Lords of the Atlas: The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua, 1893-1956

by Gavin Maxwell

Set in the medieval city of Marrakesh and the majestic kasbahs of the High Atlas mountains, `Lords of the Atlas' tells the extraordinary story of the Madani and T'hami el Glaoui, warlord brothers who carved out a feudal fiefdom in southern Morocco in the early twentieth century. Quislings of the French colonial administration, they combined the aggression of gangland mobsters with the opulence of hereditary Indian princes, and ruled with a mixture of flamboyance and terror. On returning from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, T'hami ordered the severed heads of his enemies to be mounted on his gates. Yet in 1956, when the French left Morocco, the Glaoua regime toppled like a pack of cards.A classic story of history, intrigue, mystery, and action.

Genres: Morocco, History, Nonfiction, Travel, Africa, Middle East, Northern Africa

272 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1966

About the author

Gavin Maxwell was a Scottish naturalist and author, best known for his work with otters. He was born in Scotland in 1914 to Lieutenant-Colonel Aymer Maxwell and Lady Mary Percy, whose father was the seventh Duke of Northumberland. He was raised in the small village of Elrig, near Port William, which he later described in his autobiography The House of Elrig (1965).

After serving in the Second World War as an instructor with the Special Operations Executive, he purchased the Isle of Soay in the Inner Hebrides, where he attempted to establish a shark fishery. In 1956 he travelled to the Tigris Basin in Southern Iraq with the explorer Wilfred Thesiger to explore the area's vast unspoiled marshes; Maxwell's account of their travels was published as A Reed Shaken by the Wind (1959). It was there that he adopted the otter Mijbil. The story of how Maxwell brought Mijbil back to rise in his isolated home in Sandaig (named Camusfeàrna in the book) on the west coast of Scotland, is told in Ring of Bright Water (1960); the book sold more than two million copies and in 1969 was made into a film. It was the first in Maxwell's 'otter trilogy', for which he remains best known: its sequels were The Rocks Remain (1963) and Raven Seek Thy Brother (1968).

The house at Sandaig was destroyed by fire in 1968, and Maxwell moved into a former lighthouse keeper's cottage on the nearby island of Eilean Bàn. He died in 1969. His Eilean Bàn home remains a museum and the island a wildlife sanctuary.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own two copies of this book - the Century Travellers Edition and this 2000 edition with the contemporary photographs, and decorative pages etc. The first thing I did upon deciding to read it was check whether there was a difference between the two. In the 1983 Century Travellers edition, Geoffrey Moorhouse has written a brief introduction. In the Cassell 2000 edition, there is an incomplete essay on Morocco in general terms, written by Maxwell as the introduction to a long magazine article shortly before his death. Other the these differences the text is almost identical, although some statistics have been corrected (eg the height of a mountain mentioned in chapter one).

I enjoy Maxwell's writing. His A Reed Shaken by the Wind is five stars and wonderful book in which Maxwell's passion is clearly transmitted in his writing. I have read the first of his Ring of Brightwater Trilogy, and found the same, both were 5 star books for me.

This book, however was not a five star book. For me, it had none of the passion, none of Maxwells emotion or style so readily found in his other works. Some of this at least, is due to Maxwell quoting large sections of a book by Walter Harris (Morocco That Was), principally because it described everything Maxwell wanted to write about (in Part One of the book), and he obtained permission to do so. This means Maxwell was unable to exert his own voice to proceedings, and while this changed a little in Part Two, by this point I was lacking motivation with the book.

It is also not a straight forward history to understand. I had a zero baseline for the political and power struggle of the time, so was totally reliant on the narrative to educate me. Unfortunately for me, it was tricky to keep the names and places in order, confusing as to who was siding with whom at which time (they were fond of chopping and changing loyalties), and exactly to what ends someones actions were planning.

Which is all a shame, as I had been saving this book, looking forward to it for some time, and perhaps that was my undoing.

A note on the photographs in the 2000 edition - I am 50/50 on these. To some end they were a distraction, because ultimately they were unconnected to the text (for the most part). They were not contemporary with the writing, but modern, and showing situations similar to, but not matching the locations. However such is my interest in Morocco that the photos were interesting of their own accord, and of the current (at the time of publishing) condition of the kasbahs and villages.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3***.

[Daren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I own two copies of this book - the Century Travellers Edition and this 2000 edition with the contemporary photographs, and decorative pages etc. The first thing I did upon deciding to read it was check whether there was a difference between the two. In the 1983 Century Travellers edition, Geoffrey Moorhouse has written a brief introduction. In the Cassell 2000 edition, there is an incomplete essay on Morocco in general terms, written by Maxwell as the introduction to a long magazine article shortly before his death. Other the these differences the text is almost identical, although some statistics have been corrected (eg the height of a mountain mentioned in chapter one).

I enjoy Maxwell's writing. His A Reed Shaken by the Wind is five stars and wonderful book in which Maxwell's passion is clearly transmitted in his writing. I have read the first of his Ring of Brightwater Trilogy, and found the same, both were 5 star books for me.

This book, however was not a five star book. For me, it had none of the passion, none of Maxwells emotion or style so readily found in his other works. Some of this at least, is due to Maxwell quoting large sections of a book by Walter Harris (Morocco That Was), principally because it described everything Maxwell wanted to write about (in Part One of the book),, and he obtained permission to do so. This means Maxwell was unable to exert his own voice to proceedings, and while this changed a little in Part Two, by this point I was lacking motivation with the book.

It is also not a straight forward history to understand. I had a zero baseline for the political and power struggle of the time, so was totally reliant on the narrative to educate me. Unfortunately for me, it was tricky to keep the names and places in order, confusing as to who was siding with whom at which time (they were fond of chopping and changing loyalties), and exactly to what ends someones actions were planning.

Which is all a shame, as I had been saving this book, looking forward to it for some time, and perhaps that was my undoing.

A note on the photographs in the 2000 edition - I am 50/50 on these. To some end they were a distraction, because ultimately they were unconnected to the text (for the most part). They were not contemporary with the writing, but modern, and showing situations similar to, but not matching the locations. However such is my interest in Morocco that the photos were interesting of their own accord, and of the current (at the time of publishing) condition of the kasbahs and villages.

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3***.

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose if you need to read your first book on Morocco, this isn't a bad place to start. Let's preface that with...your first book on Southern Morocco, as the author's focus is strictly there. If you're like me, a wanderer uninitiated on the North African nation as a whole, this volume will illuminate the difference between the Morocco we think we know (Casablanca) with the Morocco we don't (Marrakesh).

While this is really the history of the House of Glaoua, lords of the Berber lands to the south of the Atlas mountains, the reader gets the full breadth of the cruelty and avarice of the ruling Sultans also. One wonders if there are still skeletons rotting away in the depths of some unknown hidden dungeon in the crumbling mud-made abandoned kasbahs.

The French come in for it big time. They just never seemed to manage the whole colonial bit (the Pommies really had that nailed down). As a prelude to the Algerian War, the French occupation and then abandonment of Morocco plays as a Graham Greene story of betrayal and condescension.

Books teach and this one certainly did. Shadows and dust.

Book Season = Summer (when the hot winds blow)

[DoctorM · Rating 5 out of 5]

An account of the rise and fall--- blood on the way up, even more blood on the way down ---of a Moroccan clan amid the politics of the twentieth century, amid French colonialism, independence, war, and a dizzying cascade of alliances and betrayals. My edition is illustrated with breathtakingly beautiful photos of the country--- the cities, the Atlas mountains, the Rif ---and the landscape only emphasises the fates of the Glaoua and their allies and enemies. The old saying is true enough here: you wouldn't believe it as fiction. Not a political analysis, but politics as human drama. Blood, thunder, irony, and the harsh beauty of landscape and dynastic politics.

[Yigal Zur · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of the best books on the history of morroco, especially Marrakech & the Atlas. facinating read. full with amazing facts and stories. real good writing enjoyed it a lot.

[Bob Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a Moon Outshines a Planet
In the late 19th century, before the French finally occupied Morocco (calling it a "protectorate"), there were no roads or railways in the country. The Sultans could not control the outlying areas. They tried to do so through local caids who had their own armies and made continual raids into the large, rugged areas beyond central control. The fortunes of these subordinate rulers waxed and waned. Maxwell's book is about the most successful family of these in the 20th century, a family based in the Atlas Mountains, which divide Morocco more or less down the middle. In competition with two other of these local caids, the Glaoui family cast its fortune with the French and became the most powerful in the whole country. They commanded an army of Berber warriors who gradually got modern arms. They plotted and planned and got their relatives into all the important positions in much of the country. The Glaoui family became so powerful as to get the sultan dethroned and exiled to Madagascar. They called the shots---but only for a short while. The tide of history changed. Colonialism became too expensive and politically untenable. The nationalist movement (Istiqlal) grew stronger, taking the exiled Sultan as its symbolic leader. The French saw the writing on the wall; they were fighting a vicious war in neighboring Algeria. They caved in. The Sultan returned and the Glaoui fell from power. T'hami El Glaoui died in early 1956 and Morocco regained its independence in the same year. Today the once-mighty forts erected by the Glaoui family sit crumbling in the mountains. How all this happened is a fascinating story, very well told in this book. While it might not be academic history, you don't get a chance to read about these events and these characters in many places. Give it a try.

[Andrew Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxwell has an ear and an eyeball rolled in every kasbah's blanket, every Pasha's golfing bag, every harem's keyhole, every red Martian craig of the High Atlas, every Sultan's treasury, and gilded box, and long handshake, and column of tea poured too far above its little glass. He has a good guess at what every passing feudalist thinks about his neighboring fief. He saw France rinse white vampire hands as Morocco passed its medieval placenta into the 20th century, oozing with old blood stuck to the scimitar.

A book of true Dumas-style brother-dungeoning, torture in chains, amusing dinner conversations, hardfried politics, reputation-battering rumors, polygamy, intrigue, shopping, and routine decapitation.

[Lain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lords of the Atlas is really a mixed bag of impressions. On one side it is immersive and entertaining, on the other it is gossipy, sensationalist and orientalist.

The first half of the book describing the mountain passes and fortified homesteads of the atlas, the ancestral oasis' of the far south, and the sprawling market cities on the plains is beautifully written and very evocative. But Maxwell is not the author of these passages, of the first 125 pages almost the entirety is copied straight from a travelogue by Walter Harris, with only the addition of some connecting paragraphs. I suppose he really deserves the majority of the credit. The second half which Maxwell wrote himself is much weaker, and I have to admit I started skimming through it.

Lots of emphasis is put on the "inherent nature" of the berber tribesmen as cruel opportunists and schemers. If the berbers are not murdering, looting, raping, torturing or burying their own companions alive, Maxwell is not interested. The same goes for the sultans who are described as tyrannizing despots straight out of an orientalist fairy-tale, without care as to why things were this way. This black and white moralism is evident throughout, Maxwell wants characters to conform to superficial two-dimensional caricatures of good or evil.

The author is not an historian, what he wants is a good story (up to and including cannibal soup-kitchens). In the introduction he states that Morocco has remained unchanged for a thousand years. He makes many allusions to the "medieval" quality of the berber warlords and their attempt to establish "feudalism". Neither term is in any way appropriate, and only serves to obfuscate local dynamics rather than to enlighten.

2,5 stars

---

In the tradition of Maxwell I've decided to copy and append a large section of text which I have not written myself, for those who might be interested:

"The author of this book evidently aimed at writing a shocker, providing the reader with a maximum of frissons by dwelling lovingly on violence, brutality, treachery, sex and perversions, and he succeeds brilliantly. In the course of doing so, he also provides something which, in general outline, presents a remarkably good picture. On details, he is far less trustworthy, and his comments are not profound. Does this matter? The serious scholar will still have to go to Robert Montagne's most remarkable work on the subject, but the general reader will not be misled in outline, nor concerned with the detail. But given the paucity of documentation on this fascinating subject, perhaps it does matter a bit. The characters in this drama were not always very literate, or truthful. If the small proportion of checkable details proves to be unreliable, one wonders about the much larger proportion of uncheckable ones. Mr Maxwell mentions 'verbal communications and unpublished notes' and explains, convincingly, that he cannot specify these. One can only hope that these records will be stored, with whatever safeguards may be appropriate, in a place where they will not be lost to the historian, and that, in due course, they can also be assessed."

"Mr Maxwell's stories are often amusing rather than plausible. For instance, the story of cannibalism in a Casablanca restaurant (p. 238) hinges on the identification of human flesh by a medical student, in a restaurant 'much patronised by students'. The story would gain in plausibility if Morocco were known to have possessed a medical school at the time. Mr Maxwell's no doubt justified scorn of the scholarly apparatus of footnotes makes it difficult to assess the standing of his sources. His scissors and paste method makes him take over French passages without even editing. let alone checking. Thus Damascus appears as Damas on page 156, and a leader of dissident Berber tribes, Sidi Mha, appears (with his name inappropriately spelt) on page 148 without any introduction whatever, as though he were a familiar historic figure. The explanation is that the passage is lifted from a French work, in which however he had been properly introduced. A kind of spurious local colour is conveyed by quoting tribal chiefs in French of which of course they were ignorant: it is not clear why, if they are not quoted in Arabic or Berber, their alleged words should not be given in English."

"The ethnographic account of Berber tribal structure beginning on page 139 is neither correct nor coherent. It is simply not the case that amongst Berbers, 'monogamy was a strict rule'. As far as rules, go as distinct from practice, these often differ from Koranic law in the opposite direction from the one indicated by Mr Maxwell. They allow more than four wives.(The Berbers, however, consider this deviation, mistakenly, to be Koranic.) Practice also does not conform to strict monogamy. There is no justification for talking of 'Berber matriarchy', and no basis at all for the account given for the origin of Berber personal names (p. 46). The amghar was not a 'representative of the central government' (p. 140). The account of religious institutions (p. 218) is shaky: Mr Maxwell uses the term zawiya where tarika would be appropriate. The account of tribal structure is a curious mixture of error and valid perception, and one can only wonder about its origin and the number of hands it has passed through."

"There is a similar lack of care in copying maps. On two of them, the town of Demnate, correctly named in the text, appears for some reason as Denmat. On one of them, Azilal, the administrative centre of the region which had success- fully defied the Glawi and which subsequently remained outside Glawa power, is for some reason transplanted to a point which would place it at the heart of the Glawa domain. On another map, a similar fate befalls the crucial oasis of Tafilalet, the original home of the present Moroccan dynasty, which is surprisingly claimed for Glawa territory, in contradiction of the more plausible list of possessions given on page 177. These errors again suggest that the author had not bothered to look carefully at the maps or at what they depict. It is simply not true that (p. 59) 'the French had no representation of any sort beyond the foothills of the High Atlas' until after the death of Caid Hammou in 1934. Still less is it true (p. 159) that 'the "pacification" of the South was delayed until after Hammou's death in 1934'. In fact the pacification of the Atlas was completed in 1933, and that of the extreme south, irelevant to the balance of power in the Atlas and Glawa lands, in 1934. It was delayed by dissident tribes, not by the lords of Telouet. On page 198 the date of the American landings in Morocco is given as 1943 (though it is given correctly elsewhere), and on page 197, the date of the arrival of the German armistice commission is given as 1939. A generalization on page 198, about the attitude of French officials to Vichy, is unsubstantiated and extremely implausible. The political implications of a story given on page 159 hinge on the quite unfounded assumption that powder play by mounted warriors implies hostility, instead of being a conventional form of entertainment. On page 196 Allal al Fassi is described as being exiled to Gaboon. A more important mistake occurs on page 182, concerning the politically crucial Berber Dahir (decree) of 1930, which underwrote Berber customary law as opposed to Koranic law, and provided Berber tribes with the option of retaining their custom. This is a point at which Mr Maxwell abandons scissors and paste and appears in person. 'In the opinion of the present writer its (i.e. the decree's) greatest weakness was a failure to recognise that the majority of the Berbers to whom it was meant to appeal were already labouring under the despotic rule of the Great Caids . . .' They were not. This, like crediting the delay in pacification to Hammou, is once again a terribly Marrakesh-bound view. It is true that the majority of the Berber tribes inhabiting the mountains visible from the windows of the Mamounia Hotel in Marrakesh were indeed by then under the great Caids, or had by then passed under their sway. It was simply not true of the tribal groups elsewhere, just as numerous. The regions of tribal custom remained as extensive as those in which customary law had been officially abolished, right until the coming of Moroccan independence."

...

"But if the details are suspect and the comments lack depth, nevertheless the many readers who will obtain their picture of the period from this book will be given, in outline, a correct picture."

Gellner, E. (1970). [Review of Lords of the Atlas. The Rise and Fall of the House of Glaoua 1893-1956, by G. Maxwell]. Middle Eastern Studies, 6(2), 224–227. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4282327

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

25 ratings
Author's introduction to Morocco
Table of Principal Events
Geneology
Colour photographs generously dotted through the text.

Opening Quote:
For queries on an empty page;
For rams and expiated sin;
For desert dust and falcon's cry
For tempest in a ruined inn.
For sunrise, and mountain's age
A vulture on the sky.

Book One
MADANI EL GLAOUI

Chapter One: The Castle: The castle stands at an altitude of more than 6,000 feet in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. It and its scattered rookery of crumbling predecessors occupy the corner of a desert plateau, circled by the giant peaks of the Central Massif, all of them rising to more than 10,000 feet, and some, such as the great Jebel Ghat to the eastward, reaching 12,500.

At the 10% mark I am finding it a dry read, which is fitting for a Saharan setting. About the same time as this was written Morocco became quite the place to be for the boomers. Something to do with resin.

I always associate Morocco with Kate Winslett

[Liam Ostermann]

This is a wonderful history of the Glaoua brothers and their role in and history of Morocco from the late 1950s through to independence in 1956. It was all new to me and as it involves so much of the history of France in North Africa and Algeria in particular. It is hard to imagine that 1953 on the return from the coronation of queen Elizabeth II one of the brothers had these ered heads of his enemies mounted over the gates of his fortress. Yet three years later the same man, the powerful quisling favourite of the French colonial government, who previously had defied his nominal lord the Sultan of Morocco, was humbled, powerless and ultimate stripped of all power possession.

Maxwell wrote this in 1966 after researching what was now ancient history but in fact barely yesterday's news. There was plenty of those involved still alive. It was timely gathering of tales and information that would have been lost, at least to English language readers. I certainly don't know of any other English language books on the Glaoua (of course that statement may only reflect my ignorance). It is wonderful book on fascinating family and historical period.

I recommend it to anyone in the post war decolonisation of Africa and in particular of France's involvement.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for Bedouin history books at my local used book store when this one jumped out at me. I grabbed it thinking I'd parcel it out over the summer in 10 page increments as a palate cleanser between fiction and anti-capitalist theory.

I finished it in three sittings across 30 hours, with only the obligations of work and household preventing a single-sitting binge.

A marvelous introduction tot he life and writing of Mr. Maxwell, this thrilling history is exhaustively well-researched. Mr. Maxwell's judicious use of understated humor and personal details make what could be a dry account of the modernization, colonization and liberation of Morocco a into an incredibly human (not to mention captivating) read.

Rare, too, for a book of this period is Mr. Maxwell's attitude towards colonization--it would be hard to find a modern writer with a more compelling anti-colonial attitude. An absolutely incredible book, laden with many insane gems of prose and seemingly-ludicrous (but true) accounts of the last sultans of Morocco and their power brokers.

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a confusing and wild book, but I still loved it. I read it as prep for a trip to Morocco and it really helped paint a much better picture of the country than just reading histories. Of course, because the book is confusing because of all the unfamiliar names and families and sometimes different names for the same people (think Tolstoy), not to mention the complexity of the intrigue, I still had to cross reference and read summaries.

The stories, though! Just wild. It made the trip really come to life and gave the places we visited more character and meaning. I didn't miss having a guide, either.

Because this copy is hardcover, it's not something you want to carry with you in your suitcase and I had to start reading before we left. That meant that I didn't get to the more recent history until I returned. The photos are arranged a bit haphazardly and not always aligned with the text, but they are beautiful. The actual text doesn't seem to be that long.

I'd definitely recommend it if you are interested in Morocco.

[Patrick Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even by Maxwell's standards, this is a rather idiosyncratic book. The topic, being the history of a ruling dynasty inland Morrocco, is not one that will be familiar to most readers. It certainly wasn't to me. It's the closest he came to trying to write a work of academic history, which is probably why it reads so strangely. To begin with, much of the first half of the book consists of lengthy verbatim quotations from an earlier journalist. We don't really get Maxwell's voice until the second half.

Positive aspects of this book: Maxwell tries to move beyond the Eurocentrism of earlier works, he is as ever a brilliant prose stylist, and the illustrations and photographs (mostly by the author) are excellent.

More negative aspects: Maxwell can't escape the temptation to flights of wild orientalist fancy. Because of this, the book has aged poorly, it's difficult to take it entirely seriously as history.

[Alberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed and valuable description about the role played by the Glaoui brothers in the historical events that led to the independence of Morocco during the first half of the XXth century.
Partially based (early years) on a previous work by Walter Harris.
Maxwell provides a smart vision about political intrigues and relationship between the Glaoui and the Alaouite families.
I enjoyed a lot with the agile description of events, sometimes not lacking irony, by Maxwell.
I was a little shocked by the insignificant role played by Spain besides its protectorate in South Morocco.
Marrakesh won't appear the same after reading this book.

[Goan B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 sterren, naar beneden afgerond.

Weer echt een bewijs dat je geen fictie hoeft te lezen om integrerende en absurde gebeurtenissen te zien. Game of Thrones, maar dan zonder draken, in Marokko en rond 1900. Het kan. En geeft een duidelijk inkijkje in de geschiedenis van het land, waarvan misschien zelfs een deel nu nog merkbaar is. Dee l1 bestaat alleen teveel uit rechtstreeks overgenomen delen uit een ander boek (Harris' Morocco that Was). En, ik vond het soms moeilijk bij te houden wie wie nu ook al weer was. Dat is misschien mijn eigen schuld (namen zijn lastig en deze zijn ook nog eens uit een ander taalgebied), maar wat meer hulp zou gewaardeerd zijn.

[Cristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

El libro es increíble para entender la división entre árabes, franceses y el pueblo Amazigh en el campo marroquí. Los procesos de colonización y "desconolonización" narrados desde autores europeos pueden traer conflictos de visión muy evidentes pero creo que Maxwell lo hace muy bien en describir hechos y contrastar la versión francesa (de algunos generales) con otras versiones. La historia de los Señores del Atlas, especialmente la Casa Glaoui es increíble, casi que de película. Muy recomendado para leer antes o después de un viaje a Marruecos.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is difficult for me to rate this book accurately.
First published in 1966, it is written in a more formal style that to me feels very stilted. At times the sentence construction (and a lack of the punctuation more common to today’s prose) makes the author’s intent hard to discern without repeated readings.
I felt the first third of the book was a bit of a slog to read. The middle third is more interesting, and the last third is quite revealing and engaging.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars if that were possible, but have chosen a 3-star rating.

[Afaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about the very eventful period in Morocco's history from late 19th to mid 20th century. I wanted to learn more about Morocco so picked up this book. Not only that specific period, but it also covers earlier history of Morocco, their way of life, their customs and traditions. You learn a lot from this book. The author also kept the narrative very engaging and interesting, so it doesn't feel like a regular history book full of monotonous facts and figures.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I’ll never remember the details of this dynasty of sultans & their many wives and children as they connived with war lords, viziers & caliphs, this was an interesting look at Moroccan history up til 1956 when the regime toppled.

“Both at their best and worst, they acted in the tradition of their country. Cruelty, torture, and oppression had always been regarded as signs of strength; mercy was evidence of weakness. No man could rule and show pity.”

[Sheepdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable history of Morocco, from when it was not far off a medieval feudal society through its incorporation in the "modern" world.

Very vivid. An extraordinary tale of cross and double cross by European powers playing with a vulnerable emerging nation, from the point of view of a powerful Moroccan family. And of the life and times of Moroccan people.

[Mark Peebler · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had plenty of information, but was not that well written. It was hard to follow at times, and could be very dry. The inclusion of modern day beautiful color photos that weren't related to the text was somewhat of a distraction. Even with all of its faults, this book remains the best english version.

[Bianca van de Water · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lords of the Atlas" depicts a carnivalesque Oriental world characterised by splendour and savagery. I read this book in conjunction with "The Dying Sahara". The two texts demonstrate strong parallels, in that power struggles appear an inherent and perennial condition of humanity. The machinations remain constant; only the actors change. A must-read when visiting the kasbahs in Morocco.

[Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful prose and great narrative, but hard to look past the outdated colonialist overtones and comments, e.g. how the Moors weren't capable of complex logistics. Showing its age to be sure, but solid history and well-written.

[Otis Carmichael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing look into a critical point of transition in Morocco, felt like barely hanging onto the reigns of an absurdist fantasy novel. Found it difficult keeping track of the names but this book gives such a good context of Morocco, whilst the focus on the Glaoui kept it grounded.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended reading for trip to morroco

[Gabo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it while in Morocco. I liked the read and it gave me an insight to the lives of the past in that region.

[Ivor Armistead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an extraordinarily account of the 20th century history of Morocco and the rapacious French “Protectorate.” Highly recommend reading for anyone who has or intends to visit Morocco.

[Brad Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3.5.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story, read like a intrigue plot from a novel but is true

[Prue Mansfield · Rating 1 out of 5]

Chosen as a history of Morocco for our trip. Gave up after 30%. Too detailed, too obscure.