This article traces the social and cultural circumstances of nineteenth-century c lations and translations of Alf Laylah wa Laylah into English, Arabic, or Per particular to gauge what cultural value these modem editions were thought t for their readerships. Through an examination of the critical discourse aroun text, it can be shown how the text's cultural value was transformed through actions"--the translations and appropriations. The transformation of the valu text during this period illuminates the changing social role of literary prac consumption in these s
