Originally published in 1955, Paul Bowles’s remarkable novel set in Fez, Morocco, during the last days of the French colonial empire, is an expansive piece of writing—vintage Bowles "With its atmosphere of sinister tension, its scenes of nationalist conspiracy and French police action, of escape and pursuit in the Arab quarter, The Spider's House reads for stretches like a first-class political thriller." -New York Times The dilemma of the outsider in an alien society, and the gap in understanding between cultures, recurrent themes of Paul Bowles’s writings, are dramatized with brutal honesty in this novel set in Fez, Morocco, during that country’s 1954 nationalist uprising. Totally relevant to today’s political situation in the Middle East and elsewhere, richly descriptive of its setting, and uncompromising in its characterizations, The Spider’s House is perhaps Bowles’s best, most beautifully subtle novel.
Fez: City of Islam is undoubtedly one of Titus Burckhardt's masterpieces. It conveys a profound understanding of the sacred roots that nourish Islamic culture and civilisation. As a young man in the 1930s, Burckhardt spent some years in Morocco where he became acquainted with several remarkable representatives of the spiritual heritage of the Maghrib. Although he committed much of this experience to writing, it was not until the 1950s that these writings were developed into a book. In Fez: City of Islam, Burckhardt writes of the history of a people and their religion--a history that was often violent, often heroic and sometimes holy. The book relates the teachings, parables and miracles of the saints of many centuries and demonstrates not only the arts and crafts of Islamic civilisation, but also its sciences and administrative skills. Burckhardt's unique black and white photographs from the 1930s are included. In addition 41 new colour illustrations have been specially selected to enhance Burckhardt's originals. Here, text and illustrations come together to provide an insight into the way the life of a people can be transformed at every level by a religious tradition.
By turns hilarious and harrowing, this work by an acclaimed English travel writer is the story of his family's move from the gray skies of London to the sun-drenched city of Casablanca, where Islamic tradition and African folklore converge--and nothing is as easy as it seems.
Marrakech is the heart and lifeblood of Morocco's ancient storytelling tradition. For nearly a thousand years, storytellers have gathered in the Jemaa el Fna, the legendary square of the city, to recount ancient folktales and fables to rapt audiences. But this unique chain of oral tradition that has passed seamlessly from generation to generation is teetering on the brink of extinction. The competing distractions of television, movies and the internet have drawn the crowds away from the storytellers and few have the desire to learn the stories and continue their legacy. Richard Hamilton has witnessed at first hand the death throes of this rich and captivating tradition and, in the labyrinth of the Marrakech medina, has tracked down the last few remaining storytellers, recording stories that are replete with the mysteries and beauty of the Maghreb.
In the postcolonial era, Arab societies have been ruled by a variety of authoritarian regimes. Focusing on his native Morocco, Abdellah Hammoudi explores the ideological and cultural foundations of this persistent authoritarianism. Building on the work of Foucault, Hammoudi argues that at the heart of Moroccan culture lies a paradigm of authority that juxtaposes absolute authority against absolute submission. Rooted in Islamic mysticism, this paradigm can be observed in the drama of mystic initiation, with its fundamental dialectic between Master and Disciple; in conflict with other cultural forms, and reelaborated in colonial and postcolonial circumstances, it informs all major aspects of Moroccan personal, political, and gender relations. Its influence is so pervasive and so firmly embedded that it ultimately legitimizes the authoritarian structure of power. Hammoudi contends that as long as the Master-Disciple dialectic remains the dominant paradigm of power relations, male authoritarianism will prevail as the dominant political form. "Connecting political domination to gift exchange, ritual initiation, social loyalty, and gender reversals, Master and Disciple is nothing less than a thoroughgoing revision of our understanding of authoritarian rule in Morocco and in the Arab world in general."—Clifford Geertz, Institute for Advanced Study
LANDSCAPES: BETWEEN THE DESERT AND THE SEA Morocco is a vast country, offering a multitude of breathtaking landscapes, from the lush Rif region in the north and the Atlantic coast, dotted with blue and white villages, to the vast expanses of the south, with its immense Atlas mountains and burning desert sands. Nestled against this impressive backdrop are the imperial cities--Fez, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech--whose splendor bears witness to the magnificence of the sultans of yesteryear. SOUKS: A FEAST FOR THE SENSES The souk--the market at the heart of every medina--is a world unto itself, where enchanting colors, sounds, scents, and materials rouse the senses. Narrow, labyrinthine streets are lined with stalls and shops offering the finest in Moroccan craftsmanship: the carpets, pottery, ceramic tiles, lanterns, and ornate woodwork that are all part of the country's rich heritage. INTERIORS: ORIENTAL REFINEMENT The most impressive Moroccan interiors are to be found in the protected world of "riads" and "dars," Their high outer walls barely hint at the inner splendors hidden within: this is a realm reserved to a select few. Sumptuous rooms lead onto terraces, built around an inner garden or courtyard filled with orange trees and fountains. Herein lies the Orient's timeless image as a Garden of Eden. RENDEZVOUS: "DARS," "RIADS," AND LEGENDARY HOTELS One of Morocco's charms lies in its unique hospitality, which views every visitor as a special guest. Whether you choose to rent a "riad" to experience Morocco as a resident, opt for the elegance of a celebrated hotel, or prefer a more discreet stop in an oasis at the edge of the desert, you will discover the magic andromance that are an integral part of the uniquely generous Moroccan way of life. From its spectacular mountain ranges to its boundless stretches of amber desert and beautiful coastline, Morocco offers an unparalleled panorama for the greedy eye. The intense peacefulness of the country's natural environment contrasts sharply with the bustle of its cities, which overflow with street-life: the "red city" of Marrakech, enchanted Fez, the Atlantic ports of Rabat and Casablanca . . . These different sights, seemingly worlds apart from each other, are all masterfully captured by the camera and brought together in this richly illustrated volume. "Living in Morocco" also takes the reader beyond the imposing walls of medinas and citadels, through labyrinthine streets where traditional "souk" markets are held, and into the homes and hidden gardens of some of the country's most illustrious inhabitants. In these private oases, one can take in the sweet scent of orange trees while sipping a glass of the freshest mint tea and indulging in gourmet delicacies .
The Moroccan city of Fez is a precious jewel of Islamic civilization. For over 40 years Titus Burckhardt helped to document its artistic and architectural heritage. These newly translated lectures, delivered when Burckhardt was living and working there, explore how it can be authentically preserved and updated. Aided by his photographs and sketches, Burckhardt conveys what it means to be a living Islamic city.
