The Little Hunchback

How many times can one man die? Surprisingly many, it turns out. Set in what is now the Xinjiang province of China, tensions between Muslims, Jews and Christians lead a series of inhabitants to frame their neighbours for a death; but will they listen to their consciences when the penalty for murder is hanging? A black comedy with a social message, this tale is unusual among the Arabian Nights for containing no magic, but a great deal of gallows humour and contemporary relevance. You won't be sorry you stumbled upon "The Little Hunchback", the twenty-third of 34 tales in the classic Arabian Nights collection translated by Andrew Lang.