"Chocolate Creams And Dollars" 1992 MRABET, Mohammed
$150
MRABET, Mohammed
[186] pp.
Inanout Press
1992
7 3/4" x 7 3/4"
3000 copies trade
Illustrated by Philip Taaffe
Mohamed Mrabet, born in Tangiers, around 1940. Early he chose the freedom of the street; fisherman, boxer, illiterate storyteller; in 1965 he met Bowles who started taping & translating his stories. Since 1967 fifteen books have been published in eight languages. Mrabet's language is a maze like the thousand alleys of the Medina - seductive, but dangerous - without a guide one is lost in suggestions & allusions. Mrabet says "A tongue tells a thousand truths, but you always only want to hear one." This is a loosely autobiographical novel. Again & again in his story the tension between two cultures becomes clear - they reject themselves like opposite poles, only seldom coming together. Writer, composer, musicologist PAUL BOWLES, born in 1910, is one of the greatest living American writers. He has translated twelve of Mrabet books from Moghrebi. After 25 years, this is their final collaboration. Philip Taaffe, painter, has had major shows in galleries & museums worldwide. His work is in MOMA's permanent collection. He has travelled extensively in North Africa. His photographs taken in Morocco, found images, & numerous 1970s Moroccan 45 record covers, delve into Mrabet's themes poignantly & provocatively.