Borges and the 'Arabian Nights' (Jorge Luis!Borges)

Sobhi Habchi starts with noting that, unlike a certain criticism, especially an oriental one, the Orient and the Mille et une Nuits have had little influence on Borges imagination. Three types of quotations or references are identified : the cultural reference, the distorted reference, and allusions to passages or stories from the famous book. Despite a very detailed knowledge of the arab-muslim Orient, Borges turns more willingly towards the myths of the important Europeans traditions. Consequently, starting from some oriental and occidental sources, Sobhi Habchi outlines another reading of Borges.