Richard Hamilton explores Tangier's cultural history, finding inspiration for international writers, artists, and musicians. He explores hotels, cafés, alleyways, and the city's darkest secrets, uncovering a frontier town that is comic, confounding, and haunted by its past. Tangier has been a crucible of creativity, influencing Henri Matisse, Brian Jones, and two of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century. It also features lesser-known characters such as Brion Gysin and Ibn Battuta.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 13 June 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Tangier's Cultural History: An Exploration of Inspiration

In this captivating guide to Tangier's extraordinary cultural history, former BBC North Africa correspondent Richard Hamilton takes us on a journey to uncover the sources of inspiration that have drawn so many international writers, artists, and musicians to this enchanting city. Tangier, a frontier town with a rich and complex history, has been a muse to countless creative minds throughout the ages. In this intimate portrait, Hamilton explores the city's hotels, cafés, alleyways, and its darkest secrets, delving down through the complex historical layers to reveal the hidden stories that have shaped its character.

Tangier's Surreal Charm

One of the first to capture Tangier's surreal charm was the Moroccan novelist Mohamed Choukri, who wrote, "Everything is surreal and everything is possible." Tangier's unique blend of cultures, languages, and traditions has created a city that is both comic and confounding, a place where anything seems possible. It is a city that has inspired countless works of literature, art, and music, and it continues to captivate visitors with its enigmatic allure.

Tangier's Haunted Past

Despite its surreal charm, Tangier has a haunted past. Samuel Pepys thought God should destroy Tangier, and St. Francis of Assisi called it a city of "madness and delusions." However, throughout the centuries, Tangier has also been a crucible of creativity. It was a turning point in Henri Matisse's artistic journey and had a profound impact on the founder of the Rolling Stones, Brian Jones. Tangier also produced two of the greatest American novels of the twentieth century: The Sheltering Sky and Naked Lunch.

Tangier's Literary Legacy

Beyond the works of Matisse and Jones, Tangier's literary legacy is vast and diverse. The book also looks at lesser-known characters such as the flawed genius, Brion Gysin, as well as Ibn Battuta, who travelled three times further than Marco Polo. Featuring a thrilling cast of pirates, sultans, artists, musicians, writers, princes, and playboys, this is an essential read about Tangier.

Conclusion

Tangier's cultural history is a testament to the power of inspiration. From its surreal charm to its haunted past, Tangier has inspired countless writers, artists, and musicians to create works that have left a lasting impact on the world. Whether you are a lover of literature, art, or music, Tangier is a city that should be on your bucket list. So pack your bags and embark on a journey to this enchanting city, where anything is possible.

Weight: 260g
Dimension: 133 x 198 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780755654512