The work, as a whole, does a stellar job at showcasing the city’s importance, influence, and cultures. Just like the authors and characters in the work, the translators of the stories... bring different styles and flairs to English ... While the repetition of the words can at times be monotonous, readers are provided with linguistic variations and an insight into Marrakech’s linguistic diversity through the translations, allowing them to add another level of discovery to the Red City ... Marrakech Noir will send its readers to the Red City to not only explore its charms and heritage, but also to acquaint them with the diverse and lively ways of life that dwell within the city limits. Although not every piece of writing exhibits a perfect example of the noir genre or even of prose, each piece promises a different insight and perspective on Marrekechi society, expanding the reader to be included in the city’s culture, even if just for a moment ... Whether you’ve been to Marrakech or not, this anthology promises to take you there.
Each of Akashic Books’ many noir collections, set in cities around the world, illuminates a new urban terrain and its literary tics ... The 15 stories in Marrakech Noir are translated from Arabic, French and Dutch, and the crimes within are suited to a city where extreme wealth and poverty brush shoulders. There are women fleecing men, youths fleecing elders, guides fleecing tourists, and stories where everyone is trying to cheat everyone else ... Not every story in Marrakech Noir is an immortal gem, but there are enough enjoyable ones to make the collection fun. And what better way to get to know a city than to meet its criminals?
As Adnan points out in his introduction to this relatively upbeat Akashic noir anthology, Moroccans regard Marrakech as The Joyful City....As a result, most of the volume’s 15 tales tend to be fanciful ... Armchair travelers will relish this collective look at Marrakech through the eyes of those who know its people and culture well.
