Monday 16 July 2012

The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah


Tahir Shah is one of my favourite writers.  His love letter to Morocco, In Arabian Nights, is up there amongst the books I treasure because it perfectly invokes the magic, mysticism and wonder that I picture when I think of bazaars, spice markets, coffee houses, winding alleyways, snake charmers and Eastern story-telling.  So it was with high expectations that I picked up a copy of The Caliph's House, his earlier book, in the library.  It's an account of the first year Shah and his family spent in Casablanca, renovating a dilapidated traditional house and attempting to fit in with the locals.

Unfortunately, not all of my expectations were met.  In many ways, The Caliph's House is a wonderful book full of simple but absorbing writing and Shah certainly does a good job at describing Casablanca and Morocco itself.  Although there are sketches included, they aren't really necessary as, reading the book, I felt as if I was actually there with Shah and his family.  The culture of the Moroccans (for example their belief in Jinns) is described with respect but a gentle humour that shows the high regard Shah has for his adopted country.


As someone who has often daydreamed about packing everything in and moving to an exotic location, I enjoyed reading about the renovation of the house and how the traditional Moroccan artisans worked.  But this was also where I felt the book fell down a bit; Shah's writing is much more suited to stories and atmospheres, not practicalities like finding a carpenter or fixing a sewerage pipe.  The passages about the Moroccans and his visits around the country were enchanting, but the renovation sections seemed to drag.  There's only so many times I needed to read about workers not turning up on time or the guardians of the house panicking about something the resident Jinn might or might not have done.

All that is not to say The Caliph's House isn't a wonderful book - it is.  It's just that In Arabian Nights is better (more about Morocco, less about house renovation) and I happened to read that first.  The Caliph's House was worth reading for the descriptions and for the friendships Shah struck up with some of the Moroccans in the slum bordering his house; I had a soft spot for the refined stamp collector, Hicham.  I look forward to reading some of Shah's other books in the future, particularly In Search of King Solomon's Mines and Trail of Feathers, about Peru.

I'm going to end this review with my favourite passage from the book:
"I was tired of our meagre existence and the paltry size of our flat, where the warring couple next door plagued us through paper-thin walls.  I wanted to escape to a house of serious dimensions, a fantasy inspired by the pages of the Arabian Nights, with arches and colonnades, towering door fashioned from aromatic cedar, courtyards with gardens hidden inside stables and fountains, orchards of fruit trees, and dozens and dozens of rooms."

Source: Library
First Published: 2006
Score: 3.5 out of 5

10 comments:

  1. I can really see we are on the same page and a kindred soul on Tahir Shah. He is my favourite author, and I have read both In Arabian Night and Caliph's House. Interestingly though, I read The Caliph's House first and love it more than In Arabian Night. This may confirms the reading order may have affected why we think differently / conversely about the two books! :)

    http://bibliojunkie.wordpress.com/2009/04/18/the-battle-with-human-and-jinns/
    http://bibliojunkie.wordpress.com/2009/05/02/in-arabian-night/

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    1. I'm glad someone else loves him as much as I do, he is seriously under-rated given the quality of his writing. It's interesting you preferred Caliph's House, reading order must be very important!

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  2. It's so interesting to sort of rank the books by a beloved author, isn't it? It's so rare to love all of the books by an author, even if they are very talented.

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    1. You're right, the only author were I have loved all her books is Adichie, but then, she's only written three books!

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  3. Wow. Two of my favorite bloggers liking the same author so much? I must read either one of the two books you have mentioned!!

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    1. You must! Either one would be a good place to start :P

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  4. I'm adding this author to my TBR stat -- haven't heard of him, but your enthusiasm for him and the way you describe his writing have me super eager. Thanks for making my TBR a little (or much!) longer! ;)

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    1. I hope you enjoy him Audra. I always get a bit nervous recommending favourite authors because I know not everyone will have the same reaction to their work that I did.

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  5. Was so excited to see your post- read this years ago & so agree with your take on it, especially the house renovation bit. But it was overall a fascinating glimpse of Morocco - didn't know about Arabian Nights - am really glad to learn of it, sounds wonderful, and more satisfying.

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  6. Wow, will definitely have to look into this author! I *think* I've heard of In Arabian Nights, but I am not sure and it sounds like something I'd really like. Thanks for putting it on my radar!

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