The Thousand and Second Night

The novel by the Swedish writer Frank Heller (1886–1947), “The Twelve-Two Night,” in which the author’s virtuoso skill at crafting classic intrigue is complemented by a very good translation by Osip Mandelstam.

Three travelers from different countries—France, England, and Holland—get pulled into a struggle over a magic rug that can foretell the future. During their adventures, they encounter incredible situations, yet always manage to get out without injuries. What’s more, the Dutchman turns out to be enriched. The author gives this struggle over the “rug” a symbolic and political meaning, linking it to the struggle of Europeans for power and influence in the East and other regions. But the reader is free to ignore it, since the story itself is engaging and unique.