
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTORY EPISTLE
CHAPTER I — Of Hajji Baba's birth and education.
CHAPTER II — Hajji Baba commences his travels—His encounter with the Turcomans, and his captivity.
CHAPTER III — Into what hands Hajji Baba falls, and the fortune which his razors proved to him.
CHAPTER IV — Of his ingenuity in rescuing his master's money from the Turcoman, and of his determination to keep it.
CHAPTER V — Hajji Baba becomes a robber in his own defence, and invades his native city.
CHAPTER VI — Concerning the three prisoners taken by the Turcomans, and of the booty made in the caravanserai.
CHAPTER VII — Hajji Baba evinces a feeling disposition—History of the poet Asker.
CHAPTER VIII — Hajji Baba escapes from the Turcomans—The meaning of 'falling from the frying-pan into the fire' illustrated.
A mischievous young Persian, Hajji Baba, wanders through the bustling streets of Ispahan, eager to make his fortune and win the affection of the beautiful Zubeida. With a quick wit and a talent for exaggeration, he spins tall tales that charm merchants, courtiers, and the occasional unsuspecting foreign envoy. His escapades offer a vivid, humorous snapshot of everyday life, from bustling bazaars to lavish royal festivities, all narrated with a playful, slightly satirical tone.
As Hajji Baba’s schemes grow bolder, he finds himself tangled in a web of cultural misunderstandings and rivalries that test his resourcefulness. The narrative captures the colorful customs, witty banter, and vivid personalities that populate early‑19th‑century Persia, inviting listeners to glimpse a world of opulent courts and lively street markets. Through his eyes, the story becomes both an entertaining adventure and a gentle portrait of a society both exotic and remarkably human.
Language
en
Duration
~17 hours (994K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by James Tenison and David Widger
Release date
2007-05-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

d. 1849
Best known for the lively and controversial Hajji Baba novels, this British diplomat-turned-writer drew on firsthand experience in Persia to create stories that shaped how many English readers imagined the region. His travel books and fiction mix sharp observation, adventure, and satire.
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