Khaled, A Tale of Arabia

"Khaled: A Tale of Arabia" by F. Marion Crawford is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story follows Khaled, a former genie who becomes a mortal man after requesting to experience life on earth. His journey unfolds as he navigates the complexities of love and duty in the Arabian landscape, particularly in the court of a Sultan, where he seeks the hand of the beautiful princess Zehowah. The opening of the novel introduces us to Khaled in a celestial realm, where he stands before Asrael, the angel of Death, pleading for the chance to live as a human. Khaled recounts his purpose for descending to Earth: to win the love of Zehowah, the Sultan's daughter. His tale sets up a rich backdrop of Arabian culture and mysticism, establishing the stakes of his quest for love while hinting at challenges that arise from both personal desires and external political intricacies. Khaled's character is intricately tied to themes of transformation, fate, and the quest for redemption, foreshadowing a narrative filled with adventure and emotional turmoil. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Francis Marion Crawford was an American writer noted for his many novels, especially those set in Italy, and for his classic weird and fantastical stories.