14 h 13 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 14 h 13 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
A caliph becomes a stork, a charcoal burner sells his heart, and travelers turn a dangerous road into stories.
In Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace, Wilhelm Hauff gathers three linked cycles: the tales of the caravan, of the sheik of Alexandria and his slaves, and of an inn in the Spessart forest. Travelers and guests tell stories that lead into bazaars, palaces, German towns, and shadowy woods.
Meet Caliph Chasid and his loyal vizier Mansor as a strange powder draws them into danger. Follow Little Muck, mocked for his appearance, and Jacob, whose scorn brings a startling change. For Peter Munk, a poor charcoal burner hungry for respect, wealth promises an escape—but bargains carry a cost.
What you’ll discover
- Stories within stories Join travelers whose tales turn a long journey or a lonely inn into an adventure.
- Magic with consequences Discover strange transformations that bring pride, scorn, and the hunger for wealth into sharp focus.
- Unlikely heroes worth following Meet Little Muck and Jacob, whose unusual shapes sit at the heart of their adventures.
- Two worlds of wonder Move between bazaars and sorcerers, then enter German forests where spirits grant wishes and tempt.
- Tales for the ear Enjoy quick plots, direct sentences, and sly humor that invite you to read aloud.
Who will love it
Readers who enjoy sharp-edged fairy tales, robbers, disguises, and clever judges will love this collection, with Eastern marvels and German forest legends side by side.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- Caravan stories begin with a caliph turned stork
- A greedy bargain on a Florentine bridge
- A robber chief rules the desert with honor
- A dwarf and a tailor chase greatness
- A dark forest inn calls for stories
- Charcoal Pete wishes himself out of poverty
- A silver whistle guards a young swordsman
- A sheik's sorrow opens the palace tales
- Seeing too much and knowing too little
- Wonder and kindness answer greed and pride
Who’s who
- Caliph ChasidThe cheerful ruler of Baghdad who takes a pinch of magic powder for fun and must find a forgotten word to become a man again.
- ZaleukosA Greek physician and merchant who loses a hand after a strange night in Florence and still forgives his enemy.
- OrbasanThe feared Ruler of the Desert, a robber chief who keeps a strict code of honor and hospitality.
- Little MuckA dwarf in his father's baggy clothes who seeks his fortune with magic slippers and a treasure-finding stick.
- FelixA young goldsmith carrying a jeweled ornament to his godmother, who shows surprising courage in a dangerous inn.
- Peter MunkA charcoal burner from the Black Forest who wants to be rich and wishes before he thinks.
- SaidA brave young swordsman from Balsora, guarded by a silver whistle, who must survive deserts, lies, and exile.
- Ali BanuThe wealthy sheik of Alessandria, who mourns his lost son and listens to his slaves' stories each year.
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- Audiobook
- Read by Lucas Linden, complete. It opens once the recording is online.
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas in about 14 minutes, to read today.
- Paperback
- 6 × 9 in. Printing soon: leave your email under Paperback or Hardcover above.
- Hardcover
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- Large print paperback
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- Large print hardcover
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Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace
A caliph takes a pinch of magic powder, becomes a stork, and forgets the one word that can undo it.
Medium level10–20 hours to readEnglish
Excellent
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In short
Would you dare to laugh if laughing could cost you your human shape? Caliph Chasid of Baghdad finds out.
Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace at a glance
- Reading time
- About 7 h 55 min6 h 20 min fast, 9 h 30 min slow
- Length
- 113,600 words
- Library level
- Medium longer sentences, everyday words
Reading time at 238 words a minute (fast 300, slow 200). How long the classics take to read · Updated
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
Caravan stories begin with a caliph turned stork
The book opens on a desert road. A caravan of merchants moves across the sand when a rider gallops up to the guards. He gives his name as Selim Baruch of Baghdad, says robbers took him on the way to Mecca, and asks to travel with the company. The oldest merchant welcomes him.
After three days of silent riding, the youngest merchant complains that he is bored. Selim offers a plan: at every camp, one traveler will tell a story. He goes first.
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Which edition is right for me
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 14 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
Details
- Language
- English
- Reading time
- 9 h 15 min
- Level
- Medium level
Cite this edition
Hauff, Wilhelm. Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/tales-of-the-caravan-inn-and-palace.
Hauff, W. (2026). Tales of the caravan, inn, and palace. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/tales-of-the-caravan-inn-and-palace
Hauff, Wilhelm. Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/tales-of-the-caravan-inn-and-palace.
@book{hauff2026tales,
author = {Hauff, Wilhelm},
title = {Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/tales-of-the-caravan-inn-and-palace}
}
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What is Tales of the Caravan, Inn, and Palace about?
It is a collection of tales in three cycles. Merchants in a desert caravan, travelers in a forest inn, and slaves in a sheik's palace tell stories of fairies, robbers, disguises, and magic that test greed, pride, and kindness.
What does Mutabor mean in the Caliph Stork story?
Mutabor is the magic word, written in Latin in the story, that works with a pinch of powder to turn a person into an animal and, spoken after three bows to the East, back again. It is lost if the user laughs.
Who are Dutch Michel and the Little Glass-Man?
They are two spirits of the Black Forest in the tale of Peter Munk. The Little Glass-Man is a small treasure keeper who grants wishes, and Dutch Michel is a giant raftsman who gives riches at a terrible price.
The author
Wilhelm Hauff
1802–1827 · German novelist and fairy-tale writer
Wilhelm Hauff was a German writer born in Stuttgart in 1802. He studied theology at Tübingen and later worked as a tutor. He wrote poems, novels, and fairy tales. His novel Lichtenstein appeared in 1826, and his fairy-tale collections appeared in 1826–1828. He died in Stuttgart in 1827.
More by Wilhelm Hauff
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