Arabian Nights is a collection of stories that has captured the imaginations of readers across the globe for centuries. With its diverse cast of characters, fantastical plots, and timeless themes, the collection remains a staple in literary history in many parts of the world, including Arabian countries, Europe, and throughout the West.
This is the story of the fisherman and the genie, a tale from Arabian Nights that’s one of the best examples of someone finding a genie trapped in a bottle, freeing it, and being tricked by the genie.
The Ludicrous Wishes, a.k.a. The Ridiculous Wishes, The Three Ridiculous Wishes, or Les Souhaits ridicules, is a French fairy tale written by Charles Perrault in 1697. It predates the arrival of Arabian Nights in Europe and could be the inspiration for the modern trope of genies granting wishes that don’t turn out the way people expect.