The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian Entertainment — Volume 2
1856
The Shaving of Shagpat; an Arabian Entertainment — Volume 2
1856
George Meredith's 1856 fantasy is a wildly ambitious Arabian Nights homage that treats the oriental romance genre with satirical glee. Shibli Bagarag, a Persian barber, and Noorna, an enchantress of formidable wit, embark on a quest to shave the tyrannical Shagpat, a figure whose enchanted hair has enslaved an entire kingdom. The quest leads through subterranean kingdoms, enchanted palaces, and encounters with genies, talking hawks, and sorcery. But beneath the whimsy lies sharp allegory: Shagpat's magical mane represents vanity, tyranny, and the hollow pomp of power. Meredith wields parody as a blade, cutting through the very genre he celebrates. Stories nest within stories, poetry interrupts prose, and the narrative voice consistently winks at its own absurdity. This is fantasy that thinks, satire that delights. Its reissue in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series in 1970 cemented its status as a cult favorite among readers who appreciate fantasy that refuses to take itself too seriously while saying something profound about human folly.
