Despite their immediacy and vivacity these works have never been translated, though they were the lens through which every subsequent writer framed their perceptions of Morocco. In a labour of love Anthony Gladstone-Thompson (1962) has combined this celebrated trilogy, Rabat: Moroccan Life and Times, Marrakesh and the Lords of the Atlas and Fez: The Bourgeoisie of Islam into a single volume. His translation remains faithful to the dust and the glory, the majesty, the squalor and the spontaneity of this extraordinary period.

The Tharaud brothers became unique eyewitnesses to history when summoned in 1917 from the Western Front to Morocco by the Resident-General of the French Protectorate there, Lyautey. The colonial conquest of Morocco had been put on hold after the French army was summoned home in 1914. But in a delicate balancing act, Lyautey kept the peace by establishing a working alliance with some of the most powerful of the tribal lords of
Morocco. It was part of a coherent policy to avoid the mistakes in Algeria and preserve Morocco's historical architecture, faith and culture intact for future generations.

A Moroccan Trilogy: Rabat, Marrakesh and Fez will be released on 28 October 2021. Click here to pre-order on Amazon.