Product Description

When Suzanna Clarke and her husband bought a dilapidated house in the Moroccan town of Fez, their friends thought they were mad. Located in a maze of donkey-trod alleyways, the house - a traditional riad - was beautiful but in desperate need of repair. Walls were in danger of collapse, the plumbing non-existent. While neither Suzanna nor her husband spoke Arabic, and had only a smattering of French, they were determined to restore the building to its original splendour, using only traditional craftsmen and handmade materials. But they soon found that trying to do business in Fez was like being transported back several centuries in time and so began the remarkable experience that veered between frustration, hilarity and moments of pure exhilaration. But restoring the riad was only part of their immersion in the rich and colourful life of this ancient city."A House in Fez" is a journey into Moroccan culture, revealing its day-to-day rhythms, its customs and festivals; its history, Islam, and Sufi rituals; the lore of djinns and spirits; the vibrant life-filled market places and the irresistible Moroccan cuisine. And above all, into the lives of the people - warm, friendly, and hospitable. Beautifully descriptive and infused with an extraordinary sense of place, this is a compelling account of one couple's adventures in ancient Morocco.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61442 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

About the Author
Suzanna Clarke has worked as a photojournalist for more than two decades, contributing to national and international newspapers, magazines and books. Currently, she is the arts editor of a major Australian newspaper. Born in New Zealand, she grew up in several parts of Australia. In her twenties she lived in a Welsh commune, an Amsterdam squat and a Buddhist monastery in Nepal. With her husband, she divides her time between their homes in Brisbane, Australia and Fez, Morocco.

Customer Reviews

Excellent read
This is an excellent read for anyone who is interested in Morocco.This book is about two foreigners who decide to buy an old house in the medina in Fez and bring it back to its former glory. The author uses her knowledge of Moroccan culture and history as she writes. She is honest but not condesending. She writes about the people she meets along the way. I read it before I went back to Morocco and it made me very keen to go back. I would love to read more from this author.

An honest portrayal of life in Morocco
Bought 21 Apr 2009 - Amazon Christmas vouchers

Suzanna and her partner, Australians in Morocco for a holiday, throw all caution to the wind and decide to buy a dilapidated house in Fez and do it up. The usual trials and tribulations ensue. Clarke tries to be fair, balancing her annoyance at being used and diddled with an understanding of how she seems rich and probably foolish to the residents. They obviously care about community and history, and are pleased when their undertakings are praised by those in the know. It does seem slightly an advert for their Moroccan blog, but then this isn't pushed at the end of the book, so I'll take it as an interesting and well-done narrative of their time in Fez.

A celebration of the rich
cultural diversity of Morocco and a sympathetic portrayal of the local characters makes this book stand out from the others about buying a house in Morocco. As an anthropologist I appreciate these factors, and I learned more about Morocco than I did from reading other books about doing up a house there which seem superficial in comparison. In my book Travelling Magically: How to Turn Your Journey into a Life-changing Experience I discuss how important sensitivity to the local culture is - this book is an excellent example.