Moroccan Dreams: Oriental Myth, Colonial Legacy (International Library of Human Geography)

"Morocco has long been a mythic land, firmly rooted in the European colonial imagination. For more than a century it has been appropriated by travellers, explorers, writers and artists. It is just these images and imaginings that are now being reconstructed for nostalgic consumption. In Moroccan Dreams, Claudio Minca examines this aestheticised re-enactment of the colonial, exploring the ways in which Moroccans themselves have become complicit in the re-writing of their homes and lives. Richly illustrated, the book provides a fascinating journey that will engage and delight all those enamoured of Morocco and its extraordinary geographies."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Morocco has long been a mythic land, firmly rooted in the European imagination. For more than a century it has been appropriated by writers, artists and explorers such as Pierre Loti, Edith Wharton, Eugene Delacroix, Paul Bowles and Elias Canetti. In Moroccan Dreams, the authors explore the ways in which this legacy is being recreated for nostalgic consumption by those seeking the authentic experience of the orient. Taking the reader on a tour, both real and imaginary, to sites that form the quintessential Morrocan experience, including the capital city Rabat, the medina at Fez, Marakkech, the Kasbah, the desert, Tangier, and the gentrified colonial elegance of Essaouira, they unravel the elements that are so appealing about this imagined experience. Richly illustrated, Moroccan Dreams provides an enticing journey that will delight all those captivated by the culture and spatialities of the European colonial enterprise and all those enamoured of Morocco and its extraordinary geographies Cover Author biography Endorsements Title Copyright Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Preface 1. Yes, we conserve 2. Mosaïque 3. Lyautey’s Dream 4. Medina 5. La Place 6. Kasbah 7. Sahara 8. Mogador 9. Lighthouse Finale Notes Bibliography Index