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Finding Aladdin: The Hidden History of a Syrian Storyteller

by Matthew Teller

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Be careful what you wish for…

In our perilous, painful times, FINDING ALADDIN restores humanity. It celebrates a Syrian storyteller whose name was almost lost to history.

Hanna Diab would have loved this book! A fascinating and entertaining read

Ulrich Marzolph, scholar of the 1001 Nights

A history of the Aladdin story that will enthral readers

Ruth Bottigheimer, author 'Fairy Tales: A New History'

When the 1,001 Nights was translated into European languages in the 1700s, the tales caused a sensation.

Most were ancient, drawn from Arab and Persian folklore. But the most famous tale of all, Aladdin, was new – told for the first time in 1709 by an Aleppan adventurer in Paris, Hanna Diab.

Centuries later, a manuscript discovered by chance in the Vatican shows how Hanna created Aladdin from the facts of his own, extraordinary life, only to be betrayed by those he trusted – and then erased from his own story.

FINDING ALADDIN features kings, princesses, magicians, genies, flying carpets, pirates, shipwrecks, strange creatures, at least forty thieves, women dressed as men, men dressed as women…

It’s all you could wish for!

Published by Profile Books (UK) and Biblioasis (North America).

Pre-order now for release in November 2026.