Arabian Nights, Antoine Galland, and a Boy from Aleppo (Prof. Dr. Ruth Bottigheimer; Prof. emer. Stony Brook University, New York)

February 28, 2020, 6:15 pm: The Mystification of The Thousand and One Nights: Origins and Elaborations (Prof. Dr. Ulrich Marzolph; formerly Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)

Organisation

Romanisches Seminar

Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies - Islamic Studies