Journey into Barbary: Travels Across Morocco (Tauris Parke Paperbacks)

Through the eyes of a creative genius, Journey into Barbary is both an inimitable portrait of Morocco and one of the first truly modern accounts of a country that had for so long remained an enigma to generations of travellers.In the spring and summer of 1931, Wyndham Lewis travelled to the westernmost part of the Berber heartland in Morocco, known traditionally as'Barbary'.Wanting to avoid what he called'the Baedekered blight'of Anglo-American tourism, he set out for the majestic High Atlas mountains with pens and watercolours to record, in words and images, the rich traditional culture and changing face of the wild, isolated Berber tribes who carved a harsh life out of Morocco's remotest regions.The result is a blend of two arts, the literary skill of a detached and humorous observer, mixed with the drawings of one of the 20th century's most exciting and original artists. Contents 5 EDITOR’S FOREWORD 7 EDITOR'S INTRODUCTION 10 FILIBUSTERS IN BARBARY 19 Map 20 EDITOR'S NOTE 21 PART ONE - LONDON TO CASA 23 EDITOR'S FOREWORD 24 1. A CONVENTIONAL FAREWELL 26 2. MARSEILLES GOES JAPANESE 29 3. HIGH TABLE 31 4. A CHILD OF DON QUIXOTE 38 5. ORAN 41 6. BY WHOM IS FRENCH NORTH AFRICA INHABITED? 43 7. ARAB, TURK, BERBER, BLACK, AND JEW 45 8. ISLAMIC SENSATIONS 47 9. TLEMCEN 51 10. IMPORTANT INTERIORS 58 11. THE RIFF 62 12. CASA 65 PART TWO - RIO DE ORO 77 1. MARRAKECH 79 2. FILM-FILIBUSTERS 84 3. FAKING A SHEIK 92 4. AGADIR 100 5. THE FILIBUSTER OF TOOTING BEC 105 6. THE BROTHEL OF AGADIR 112 7. MARSHAL LYAUTEY AS THE CREATOR OF "THE GREAT LORDS OF THE ATLAS" 117 8. THE CLUBMAN FILIBUSTER OF THE 'NINETIES 123 9. THE BLED HOTEL 126 10. INTO THE TERRITORY OF THE IKOUNKA 134 11. BEAU GESTE OF THE GOUMS 139 12. VISIT TO A SHEIK OF THE ANTI-ATLAS 149 13. THE AGADIR AT ASSAD 154 14. THE SOUS 158 15. THE 'BLUE MEN' OF THE RIO DE ORO 163 16. THE SAND-WIND OF THE COAST OF ATLANTIS 170 17. THE BLUE SULTAN 177 18. ARMS-SMUGGLERS AS VEILED MEN OF THE SOUTH 180 KASBAHS AND SOUKS 187 BIBLIOGRAPHY 231 NOTES ON ILLUSTRATIONS 233 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 234 In The Spring And Summer Of 1931, Wyndham Lewis Travelled To The Westernmost Part Of The Berber Heartland In Morocco, Known Traditionally As 'barbary'. Wanting To Avoid What He Called 'the Baedekered Blight' Of Anglo-american Tourism, He Set Out For The Majestic High Atlas Mountains With Pens And Watercolours To Record, In Words And Images, The Rich Traditional Culture And Changing Face Of The Wild, Isolated Berber Tribes Who Carved A Harsh Life Out Of Morocco's Remotest Regions. The Result Is A Blend Of Two Arts, The Literary Skill Of A Detached And Humorous Observer, Mixed With The Drawings Of One Of The 20th Century's Most Exciting And Original Artists. Through The Eyes Of A Creative Genius, Journey Into Barbary Is Both An Inimitable Portrait Of Morocco And One Of The First Truly Modern Accounts Of A Country That Had For So Long Remained An Enigma To Generations Of Travellers. CLASSIC TRAVEL WRITING. In the spring and summer of 1931, Wyndham Lewis travelled to Morocco. Escaping the furore that surrounded the publication of his controversial book on Hitler, Lewis also intended to explore the culture of the Berbers of Morocco. Lewis' text predates the ascent of Amazigh national consciousness in the late 20th century and his repeated play on the words Berber, Barbary, and barbarism reveals an important element of his attitude toward the Berber people. While avoiding labelling them as primitive, he associates them with strong practices of barbarian rule that at once contrast the enervation of European modernity and suggest a path by which Europe might revive itself. While his tone may be uncomfortable at times, he actually rejects and discredits all the familiar stereotypes of Oriental exoticism - unusual for a book of this period. In the spring and summer of 1931, the author travelled to Morocco. Escaping the furore that surrounded the publication of his controversial book on Hitler, he also intended to explore the culture of the Berbers of Morocco. This title offers an account of Morocco in the '30s as well as of Europe's involvement and attitudes towards it.