The Five Thousand and One Nights

by Penelope Lively

On holiday with her laptop-obsessed husband, Myra undergoes a quiet transformation. The Australian landscape (even in paintings) seems to have an almost miraculous effect on her, and when they go on a bus tour of the Blue Mountains, she finds herself suddenly broaching the taboo subject--Bridget Cashel, her husband's mistress. Penelope Lively limns the tense moment: "Myra listened to her own words with astonishment and satisfaction. George too listened, apparently. His eyes leapt to life. Myra saw surprise, dismay and a process of rapid thought." By the end of the ride, alas, reality returns, and she sees they will not again speak so openly. "What had passed between them today would remain for ever beyond the Blue Mountains, potent and powerful. She felt a touch sorry for Bridget Cashel. And possibly for George." A trainee at a local manor is increasingly drawn to the Medusa Fountain. Though he knows it's against the rules, one day he joins the nymphs, a transgression that modulates unavailingly into a shocking conclusion--the daring subtlety of Lively's art turning a fable into a tragedy. Another character, stuck in Slovenia following a conference, suddenly realizes "there are realities which for most of us are beyond imagination." Not beyond this author's, however.

The Five Thousand and One Nights is a collection of quiet wit. Its author tends to view her characters sympathetically, especially as they cope with change and the passage of time. The title story is more assertive in mode, and contains a very modern Sultan and Scheherazade. At 42, she is still narrating, though the Sultan has recently found her tales more addling than enjoyable: "You're using some rather confusing words these days, you know. What does sensibility mean? And I get muddled about the settings. Where's Devonshire?" It takes the narrative of a certain Mrs. Dalloway to make him fight back, getting in on the story game with some action- and violence-packed prose. This is fairy-tale revisionism at its best and reads as if Lively delighted in its creation. It is the most irresistible, and exhilarating, story of this fine collection.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

149 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Penelope Lively is the author of many prize-winning novels and short-story collections for both adults and children. She has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize: once in 1977 for her first novel, The Road to Lichfield, and again in 1984 for According to Mark. She later won the 1987 Booker Prize for her highly acclaimed novel Moon Tiger.

Her other books include Going Back; Judgement Day; Next to Nature, Art; Perfect Happiness; Passing On; City of the Mind; Cleopatra’s Sister; Heat Wave; Beyond the Blue Mountains, a collection of short stories; Oleander, Jacaranda, a memoir of her childhood days in Egypt; Spiderweb; her autobiographical work, A House Unlocked; The Photograph; Making It Up; Consequences; Family Album, which was shortlisted for the 2009 Costa Novel Award, and How It All Began.

She is a popular writer for children and has won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award. She was appointed CBE in the 2001 New Year’s Honours List, and DBE in 2012.

Penelope Lively lives in London. She was married to Jack Lively, who died in 1998.

Reviews

[Paul Secor · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I began reading this book, I found a sales slip inside that said that I bought it in April, 2001, which meant that it had been sitting on one of my bookshelves for 21 1/2 years! Penelope Lively is one of my favorite writers, so I can't come up with a reason why I hadn't read it for all of that time. All I can say is that I read many of her other books and books by other authors during that 21 1/2 years and this one slipped through the cracks.
Anyway, I finally did read it and, as with all short story collections, some stories will appeal to a reader in varying degrees and in different ways. I found several that were disturbing, a number that made me laugh, and my favorite, "The Clarinettist and the Bride's Aunt", a story I'm sure I'll return to from time to time. (I admit that I can be somewhat of a romantic at times, so YMMV on that one.)
In the end, I'm happy to have read this collection and to add it to my Penelope Lively collection.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A volume of short stories is the perfect solution when a busy schedule precludes time for one to become immersed in a lengthy novel. This collection by Lively serves that purpose, as it can be picked up at random & consumed in short bites. While all the stories are entertaining, the title one about Scheherazade & the Sulton is an absolute riot!
Another book of short stories I highly recommend (totally different but equally enjoyable) is Francesca Marciano's "The Other Language."

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short story collection by an accomplished writer (Booker Prize winner) I have not yet read. I'll definitely check out her novels. The title and title story is a riff on 1001 Nights with Scheherazade still telling stories and the poor sultan bored to tears - she seems to be 'borrowing' from Jane Austen and the Brontes - so much thinking and talking, the sultan complains. So he takes a turn with ridiculous action stories that make his wife roll her eyes. Maybe just going to sleep is best? All the women in the stories are empowered especially when it comes to dull men who have high opinions of themselves. Frivolous women are also a target, and look bad in the face of sensible solutions. Women who are taken for granted or put upon by family come out on top - the mum who simply leaves all the Christmas dinner makings and does a runner, for example. They have a quaint 1950s feel, but include many modern conveniences we are used to and are meant to be contemporary to the 1990s when they were published. Worth a read, especially if just a quick fix is needed.

[Tegan Mclane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like another reviewer who said this had sat unread on a shelf for 20+ years, I have been passing this over since 1997 and finally read in 2024. Glad I finally made time, as this unassuming little collection was an enjoyable read with sensible, relatable characters and subtle humor that reminded me of BBC shows. Favorites included “the Slovenian Giantess” “in Olden Times” and “Crumbs of Wisdom”

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

*An uneven collection according to this reader. A few wonderful stories, but most of them not. A couple quotes I loved:
"She tucked them into the top buttonhole of her shirt. She felt a surge of gaiety, a swoop of well-being which exactly matched the exuberance of the blossoms" (6).
"...thereafter he sweated in his shirt and cast envious glances at the marble nudity all round him..." (16).

[Haven Nasif · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not entirely consistent in quality especially in the endings, but a lovely quaint collection of stories

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

While looking through my e-mail the other day, I found an interview with author Penelope Lively which was included in the latest issue of NPR's Booknotes. I've heard great things about her work, but haven't read any of it. This little reminder was all I needed to finally cause me to do so.

"The five Thousand and one nights" is a collection of 14 short stories set in contemporary times. Even though they were all written by the same author, they are incredibly varied; in fact, that is one of the strengths of this collection. Some are humorous, some are touching, there are even a few gothics in the bunch. Most portray single events or moments in people's lives. lively has a real talent for capturing those small moments and showing why they matter.

If you haven't read her work before, this is a good starting point. I will certainly consider reading other works by this well known author.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serendipity strikes again. Found this book on my way out of my public library and the cover attracted my attention. I haven't read anything by Lively in awhile, so I picked it up. These were fun, wonderful short stories.

There are fourteen stories all with contemporary settings. The book was published in the 1990's, so may be they would seem dated to someone younger, but I found them realistic. Many of the stories, in my opinion, deal with the character's ways of perceiving the world. I especially liked the sight-lines in these stories: "in Olden Times", "The First Wife", and "Loved Ones". I will say that there wasn't a bad tale in the bunch.

I recommend this for lovers of short stories, for folks who enjoy humorous books and to those who have not read Penelope Lively. I loved The Moon Tiger, but these stories are very appealing.

[Betsie Bush · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was just looking through my list of recently read books and was surprised to see this one marked as completed. I popped in to re-read the description, and though I read it less than a month ago, the description does not bring forth any recollections of the book itself. This is not as much a reflection on the quality of the book, but just another reminder that my memory is not long for this world. Momento mori.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of short stories is one of my favorites. The first story would be loved by many wives, and the second is a perfect little gothic horror story that I can't forget. The title story is a very funny satire of Scheherazade and her stories of one thousand nights. She is now wearing business suits and telling stories like Mrs. Dalloway. This is the final straw for her mate. Must be read.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most short story compilations I've read, this is a mix of excellent and so-so narratives. I particularly enjoyed the Christmas-themed ones, the one about the writing group, and the one about Scheherazade in middle age, from which the title is taken.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good reading. I especially enjoyed 'Beyond the Blue Mountains,' 'The First Wife,' 'The Butterfly and the Tin of Paint', and 'Loved Ones.' I would read another work by this author, perhaps the novel 'Moon Tiger.'

[Jane]

Marvelous short stories. And I don't like short stories.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short stories that aren't your usual kind of topic or endings.

[Moirad · Rating 4 out of 5]

short stories aren't really my thing, but I love this author and have read all her novels so.....A real variety of topics and settings, humorous and serious. Very enjoyable.