Buy the BBC Audiobook or listen to a free sample. Once the sound starts playing, make the player compact and return to this page. The Story of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp

(Stranger)“I say, you boy!”

(Aladdin) “Me sir?”

(Stranger) “Yes, boy. Wasn’t your father called Mustapha, a tailor?”

(Aladdin) “Uh, yes, but he’s been dead a long time.”

(Stranger) “Oh, poor boy, I am your uncle you see, your dear father was my own brother. I knew who you were in a moment. You look exactly like him. What’s your name, boy?”

(Aladdin) “Aladdin.”

(Stranger) “Well, Aladdin, run home and tell your mother I shall be coming to supper with you both. Oh, and give her these two gold pieces to buy some food.”

(Aladdin) “Oh right, yes sir, thank you sir.”

Now this stranger wasn’t Aladdin’s uncle at all. He was a famous magician and he was up to something. Aladdin ran home and told his mother all about his new uncle.

(Mother) “Your uncle? Are you sure, Aladdin?”

(Aladdin) “Yes!”

(Mother)  “Well, I know your father had a brother, but I always thought he died before your poor father did. And I never heard of another one.”

But although she couldn’t understand this, Aladdin’s mother went out and bought some food and got supper ready.

(Mother) “Maybe your uncle doesn’t know where we live, Aladdin. How is he going to find us?”

But just then (sound of knocking) the magician knocked at the door and came in loaded with wine and fruit. He greeted Aladdin’s mother and then he spoke to Aladdin.

(Magician) “So, my boy, what is your business then? What job do you do?”

(Aladdin) “Uh, well actually, I- ”

(Mother) “I’m afraid that Aladdin is a very lazy boy, I’m always telling him to do something useful, but he just hangs around the streets with his friends.”

(Magician) “Now, does he indeed, this won’t do at all, Aladdin. You and I must have a serious talk. Tomorrow you shall come with me.”

So next day, the magician took Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way outside the city. They sat down by a fountain and he unwrapped cakes and fruit for them both. Then on they went until they almost reached two mountains with a narrow valley running between them.

(Aladdin) “I’m worn out. Uncle, can’t we stop now?”

(Magician) “Yes, indeed, we go no further. Now, I will show you something no one’s eyes have ever seen before. I want you to gather some sticks together while I make a fire.”

And when the fire was lit, the magician threw on it a magic powder. (Sound of fire being lit) (Magician) “Abracadabra.“

(Sound of clashing cymbals) The earth trembled and opened in front of them. There was a big marble slab with a metal ring to lift it by.

(Aladdin) “Wowee!!”

(Magician) “Do not be afraid, Aladdin. Just do as I say. Under this stone is a treasure which is for you, and you alone. It will make you richer than all the kings of the world.”

So Aladdin grasped the ring as he was told. (sound of stone being lifted). The heavy stone came up quite easily and below it was a flight of steps cut into the rock.

(Magician) “Go down. At the bottom you will find an open door leading into large halls. Each hall is filled with jars of gold. Go straight on passed them, without touching anything or you will be changed into a black stone. At the end is a garden full of fruit trees. Walk on until you see a lighted lamp. Blow out the light. Then pour out the oil and bring it to me.”

(Aladdin) “Very well, uncle.”

(Magician) “Here, borrow my ring, it will bring you good luck.”

(Aladdin) “Thank you, uncle!”

(Sounds of running down the steps) Down in the underground halls, Aladdin found everything as the magician had said. He gathered some fruit off the trees, got the lamp and arrived back at the stone staircase where the magician was still waiting.

(Magician) “Here boy, give me the lamp, It’s in your way.”

(Aladdin) “No uncle, it’s alright, I can manage. I’ll give you the lamp when I get to the top!”

At this the magician fell into a terrible rage. He threw some more powder on the fire.

(Magician) “Abracadabra!” (Sound of the clashing of cymbals). (Sound of stone slab falling) The stone slab fell back into its place and the magician set off on his travels around the world again, fuming.

Two whole days, Aladdin stayed in the dark sobbing and crying. At last he clasped his hands together and in doing so he rubbed the ring the magician had lent him. Immediately a huge frightful genie rose out of the earth. (sounds of appearance of Genie 1)

(Genie 1)  “I am a slave of the ring! What is your wish?”

(Aladdin) “What...um, well, get me out of here!”

(Genie 1) “Your wish is my command!” (sound of earth opening).

At this the earth opened and he found himself outside. He rushed home and told his mother what had happened and showed her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered. Now they found that these fruits were in fact precious stones.

(Mother) “Oh! Why, Aladdin, this is wonderful!”

(Aladdin) “Yes mother, but now, I’m so hungry. What have we got for tea?”

(Mother) “Oh very little, I’m afraid. I’ve no money to buy anything.”

(Aladdin) “Then I’ll tell you what, I’ll go and sell this lamp!”

(Mother) “What, that old thing! It’s very dirty!”

(Aladdin) “Maybe if I could clean it up a bit…”

And he began to rub it. (Sound of Genie 2 appearing). Instantly a hideous genie appeared.

(Genie 2) I am the slave of the lamp! What is your wish? I will obey you in all things.”

(Aladdin) “Um..uh, then... fetch me something to eat!”

(Genie 2 ) “It shall be done, master.”

And soon the genie returned with a huge, delicious supper on silver plates. When they’d eaten every scrap, Aladdin sold each of the silver plates in turn. This money kept them in comfort for several years. Then one day as Aladdin was walking round the town, he happened to see Princess Badroulbadour, the sultan’s daughter, surrounded by her ladies in attendance. The princess was so beautiful, that Aladdin just couldn’t get her out of his mind. In the end his mother asked him what was the matter.

(Aladdin) “Mother, it’s simply this, I cannot live without the beautiful Princess Badroulbadour and I’m going to ask her father to let me marry her.”

(Mother) “Oh my goodness, whatever next, Aladdin! You must be mad! Poor people like us don’t go marrying princesses, you know!”

(Aladdin) “I knew you’d say that. But I am going to marry her, you’ll see!”

And Aladdin was so determined that in the end his mother said she would do what she could to help him. So she fetched a dish and laid in it the fruits from the enchanted garden. They sparkled and shone just like the jewels they were. She covered them with a clean white cloth and set off to the palace. There she waited a long time before anyone would let her into the throne room. But at last, she went up and knelt at the feet of the sultan.

(Sultan) “Rise, good woman and tell me what it is that you want!”

So she told the sultan all about Aladdin’s love for the princess.

(Mother) “And I begged him to forget all about her, your majesty. But he wouldn’t! I was afraid he would do something desperate if I refused to come here and ask you… to let him marry her.”

(Sultan) “Indeed! What is it you have in that dish there?”

(Mother) “Oh, oh it’s a present for you, your majesty. Look.”

(Sultan) “Heavens! Why, these jewels are wonderful! I’ve never seen anything like them before. I cannot thank you enough, good woman.”

Now the sultan thought that it would be fine for the princess to marry Aladdin. For then Aladdin and his mother would give him more fine presents like these. But then he saw how shabbily dressed Aladdin’s mother was and knew that such a marriage would never do. So he decided to ask for something impossible.

(Sultan) “Ah, good woman.”

(Mother) Your majesty.””

(Sultan) “This son of yours may indeed marry my daughter.”

(Mother) “Oh!”

(Sultan) “But first he must send me forty basins of gold, each brim-full of jewels carried by servant girls and guarded by forty strong men.”

Aladdin’s mother bowed low and went home, thinking that that was the end of that. But Aladdin had other ideas. Again he rubbed the lamp and called the genie. And in a few minutes the forty servant girls and forty guards arrived and filled up the small house and garden. Then he told his mother to set off with all of them to the palace. The servants were so richly dressed that everyone crowded to see them and to marvel at the gold basins they carried on their heads. They entered the palace, knelt before the sultan, then stood in a half circle round the throne with their arms crossed over their chests. Aladdin’s mother presented them to the sultan who was quite overcome with it all.

(Sultan) “Good woman! Go home and tell your son that I welcome him with open arms. The sooner he marries my daughter the happier I shall be.”

Aladdin’s mother rushed home to tell him the good news. Aladdin called up a genie once more. (sound of Genie 2 appearing)

(Genie 2) “What is your wish, oh master?”

(Aladdin) “Um, I need a handsomely embroidered costume and forty-eight servants to attend me. Then I’ll need another ten servants all beautifully dressed to wait upon my mother.”

(Genie 1) “It shall be done, master.”

(Aladdin) “Oh and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.”

All this was no sooner said than done. (sound of horse neighing) Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the servants strewing gold pieces over the heads of the crowds as they went. The lads who used to play with Aladdin didn’t even recognize him. When he arrived at the sultan’s palace, the sultan saw him and he came down from his throne and led him into another room where a marriage feast was waiting. But Aladdin said “King of time, before I marry the princess, first I must build a palace that is worthy of my love for her.”

And home he went. He rubbed the lamp and when the genie appeared, he gave his instructions.

(Aladdin) “Build me a palace with the finest marble, set with jasper and agat and other precious stones. In the middle, build a hall with a high dome and pillars of gold and silver with ninety-nine windows encrusted with jewels. But leave the last of these windows absolutely plain. Oh, and there must be gardens and fountains and stables and horses. And an underground chamber full of treasure.”

(Genie 2) “Your wish is my command, master.” (Sound of genie granting wish)

The palace was finished next day and everything about it was gorgeous. Aladdin’s mother dressed herself in fine robes and then she and her servants walked from Aladdin’s palace to the sultan’s on a velvet carpet laid between the two buildings. Aladdin followed her on horseback and the sultan sent musicians to meet them. The princess greeted Aladdin’s mother and that night she set out along the carpet for Aladdin’s palace with his mother and a hundred servants. Aladdin ran out to meet her.

(Aladdin) “Welcome, noble princess, I hope that you will be very happy here with me.”

(Princess) “I’m sure I will, Aladdin. My father has told me that everyone speaks well of you.”

So their marriage took place without delay. Afterwards they had a great feast and ate and danced till midnight. Then Aladdin invited the sultan to see the palace. And they both gazed at the ninety-nine windows with their rubies and emeralds and diamonds.

(Sultan) “It is the world’s wonder. Ah, but that last window, was it left unfinished on purpose?”

(Aladdin) “Yes sir, that was meant. I wished Your Majesty to have the honour of finishing this palace.”

The sultan was pleased and sent for the best jewellers in the city to finish off the window like all the others. But they couldn’t find enough jewels to do it.

(Sultan) “What! Then fetch my own jewels to finish it.”

But three months later the task was still not done. Then Aladdin told them to carry the jewels back to the sultan and commanded the genie to finish the window and it was done in a moment. Now in the meantime the magician who had pretended to be Aladdin’s uncle heard that Aladdin  had escaped from the cave and married the princess. Then he knew that Aladdin must have had the magic lamp to help him. The magician travelled day and night back to China, till he came to the same town where everyone was talking about a marvellous palace.

(Woman 1) “Oh, it’s wonderful, we’ve all been to see it.”

(Man 1) “Absolutely marvellous!”

(Magician) “Excuse me, what is this palace you speak of?”

(Woman 2) “Haven’t you heard about it then?”

(Man 2) “Aladdin’s palace.”

(Man 3) “It’s the greatest wonder of the world.”

(Magician) “What!”

(Voices) “Oh yes!

(Woman 1) “I’ll show you where it is if you like.”

And when the magician saw the palace he knew that it had been raised by the genie. He was half mad with rage and thought of a plan to get hold of the lamp. He bought twelve ordinary oil lamps, put them in a basket and stood outside the palace window dressed a street trader. (Magician) “New lamps for old! Change your old lamps here for new ones!”

The princess heard this and sent a servant to find out what was going on. She couldn’t help laughing.

(Princess) “Ha, ha, ha, I can’t believe it! That silly old fool is offering to exchange new lamps for old ones. Here, take him that old lamp by the window. We’ll certainly have a new one!” Now this lamp was the magic one. The servant took it to the magician, who snatched it from her hand and pushed a new one at her instead. Then he hurried from the city to a lonely place and rubbed the magic lamp. (Sound of Genie 2 appearing) “

(Genie 2) “What is your wish, oh master?”

(Magician) “I command you to carry the palace of Aladdin and the princess back to my own land.”

(Genie 2) “Your wish is my command.”

Next morning the sultan looked out of his window and rubbed his eyes.

(Sultan) “What! Whatever has…Aladdin’s palace! It’s gone!”

(Voices) “Gone!?”

(Sultan) “This is some trickery. Why, Aladdin is just a cheat. Arrest him at once!”

So Aladdin was arrested and brought before the sultan.

(Sultan) “Wretch! Where is your palace and my daughter? If you don’t find them quickly, you will lose your head!”

Aladdin begged for forty days to search for her. So the sultan let him go for the time being. He walked a long way out of town, wondering whatever to do. But as he was wringing his hands in his despair, he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. (sound of Genie 1 appearing) (Genie 1) “What is your wish, oh master?”

(Aladdin) “Oh, um, save my life, genie and… and  bring back my palace!”

(Genie 1) “That is not in my power. I am only the slave of the ring. You must ask the mighty slave of the lamp.”

(Aladdin) “I don’t know where it is….I know. Take me to the palace and set me down under the princess’s window.”

(Genie 1) “Your wish is my command.”

(Sound of flight to palace). The next moment Aladdin found himself beside his palace. Now in the magician’s open country. The princess heard the commotion and ran to her window. (Princess) “Aladdin, it’s Aladdin. Oh darling, whatever happened?”

(Aladdin) “Oh, my love, now quick, this is most important! What happened to that old lamp I left by the window there?”

(Princess) “That old thing? Well, I gave it away to a street trader.”

(Aladdin) “Oh no! That must have been the wicked magician.”

(Princess) “Oh no, oh and it’s all my fault! He carries that lamp around with him wherever he goes. It’s never out of his sight!”

(Aladdin) “Well, somehow we have to get it back! Let me think.”

After a while, Aladdin went into town and bought a certain powder. When he came back, the princess let him into the palace by a little side door.

(Aladdin) “Now, put on your most beautiful dress and smile nicely at the magician. He’ll think you’ve forgotten all about me. Then you invite him to dinner (sigh from princess) and say you would like to taste his wine. While he goes to fetch it, I’ll tell you what else to do.”

So the princess dressed herself up and greeted the magician.

(Princess) “Well, my lord, I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead. I can’t go on crying all the time and that’s why I’ve invited you to dinner.”

(Magician) “That is very sensible of you, my dear.”(Princess laughs nervously)

(Princess) “But I’m bored with the wines of China. I’d like to taste the wine of this country.”

(Magician) “My country’s wine, eh?”

(Princess) “Mmmm”

(Sultan) “And so you shall, my love.”

The magician dashed off to find the wine and the princess put Aladdin’s poison powder in the magician’s cup. He came back, filled both their cups with wine, took a drink and fell back lifeless. Then the princess and Aladdin took the lamp and rubbed it. (Sound of Genie 2 appearing)

(Genie 2) “What is your wish, oh master?”

(Aladdin) “I want you to take my palace and everything and everyone in it back to China.”

(Genie 2) “Your wish is my command.” (Sound of flight back to China)

No sooner said than done. Back in China, the sultan was sitting at his window still thinking of his lost daughter. Then he happened to look up and rubbed his eyes.

(Sultan) “Eh..why…bless me! The palace!”

The sultan rushed over and met Aladdin and the princess in the hall of the ninety-nine windows. And when they told him all that had happened, he ordered a feast and celebrations lasting for ten whole days. (sounds of guests) Both of the genies were invited and provided some wonderful entertainment. Ever afterwards Aladdin and the princess took great care of the magic lamp and the magic ring. So they lived happily and in peace for the rest of their lives. (Music)