In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams

The author of this book presents himself as a person raised in a world of stories, finding himself in a place of stories but seeking his own story. The reader is taken along as he travels through Morocco seeking stories, storytellers and the places they live and perform. Along the way, this journey provides the frame in which several stories are told and lessons provided. Just when you feel it might be a travelogue, he finds a setting for a story which you happily stop and enjoy. The book has numerous small illustrations to tease the imagination in understanding the stories. There is a glossary and list of recommended readings. It is a book for a journeyer who wishes to understand that there is more to travel than moving along a route. It is a book to remind readers that what we read had origins in spoken words heard, enjoyed and valued. Does he find his story? Well, telling you that now would betray the art the author teaches, and what’s the fun in that? I have already returned to this book and enjoyed parts of it again as I have told friends about it. The book is a sequel to a prior work by the author in the same location. I have not read that book but it did not seem to reduce the feeling of “completeness” of this book.

This was a lovely way to be introduced to Moroccan culture. The author's aim was to convey to the reader the power of stories, as organic components that take root in the mind and heart, and ultimately blossom, illuminating truth to those who pay attention. Not what I expected as an introduction to Morocco, but edifying and entertaining.

In Arabian Nights is a wide-open window into another world, but only because Tahir Shah draws us into himself. He writes with complete honesty, showing in his prose his many questions regarding the acts of life. He is a storyteller, but that does not reflect in his book as a simple story, for the book is much more complicated--and simple--than that. The streams of his story flow merrily only to disappear beneath the sands of some trauma (or jinn); but they bubble up again and again if you wait for them. He is a storyteller in search of the story in his heart. In the process of looking for that story, he sifts through the stories around him as well as the one he is living, and looks at each...weighing it...trying to know it. It is his awareness that he is participating in a story that makes the book so precious. As a storyteller myself, I admire Tahir Shah's metacognitive frankness, his knowledge of story, and his awareness of the stories pressing against him from both within and without. As someone who has been to Marrakesh, he brought back to me the taste of the tepid water from goatskin bags...and it makes me smile. Like the stories of Joha (Nasrudin), you can read this book on a number of different levels. But if you choose to dive deep, there is much for the soul and the intellect to revel in.

First, if you haven't read The Caliph's House, do read that first. In Arabian Nights is the sequel and definitely should be read in the right order to fully appreciate his evolution of learning to live in Morocco. That said, In Arabian Nights is in a league all its own. Its the best travelogue I've ever read because he travels as many miles inward as he does across the country following an old Berber tradition of aiming to discover the story in his heart. The Moroccans he meets whereever he travels- the blind man who says "I have never had eyesight to hold me back" to the shoe cobbler whom he befriends to many, many more- challenge his way of thinking and being, and his curiosity, immense respect, and awe for the land, the Morrocan people, and their heritage in which he and his family now live is extraordinarily moving. This is also an open love letter to storytelling and a plea to not let this ancientest of ancient arts wither out. There are very few books where I get to the end and I want to go right back to the beginning and read it all over again but this was one of those rare ones.

I picked up 'In Arabian Nights' to prepare for a trip to Morocco. I expected a typical travelogue narrative with the author traveling about the country and sharing their journeys throughout. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that this is a different kind of travelogue (if it can even be called that). Though you won't follow Shah on an assortment of trips throughout Morocco (there are some), this book better serves as a form of cultural immersion into Morocco, namely the importance of storytelling and the various (what Westerners would perceive as) superstitions embedded into the culture. Highly recommended for anyone interested in or heading to Morocco themselves.

Nicely penned, a follow up to Caliph's house - Tahir had to write something to justify his costly home, his shift from UK, and to pass his time in Morroco's heat. After all, a writer cannot just move across the world on the pay cheque. That is quite expensive. The book is slow paced with special empasis on story telling culture of Arab and Muslim world - a mention of his father in every chapter connects Tahir with his childhood - I can tell that he is missing a lot of that old world Afghanistan of his childhood and off course their trips to Morocco. And the stories of Aladin, etc. 3 stars because sometimes book is very repetitive. And therefore irritating to continue. But stories are well told from Arabian nights. If anything else this book clears west misconception that Arabian nights stories were erotic. They were not. They had full life into them.

This is an excellent book, which I devoured in less than a week and will read again and again and again. However, a correction is in order here. One of the past reviewers (who did not like the book) wrote - and I quote: "The book is a journey about a story - every person has a story that is close to his or her heart. Finding that story is the hard part. Mr. Shah does indeed find the story, but guess what? The reader has no idea what it was!" Were we both reading the same book? Reader, do not be put off by such a remark. This book is not about a wild goose chase. Mr Shah does indeed find the story close to his heart and even has physical reactions and symptoms that indicate this story is the right one. Please read the book carefully -- it's there in black and white! I must admit I did find the characters' names a bit daunting and confusing. Without knowledge of Arabic, it was difficult to tell the characters apart by name only... A future edition of this wonderful book would benefit greatly by the addition of a Character List at the front, designed especially for Western readers, as is often found in Russian novels such as War and Peace or Dr. Zhivago. Publishers, please take note!

Tahir Shah is one of my very favorite writers. I've read six of his books and loved them all, but In Arabian Nights is my favorite. I love the way he tells stories, creating vivid images that bring the reader right into the story with him. He is a master at telling stories that have multiple layers and the ability of saying so much more than simply the words used to tell the story. It is his art of knowing which words to use and how to weave them into his stories to magically unearth philosophical truths that form the roots and become these perceptive and very special, many- layered stories... I can't begin to describe it. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes reading thought-provoking stories that tie together the universal experience of being human.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I have visited Morocco several times, including Casablanca, and it brought back many happy memories.

Every once in a while, one comes across a book in which every word is to be savoured, stories and anecdotes which are to be played and replayed on our 'inward eye', the lilting cadence of the poetry to be harmonised with the self and when such a book comes, one feels great pride and satisfaction in having read it. The author's quest of story in one's heart through the labyrinthine travels across Morocco and an excellent and detailed observation about the beauty of orient, celebrating its differences with the occident makes this book truly a treat to read. If time is short or you are too distracted or simply you find oral wisdom nothing but mumbo jumbo, u may skip it, but for a deeper appreciation of an ancient culture that mirrors our own, and a better understanding of self, read it slow.... soaking in the underground streams of wisdom that crisscross not only this kingdom but also the book.

Ein wahrhaft reichhaltiges Buch. Tahir Shah hat einen lustigen und einfühlsamen Stil. Er bringt einem arabische Denkart auf eine äusserst unterhaltsame und intelligente Art und Weise nahe. Ich lese diese Buch extra langsam, denn es ist ein Genuß. Wie so oft bei Tahir Shah weiss man manchmal nicht was Fiktion, was Realität ist. Ich empfehle jedem dieses Buch, der/die ein stetiges Gefühl von innerem Lächeln in sich spüren mag.

I read this while in Morocco on holiday. An excellent companion to the cities and towns visited, all the while pondering the story in my heart. A beautiful and magical read.

This book has been my companion on my travels through Morocco and given me new insights to my surroundings. Enjoyable and heart-warming characters, it has deepened my interest in this fascinating country and the tradition of storytelling.