Some books are
so terrific with their cultural backdrop that more than the story you begin
taking interest in local customs, people, tribes, rituals, and so on. On the
similar lines, we have The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten, a historical
fiction. The story opens in 1835 when colonization was taking roots in European
culture.
Sibylla
Spencer is a strong-headed woman of twenty three, unmarried, and daughter of
Spencer Shipping Company’s owner. She has different opinions about the life she
is leading in London of 1835. Somehow, she gets on with Benjamin Hopkins, a
clerk in Spencer Company. They get married. When Spencer Company’s Moroccan
trade agent dies, Sibylla along with her husband moves to Morocco to handle
business accounts. Once they are into Mogador, a port city in Morocco, the
priorities in their lives begin changing and the love between them evaporated
without showing signs of wisps. It is clear that Sibylla is not happy with
Benjamin, but still for the sake of her two sons, she drags the relationship.
Around the same time, she gets attracted to a French soldier Andre Rouston.
They love each other and meet up secretly at a ruined Spanish church.
Sibylla is
unaware that her husband is engaged into slave trade and earning fortune. In
fact, Benjamin confides in her no more. They live in one house, but do not
trust each other, and often Benjamin remains out of home on account of business
tour. Clearly, family spirit has broken down. Soon Benjamin is taken as a
prison and sent to an isolated island on the charges of illegal business
practices.
Sibylla
obtains the freedom of his husband with the help of that French soldier, but at
that time, French invasion on Algeria spoils the reputation of Morocco as they
fail to help France. As a result, French army captures Mogador and heavily
bombards that island where Benjamin is kept prisoner. Benjamin is taken as
dead, Sibylla later discovers that her husband wasn’t innocent; he was involved
into slave trading. She was happy to lose her and have had all intentions to
start afresh with Andre Rouston. But fate had some other planning for them in
store. Will they meet, like the lovers who first part away and then reconcile?
The story is
not about Sibylla only, in fact as you progress you will find her sons and
daughter Emily also struggling for some or other things. The culture presented
in the book is of prominent value. The storyline is weak because the time span
it covers is like rite of passage but still the main characters do not look
converging to one focal point. The author left the French invasion part
unfinished. The story is more about women of Mogador. Go for it if you liked
abstract love stories or half-written historical war fictions. The plus side is
that the book will take you on a cultural tour of North Africa.
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