介绍:
Because of the classic movie, Casablanca, the North African city, became synonymous with mystery and romance, a place where anything can happen.
In "The Caliph's House, a Year in Casablanca", acclaimed English travel writer Tahir Shah shares his highly entertaining experience in the North African city. However, in addition to the exotic scenery and food, the author gives more than the readers expected from a travel book.
Dr. Bu Zhaoxia, is the Chinese translator of the book. She said Tahir Shah's work digs more into people's inner world than merely travel experiences, which differentiates it from other "A Year" series.
"The book doesn't just cover the city's exotic culture; it also shows how city dwellers can extricate themselves from their impetuous mindset and experience something new or different, or something maybe a little bit troublesome. The author shows us how he confronts these cultural shocks in a peaceful way."
Tired of the gloomy and wet weather in London, Tahir Shah decided to move his whole family, his Indian-born wife and two infant children, to the sun-drenched city of Casablanca in Morocco, where Islamic tradition and African folklore converge�Cand nothing is as easy as it seems.
The Shahs expedition begins with their moving into an empty mansion in the middle of a Casablanca shantytown. With its lush grounds, cool, secluded courtyards and relaxed pace, life at the house, named the Caliph's, seems sure to fulfill Tahir's fantasy�Cuntil he discovers that, in many ways, he is farther from home than he imagined.
In Morocco, an empty house is thought to attract Jinn, invisible spirits unique to the Islamic world. The house came equipped with three hereditary guardians that control every facet of life, straining to remind the Shahs of the danger of the Jinn.
"The three guardians are local Arabs. They believe in the Jinn. They asked Shah to prick his finger, using his blood to please the Jinn in the house. However, it is beyond logic for the author, who grew up in the west."
This is one example Dr. Bu gave that she found interesting about the book.
That is just the beginning of the story. During their year in Casablanca, the Shahs encountered a dubious architect, a female assistant who betrayed them, the annoying policemen at customs and the mysterious crime boss. Every explanation raises more questions than it answers: Shah has baffling encounters and warily follows instructions he cannot understand. One night, he is taken to a mysterious rendezvous in the desert and expects to be killed, but nothing happens. Another day he gives a lift to an old man who steals his car. Fifteen minutes later, the thief drives back, apologizing that if he took the car for good, no one would ever give an old man a lift again.
Along with the story being elaborated, you'll find more interesting coincidences and cultural collisions between the East and West.
Dr. Bu added that, through such cultural shocks, the author finally found a way to blend into his new environment.
"Going through such cultural shocks, the author and the local people learned to understand each other and gradually learned to embrace each others' culture and live together peacefully. The book shows us that when people from different cultural background face each other, they will definitely have some conflicts. But the book gives a lot of insight into how we should face these differences."
The Anglo-Afghan Indian author, Tahir Shah, is a prolific writer of books and documentaries. He also writes book reviews for The Washington Post and The Guardian. The vast majority of Shah's books can be considered travel literature, including "The Caliph's House, a Year in Casablanca". He is considered a champion of what he calls "the East-West Bridge". In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the United States in 2001, Tahir Shah began to devote a great deal of time and energy into establishing and promoting a "cultural bridge" made up by those who, like him, are both from the East and from the West.
His language is vivid, earthy and readable, with a lot of humor that you can easily understand. Regarding the book, "The Caliph's House", Shah wrote the following:
"Moving to Morocco and leaving our small London apartment behind was something about which I gave quite little thought. Now I look back, I reel with amazement at how I talked Rachana into the dream-my dream-and how I pushed the fantasy forward. Sometimes in life it's best not to think too much. Speculate too much and the fragile idea dies before it has life. We lived moment to moment, and day to day."
The book's Chinese translator Dr. Bu Zhaoxia thought the author helped many city dwellers realize their dream to escape the modern concrete jungles.
"To many city dwellers, the author acts like an escapist. Most people lead a life with many limitations. However, the author realizing his dream allows readers to escape the city. This is what many want to do but, few have the luxury to realize."
If you are expecting a travelogue, you can find vivid explanations of exotic North African scenery in the book; if you are keener on adventure stories, you won't be disappointed by the book "The Caliph's House, a Year in Casablanca" as well.
For Studio Plus, I'm He Fei.
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