Abstract: While he advocated the self-effacement of the translator faced with the genius of the Mille et une Nuits, Mardrus’ versions were created with the mark of their strangeness. This led to the illusionism and « literality effect » which assured his reputation for an entire generation of poets. Here, we analyse the literary transfer on which his project was based, and his invention of a modern model of writing the fantastic which blended prose poetry and narrative poem.
