Elias Canetti was a Bulgarian-born writer, raised in Vienna, Zurich, and Germany, with a deep interest in philosophy, psychology, and social behaviour. Best known for his novel Auto-da-Fé and his monumental study of crowd psychology, Crowds and Power, Canetti’s work often explored themes of power, identity, and human behaviour.
In 1981, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his insightful and unconventional body of work. Travel informed much of his writing, and The Voices of Marrakech reflects his observational skills, capturing the atmosphere of the Moroccan city during a brief visit in the 1950s.
The Voices of Marrakech is an evocative portrait of a city that feels both distant and familiar. The short stories capture the sights, sounds, and lives of Marrakech with a sharp and compassionate eye. Reading it, I was transported back to Marrakech, but to a different time, one that remains in the margins of the modern city.
Marrakech in 2013
What struck me most was Canetti’s ability to observe without judgement. His descriptions of beggars, merchants, and Jewish communities are deeply human, observed with curiosity rather than analysis.
The book reminded me of my own visit to Marrakech, stirring memories of winding alleys, the rhythmic calls of market vendors, and the mix of chaos and beauty in Djemm al-Fnaa.
At times, Canetti’s writing feels detached, as if he is watching rather than engaging. Yet, this distance allows the reader to absorb the atmosphere without the weight of interpretation. He captures the contradictions of the city—the allure and the hardship alongside the hospitality and the isolation.
For those who have visited Marrakech, this book serves as a nostalgic window back into its energy.
For those planning to go, it offers a glimpse of its essence, even if the city today is inevitably changed. I’d recommend The Voices of Marrakech to anyone who wants to reconnect with the feeling of wandering its streets, observing its people, and absorbing the character.
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