Whatever Gets You through the Night
A Story of Sheherezade and the Arabian Entertainments
Report an issue
Tell us what's wrong and we'll take a look.
Thanks – we got it. We'll review and follow up if needed.
An irreverent and deeply funny retelling of the Arabian Nights
"I fear each passing night that I will not receive my maintenance dose of suspense, and then I will cease to exist."—Whatever Gets You through the Night
Whatever Gets You through the Night is an irreverent and deeply funny retelling of the Arabian Nights and a wildly inspired exploration of the timeless art of storytelling. Award-winning writer Andrei Codrescu reimagines how Sheherezade saved Baghdad's virgins and her own life through a heroic feat of storytelling—one that kept the Persian king Sharyar hanging in agonizing narrative and erotic suspense for 1001 nights. For Sheherezade, the end of either suspense or curiosity means death, but Codrescu keeps both alive in this entertaining tale of how she learned to hold a king in thrall, setting with her endless invention an unsurpassable example for all storytellers across the ages. Liberated and mischievous, Codrescu's Sheherezade is as charming as she is shrewd—and so is the story Codrescu tells.
Andrei Codrescu
<DIV>A poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and commentator for NPR’s <I>All Things Considered</I>, ANDREI CODRESCU is the MacCurdy Distinguished Professor of English at Louisiana State University and the editor of the literary journal <I>Exquisite Corpse</I>.</DIV>
More by Andrei Codrescu
Why Readwise Books?
Readwise Books is an ebook & audiobook platform that automatically logs how much you and your friends read, making it fun and easy to read more. Learn more →