(London: Henry and Co., 1893).

SCARCE FIRST PRINTING IN THE LARGE PAPER, LIMITED EDITION FORMAT. Published by Lady Burton after Richard Burton's death, this book comprises a translated collection of Neopolitan tales, a sort of Italian "Arabian Nights." It was issued in an edition of 1500 copies available to subscribers only (see Casada 88), with an additional 165 copies on large paper of which this is the latter.
This was one of a group of manuscripts that Lady Burton deemed sufficiently innocuous to escape the notorious burning that she undertook of her husband s writings after his death.
In his youth, Burton had become fluent in the Neopolitan dialect during a long stay in Naples. In his later years, he drew upon this to translate Giovanni Battista Basile s IL PENTAMERONE. Originally written in 1637, these earthy folk tales are considered on the same level as Boccaccio s writings. In fact, Burton had originally intended to translate the latter s DECAMERON in an unexpurgated edition, but changed his mind when he discovered that it had already been done by John Payne.
Throughout his career as a translator, Burton relished bringing to print works from around the world that contained lusty content and controversial use of language. He seemed to enjoy the coarse vernacular of this work:
 Ah, Kindehen, scatterbrains, piss-a-bed, goat-dancer, petticoat-catcher, hangman s rope, mongrel mule, spindle-shands, whereat if ever the fleas cough, go where a palsy catch thee; and may thy mammy hear the ill news!...knave, pimp, son of a whore!
The lad, who had little beard and less discretion, hearing this flow of abuse, repaid her with the same coin, saying  Wilt thou not hold thy tongue, devil s grandam, bull s vomit, children-smotherer, turd-clout, farting crone? 
Sir Richard Francis Burton was one of the foremost linguists of his time, and an outstanding explorer, poet, translator, ethnologist, and archaeologist, among other things. Burton lived from 1821 to 1890 and was born in Torquay, England. He spent much of his childhood in Italy and France and was educated eclectically. In 1840, he began studies at Trinity College, Oxford and distinguished himself through his eccentric behavior. Two years later, he joined the 18th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry at Baroda, in order to study  Oriental life and languages. He had already studied some Arabic in London and learned Gujarati, Marathi, Hindustani, Persian and Arabic while in India. He eventually took on a position that allowed him to mix more freely with the indigenous peoples, especially the lower classes, and began to dress like them. Burton s seven years in India allowed him to become familiar with the languages, customs and geography of the East. This preparation paved the way for his famous trip to Mecca.
At this time, there were areas of the Middle East that were still unknown to Westerners and thus, represented grey areas on the world map. Burton s decision to go to Mecca was approved by the Royal Geographical Society in order to fill this void. He passed himself off as an Indian Pathan and was required to know the rituals of a pilgrimage as well as the exigencies of manners and etiquette. Unfortunately because of tribal war, Burton did not go beyond Medina and Mecca at this time. However, his publication of the journey--The Pilgrimage to Al-Medinah and Meccah--allowed European readers to experience new cultures, traditions and history. Burton s writing was accessible to the general reader and provided an intimate and well-documented portrayal of the Middle East.
His translations reflected his encyclopedic knowledge of Arabic language, sexual practices and life:  it reveals a profound acquaintance with the vocabulary and customs of the Muslims, with their classical idiom, [Ency Britt] as well as colloquialisms, philosophy, modes of thought and intimate details. In contrast to Victorian mores, Burton was driven to explore what would now be called by literary critics the uncanny/Unheimliche or the unresolvable tensions of human beings. Accordingly, he recorded details of daily life and practices that were considered vulgar at the time.
Burton s intellectual influence is far-reaching. His amazing grasp of languages and culture anticipates the globalism of the future. His geographical discoveries not only make him an interesting historical figure but also allowed for future exploration. The detail with which he wrote and his willingness to examine intimate aspects of daily life were precursors to modern ethnography. And his understanding and willingness to immerse himself in cultures that are still little understood by those in Western nation-states is enlightening on many levels. He was the first European to enter Mecca, first to explore Somaliland, and first to discover the great lakes of Central Africa. A prolific writer, he published 43 volumes on exploration and travel, two volumes of poetry, over a hundred articles and 143 pages of autobiography. He translated sixteen volumes of The Arabian Nights, six volumes of Portuguese literature, two volumes of Latin poetry, and four volumes of folklore (Neapolitan, African and Hindu). His occupations included; soldier, writer, explorer, foreign emissary, translator and linguist, sword fighter, ethnographer and archaeologist. Item #14696

2 volumes. First Edition. Number 25 of the printing limited to 165 copies on large paper. Large paper octavo, publisher s original black cloth with gilt lettering on upper cover and spine. xvi, 282 pp; vi, 283-562 pp. A bright and pleasing copy with only light age evidence to the bindings, one inner hinge with light cracking to the pastedown and endleaf.