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Andalus : Unlocking the Secrets of Moorish Spain
As Islam and the West prepare to clash once again, Jason Webster embarks on a quest to discover Spain's hidden Moorish legacy and lift the lid on a country once forged by both Muslims and Christians. He meets Zine, a young illegal immigrant from Morocco, a twenty-first century Moor, lured over with the promise of a job but exploited as a slave labourer on a fruit farm. Jason's life is threatened as he investigates the agricultural gulag, Zine rescues him, and the unlikely pair of writer and desperado take off on a rollercoaster ride through Andalucía.
While Jason unveils the neglected Arab ancestry of modern Spain - apparent in its food, language, people and culture - Zine sets out on his own parallel quest, a one-man peace mission to resolve Muslim-Christian tensions by proving irresistible to Spanish señoritas.
While Jason unveils the neglected Arab ancestry of modern Spain - apparent in its food, language, people and culture - Zine sets out on his own parallel quest, a one-man peace mission to resolve Muslim-Christian tensions by proving irresistible to Spanish señoritas.
Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
About the author
Jason Webster
27 books93 followersJason Webster is a highly acclaimed Anglo-American author and authority on Spain whose work ranges from biography to travel, crime fiction and history. His books have sold in over a dozen countries, including the US, the UK and China, and have been nominated both for the Guardian First Book Award and the Crime Writers’ Association New Blood Dagger Award. He has been favourably compared with writers such as Bruce Chatwin (The Daily Mail), Gerald Brenan (El País) and Ernest Hemingway (Sunday Telegraph).
Webster was born near San Francisco and brought up in the UK, Germany and Italy. After finishing a degree in Arabic and Islamic History at the University of Oxford, he worked as an editor at the BBC World Service for several years before becoming a full-time writer and moving to Spain. He is married to the flamenco dancer Salud and they have two sons. They currently divide their time between Valencia and the UK.
Webster was born near San Francisco and brought up in the UK, Germany and Italy. After finishing a degree in Arabic and Islamic History at the University of Oxford, he worked as an editor at the BBC World Service for several years before becoming a full-time writer and moving to Spain. He is married to the flamenco dancer Salud and they have two sons. They currently divide their time between Valencia and the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 12, 2011
This book was OK. The author's premise is that Spanish culture is imbued with Moorish influences from its long occupation by Arabs, but that this is denied or concealed today. So he sets off on a road trip to discover the "hidden treasures". I had a couple of problems with this. Just how "hidden" is a Moorish influence that has produced the Alhambra, Seville's Alcazar, Cordoba's Great Mosque, and many other major monuments? He also spends a lot of time pointing out the numerous words in Spanish that have Arabic roots, but you can't spend long learning Spanish without becoming aware of this. At times his journey seems aimless; it's not always clear why he picks the places that he does, and some of the people he meets sound as if they might have interesting things to say, but he doesn't really dig deep enough. He's no Paul Theroux or Colin Thubron.
At the beginning of the book he meets Zine, an illegal Moroccan immigrant who is effectively doing slave labour on a fruit farm in Almería. Together they escape from a shotgun-wielding farmer and set off to explore Spain and find Zine another job. I couldn't help feeling he'd made Zine up, or at least heavily embroidered his story. It was just too convenient having him there to represent the position of the Moor in Spanish society today (at the bottom of the pile, if you hadn't figured that out). There are other points in the book that seem too handily symbolic too, and it's not particularly well written.
On the positive side, he has a good summary of how the Arabs reintroduced Greek thought and Arab science, mathematics, and medicine into Europe after the Dark Ages, and of how Ferdinand and Isabella later shot themselves in the foot by expelling Jews and Muslims from Spain.
At the beginning of the book he meets Zine, an illegal Moroccan immigrant who is effectively doing slave labour on a fruit farm in Almería. Together they escape from a shotgun-wielding farmer and set off to explore Spain and find Zine another job. I couldn't help feeling he'd made Zine up, or at least heavily embroidered his story. It was just too convenient having him there to represent the position of the Moor in Spanish society today (at the bottom of the pile, if you hadn't figured that out). There are other points in the book that seem too handily symbolic too, and it's not particularly well written.
On the positive side, he has a good summary of how the Arabs reintroduced Greek thought and Arab science, mathematics, and medicine into Europe after the Dark Ages, and of how Ferdinand and Isabella later shot themselves in the foot by expelling Jews and Muslims from Spain.
February 16, 2016
9th book for 2016.
I have the suspicion that after the success of his first novel on flamenco, the author was put under pressure to come up with an idea of a second, and having a knowledge of Arabic and having lived in Egypt it probably seemed like a no-brainer to write a book exploring the continuing (and hidden) influence of the Moorish occupation on temporary Spanish society.
The problem is that there is nothing hidden about the influences that Webster explores. He talks about the Arabic origins of many Spanish words as if this is unknown, although anyone who studies Spanish knows this (3000-4000 Spanish words originated in Arabic according to Wikipedia). He visits obvious tourist sites like Alhambra and the Great Mosque in Cordoba. If Webster had really dug deeper into contemporary Moorish Spain this could have been a really interesting book, alas this wasn't too be, and you'll get as much (actually much more) information from any standard guide book.
On his journeys he is accompanied by Zine, an illegal Moroccan farm worker, who remains a (horny) and somewhat pathetic cypher throughout the book. I have to admit that at some point I stopped believing in Zine. He was just too convenient a character, and I strongly suspect if he wasn't fully made up, is an amalgam of various people known (or heard of) by Webster. Which if true, makes the climax at the end of the book, all the more irritating for its blatant emotional manipulation.
I found the writing relatively poor, with a occasional better moments. Overall I think this is just lazily written. There was a better book to be had here, but Webster didn't take the time to do it.
I have the suspicion that after the success of his first novel on flamenco, the author was put under pressure to come up with an idea of a second, and having a knowledge of Arabic and having lived in Egypt it probably seemed like a no-brainer to write a book exploring the continuing (and hidden) influence of the Moorish occupation on temporary Spanish society.
The problem is that there is nothing hidden about the influences that Webster explores. He talks about the Arabic origins of many Spanish words as if this is unknown, although anyone who studies Spanish knows this (3000-4000 Spanish words originated in Arabic according to Wikipedia). He visits obvious tourist sites like Alhambra and the Great Mosque in Cordoba. If Webster had really dug deeper into contemporary Moorish Spain this could have been a really interesting book, alas this wasn't too be, and you'll get as much (actually much more) information from any standard guide book.
On his journeys he is accompanied by Zine, an illegal Moroccan farm worker, who remains a (horny) and somewhat pathetic cypher throughout the book. I have to admit that at some point I stopped believing in Zine. He was just too convenient a character, and I strongly suspect if he wasn't fully made up, is an amalgam of various people known (or heard of) by Webster. Which if true, makes the climax at the end of the book, all the more irritating for its blatant emotional manipulation.
I found the writing relatively poor, with a occasional better moments. Overall I think this is just lazily written. There was a better book to be had here, but Webster didn't take the time to do it.
July 30, 2015
As an Arab who had traveled to Spain many times, I couldn't help but notice the Arabic influence in Spanish culture. I was hoping this book would provide more depth, but sadly I was disappointed on that front. Outside of mere observations of buildings, food, words that anybody familiar with Arabic culture would make while travelling through Spain there isn't much more to this book. However despite my disappointment, I still enjoyed reading the book. I felt like I was travelling through somebody else's eyes to places I have so much enjoyed passing through myself. The book brought back many happy memories.
July 17, 2015
There are some gems in this book about the moorish influence in Spain. But for the most part it is tedious.
September 13, 2022
Quite interesting. Not as informative as could have been but it had a good story alongside.
October 6, 2008
jason Webster, who speaks Arabic and Spanish and has a Spanish wife, starts off on his journey around Spain with the idea that 800 years of Moorish identity must have left many traces in Spain beyond the obvious ones of architecture and language. For many years this was suppressed; the Moors had always been the enemy, the other. After the Reconquest in 1492, they were first forced to convert and then expelled from Spain.
June 1, 2012
Starts out very good and promising but then it is unsure what the author wants to tell. Interesting if you want to know something about Arab influence on Spanish language.
May 16, 2010
Interesting but very unevenly written
December 11, 2018
Exceptional writing in respect of the Moorish influences on Spain and with a contemprary twist in the friendship with Zine (the illegal migrant from Morocco).. some very bad things going on in the south spain in terms of the exploitation of foreign workers ! I did worry that zine was a bit exaggerated but good story no matter if that is the case as he used it to shine a light on modern contradictions ! He revealed the extent of denial of moorish influence although i did find the linkages to be a bit generalised at times ! Some really good history tho !
January 24, 2022
Quite unexpected and really unintentional read. Apparently too much - those recent days - of music by Eduardo Paniagua and Carles Magraner...
Worth a while but nothing thrilling, sometime quite boring if not - irritating (that Modern Moor!).
But as a source of Google Maps planning for visiting one day that Moorish Spain - pretty useful and inspiring. Whole chapter on Belmonte Marranos and Samuel Schwarz - worth even of double read!
Worth a while but nothing thrilling, sometime quite boring if not - irritating (that Modern Moor!).
But as a source of Google Maps planning for visiting one day that Moorish Spain - pretty useful and inspiring. Whole chapter on Belmonte Marranos and Samuel Schwarz - worth even of double read!
March 22, 2018
Met veel plezier gelezen. Ondanks zijn achtergrond als Arabist kan ik uit het verhaal niet herleiden of de feiten die hij aanhaalt voor de Moorse invloed op Spanje op echte wetenschap gebaseerd zijn. Neemt niet weg dat als dat niet zo is, ik zijn beschreven reis interessant en leuk vond, om eens meer na te denken over de identiteit en gevoeligheden van Spanje maar ook het Westen vs het Oosten.
November 13, 2022
I found this book to be incredibly informative and well written. Having travelled several times to many of the Andalusian cities Jason Webster writes about, I was able to visualize clearly where he was exactly writing about. I learned so much from this book. And it makes the intrigue of Arab ancestry in modern Spain all the more interesting.
March 11, 2018
I enjoyed reading about the history of Andalusia, Spanish customs and etymology of Spanish words. Zine, for me, was a distraction and an annoying one, too. He was so unsympathetic, using women and behaving violently towards Jason, I couldn't stand him.
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October 20, 2019Easy read
It was an easy read with some interesting notions. Personally didn't feel like much of the associations of language etc were explored in depth and I'm left feeling like I've skirted a topic rather than explored it.
It was an easy read with some interesting notions. Personally didn't feel like much of the associations of language etc were explored in depth and I'm left feeling like I've skirted a topic rather than explored it.
June 14, 2022
I like Jason Webster's style usually, but this book seemed to lose it's way. Was it about the lasting influence of the Moors on Spain or about his travels across Spain or the story of Zine? Interesting in parts, but much of what he writes about isn't exactly hidden - ie the Alhambra. Disappointing.
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July 30, 20227
February 28, 2023
Wanted it to be more informative than storytelling.
September 1, 2023
A brilliant undertaking in unveiling the Moorish undercurrent of present Spain. A travelogue, a journey through history, and a personal story, all in one. Very neatly done.
November 24, 2016
Al-Andalus, described with passion and affection by Jason Webster.
Jason Webster explains the historic important of the debt to the Islamic world in the text of this book as Europe was lifted out of the Dark Ages by Muslims, Christians and Jews integrating in Spain, creating an important fusion of ancient literatures, philosophy, mathematics, science, and medicine that have had a significant impact on Western cultural and intellectual pursuits over the years.
The wonderful story of Zine, the Moor from Morocco, and Jasie, his English friend and graduate from Oxford University in Arabic languages , who travel through Spain and Portugal meeting many people, discovering the wonders of this period in history and the Arabic roots of many Spanish words, poetry, food, songs and dance, known as flamenco. The two friends parted in Casablanca after a true adventure to "unlock the secrets of Moorish Spain".
We are also taken through Spanish history during the time of the Inquisition, that lasted some 300 years when the Jewish and Moorish cultures were obliterated, resembling the atrocities of the Nazis against the Jews, and others that opposed Fascism, and what we are now seeing in the fight against IS, the Islamic State.
After reading this book you can form your own opinion on this fascinating period in history, that some say is romanticized and some say it never happened. Al-Andalus is the root of my culture and many of my values that inspire me to communicate with different religious and ethnic groups in all the continents I have visited. This has convinced me to believe in this event in history as a model for Peace between these three religions that are now dividing the world in bloody wars and destruction.
Jason Webster has the same passion for Al-Andalus, that I have described in my publication
"Convivencia A Model for Peace between Christian, Muslim and Jewish Cultures. War against ISIS, Peace in Syria, What next?"
Jason Webster explains the historic important of the debt to the Islamic world in the text of this book as Europe was lifted out of the Dark Ages by Muslims, Christians and Jews integrating in Spain, creating an important fusion of ancient literatures, philosophy, mathematics, science, and medicine that have had a significant impact on Western cultural and intellectual pursuits over the years.
The wonderful story of Zine, the Moor from Morocco, and Jasie, his English friend and graduate from Oxford University in Arabic languages , who travel through Spain and Portugal meeting many people, discovering the wonders of this period in history and the Arabic roots of many Spanish words, poetry, food, songs and dance, known as flamenco. The two friends parted in Casablanca after a true adventure to "unlock the secrets of Moorish Spain".
We are also taken through Spanish history during the time of the Inquisition, that lasted some 300 years when the Jewish and Moorish cultures were obliterated, resembling the atrocities of the Nazis against the Jews, and others that opposed Fascism, and what we are now seeing in the fight against IS, the Islamic State.
After reading this book you can form your own opinion on this fascinating period in history, that some say is romanticized and some say it never happened. Al-Andalus is the root of my culture and many of my values that inspire me to communicate with different religious and ethnic groups in all the continents I have visited. This has convinced me to believe in this event in history as a model for Peace between these three religions that are now dividing the world in bloody wars and destruction.
Jason Webster has the same passion for Al-Andalus, that I have described in my publication
"Convivencia A Model for Peace between Christian, Muslim and Jewish Cultures. War against ISIS, Peace in Syria, What next?"
April 23, 2011
This is a travelogue mostly suitable for those who are fascinated with the Andalucian history. It all started with La Llegenda del Moro Musa (The Legend of Musa the Moor) who was the richest, strongest and most powerful caliph who ever ruled in ancient Spain. He lived on top of a mountain in a luxurious palace with golden domed roofs and minarets that touched the sky. Seeing one day that Christian armies were advancing to conquer his lands, he decided to flee, but felt reluctant to leave his beautiful palace and all the riches he kept in it. With the help of a jinn he hides his riches from the eyes of the infidels by turning everything into stone.
The author takes the message of the story: there were probably all kinds of disguised legacies of the Arab period in Spain, many of the unknown and unrecognized. Finding them would require a new way of seeing. He then set for a journey in searh of Musa's treasure.
Many observations of cultural and linguistic nature is noted and presented in the from of a story alongside the adventure he has with Zine, his Moor friend. If you are fascinated with Andalucia, like me, this book provides many pointers to seek further.
This book end with a very personal account for both Jason and Zine. However, I can't help feeling an anticlimax after such a promising and ambitious beginning. Although it might give you a clue to just continue researching.
A quote in the end, "the secret legacy of Al-Andalus - Musa's treasure - seemed to be disguised and half-forgotten, yet it was a symbol of hope that something of another time had survived - a time when Muslims, Jews and Christians had shared the same spiritual space<\i>"
The author takes the message of the story: there were probably all kinds of disguised legacies of the Arab period in Spain, many of the unknown and unrecognized. Finding them would require a new way of seeing. He then set for a journey in searh of Musa's treasure.
Many observations of cultural and linguistic nature is noted and presented in the from of a story alongside the adventure he has with Zine, his Moor friend. If you are fascinated with Andalucia, like me, this book provides many pointers to seek further.
This book end with a very personal account for both Jason and Zine. However, I can't help feeling an anticlimax after such a promising and ambitious beginning. Although it might give you a clue to just continue researching.
A quote in the end, "the secret legacy of Al-Andalus - Musa's treasure - seemed to be disguised and half-forgotten, yet it was a symbol of hope that something of another time had survived - a time when Muslims, Jews and Christians had shared the same spiritual space<\i>"
August 25, 2015
The ending to this book is so poignant, not what I was expecting, but is so fitting for the end of this unusual book. I struggle to define it. It’s part-memoir, part-travel book, part-Arabic history, part-language, and ALL Spain. As usual with Jason Webster, Spain comes alive off every page.
Here he travels around Spain looking for the Moorish heritage just beneath the skin of this modern country. And he finds it in abundance, in places he did not expect, and sometimes in uncomfortable circumstances. He goes on a road trip with Zine, a Moroccan in Spain illegally, but who gives Webster and insight into Spain through Arabic eyes.
Webster handles his subject confidently, he is an Arabic speaker after all, though sometimes there was a fraction too much history for me. But always Zine’s story, his romantic adventures, his excitement, his depressions, kept me reading. The dislike of some Spaniards to their Moorish history made me feel uncomfortable, highlighting the chequered history Spain has had with its invaders from Visigoths and Romans to Moors. Webster visits one Andalucían highlight after another, all places which feature on the wish list of any foreign visitor to Southern Spain - Granada’s Alhambra, Córdoba’s Mesquita, Sevilla’s Alcázar – plus Moorish outposts in the north too such as Toledo and Barcelona.
But the end of the story is in Casablanca, with Zine.
Here he travels around Spain looking for the Moorish heritage just beneath the skin of this modern country. And he finds it in abundance, in places he did not expect, and sometimes in uncomfortable circumstances. He goes on a road trip with Zine, a Moroccan in Spain illegally, but who gives Webster and insight into Spain through Arabic eyes.
Webster handles his subject confidently, he is an Arabic speaker after all, though sometimes there was a fraction too much history for me. But always Zine’s story, his romantic adventures, his excitement, his depressions, kept me reading. The dislike of some Spaniards to their Moorish history made me feel uncomfortable, highlighting the chequered history Spain has had with its invaders from Visigoths and Romans to Moors. Webster visits one Andalucían highlight after another, all places which feature on the wish list of any foreign visitor to Southern Spain - Granada’s Alhambra, Córdoba’s Mesquita, Sevilla’s Alcázar – plus Moorish outposts in the north too such as Toledo and Barcelona.
But the end of the story is in Casablanca, with Zine.
August 21, 2007
This was a great book to read while spending time in southern Spain. Webster explores the remnants of the ancient Moorish culture on the Iberian peninsula, and takes as his companion a young illegal Moroccan immigrant.
September 17, 2012
Ca va, sans plus...
May 4, 2013
An excellent book to read whilst visiting Andalucia. Really made you appreciate Spain's moorish history
March 27, 2016
Absolutely fascinating, uncovering aspects of modern Spain and its' relationship to its' past that are not immediately apparent.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews