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William Daniell, The Adventures of Hunch-Back, and the Stories Connected With It (From the Arabian Nights Entertainments.) With Illustrative Prints, Engraved by William Daniell, From Pictures Painted by Robert Smirke, R. A. Arabian Nights, London: Printed For William Daniell, Cleveland Street, Fitzroy Square. By Thomas Davison, Whitefriars., 1814

[2], 99, [1] pp. frontispiece and 16 black and white aquatint plates on mounted India-proof paper with tissue guards engraved by William Daniel after Robert Smirke; half leather bound with 5 raised bands and gilt text along with decorative motif on the spine, marbled boards.
42.5 x 33 x 2.8 cm

List of plates showing the following episodes (as described in their engraved captions):
1. Hunch-Back & The Tailor / 2. The Supper / 3. The Jewish Physician / 4. The Purveyor / 5. The Christian Merchant / 6. From The Merchant's Story / 7. From The Purveyor's Story / 8. From The Physician's Story / 9. From The Tailor's Story / 10. The Officious Barber / 11. Bacbouc, The Barber's First Brother / 12. Bacbarah, The Barber's Second Brother / 13. Backbac, The Barber's Third Brother / 14. Alcouz, The Barber's Fourth Brother / 14. Alnaschar, The Barber's Fifth Brother / 14. Schacabac, The Barber's Sixth Brother / 17. The Recovery of Hunchback.

This book is a richly illustrated adaptation of one of the most captivating tales from the Arabian Nights.

The narrative follows the intriguing and interwoven adventures of the hunchback, a central figure in one of the Arabian Nights stories. Daniell's engravings bring Smirke's detailed and imaginative paintings to life, enhancing the text with visual drama and elegance. This collaboration between Daniell, a renowned engraver, and Smirke, a respected painter, results in a publication that is both a literary treasure and an artistic masterpiece.

The storyline chronicles the captivating and intricately constructed exploits of the hunchback, an emblematic character in one of the Arabian Nights tales. Smirke's intricate and imaginative paintings are brought to life through Daniell's engravings, which add visual drama and refinement to the text. This collaborative effort between the renowned engraver Daniell and the painter Smirke resulted in a publication that is both a literary treasure and an artistic masterpiece.

The book offers readers an immersive experience through its fusion of Middle Eastern visual art and storytelling, reflecting the preoccupation of the early nineteenth century with these regions. In addition to enriching the narratives, the engravings serve as autonomous artistic works that highlight key scenes and heighten the enchanting world of the Arabian Nights.

In 1793, the illustrator Robert Smirke was admitted as a member of the Royal Academy. He was an accomplished book illustrator who enjoyed depicting literary subjects (Hume's History of England and The Boydell Shakespeare are two of his most renowned works). In 1839, he would once more contribute illustrations to the Arabian Nights, which he had previously published in 1802 and 1810. The subject of his illustration for Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes in 1818 was a revisit to the motif that had inspired his Royal Academy diploma work from 1793.

William Daniell, an engraver, gained widespread recognition for two works: an eight-volume Oriental scenery (1795-1808), which he and his uncle Thomas Daniell published upon their return from India; and a collection of paintings depicting India that they jointly showcased at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Simultaneously with the publication of The Adventure of Hunchback (1814-25), William commenced publication of A Picturesque Voyage Around Great Britain. He was elected a Member of the Royal Academy in 1822, succeeding Thomas as an Academician in 1799.

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