The Conquest of Morocco [Paperback]

Douglas Porch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1986

The Conquest of Morocco tells the story of France's last great colonial adventure. At the turn of the twentieth century, Morocco was a nation yet to emerge from the Middle Ages, ruled by local warlords and riven by religious fanaticism. But in the mad scramble for African colonies, Morocco had one great attraction for the Europeans: it was available. In 1903, France undertook to conquer the exotic and backward country. By the time World War I broke out the conquest was virtually complete.

Based on extensive original research, The Conquest of Morocco is a splendid work of popular history.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Historian Porch tells the story of France's subjugation of Morocco at the turn of the century, which was to be France's last major colonial acquisition. Drawing on memoirs and other writings, Porch tells how internal challenges to the unstable rule of Sultan Abd ed-Aziz opened the door to the French. He also recreates the clash of cultures and evokes a background of life in Tangiers and the medieval interior of the country. Altogether this history is "appealing and brightly told," PW noted.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Praise for The Conquest of Morocco:

"The conquest of Morocco was a great game--a picaresque war of modern times . . . Porch has brought it all back, including the Camel Corps and the never-never land of Sidi Bararni. Throw in von Sternberg and Dietrich-Charles Boyer, too-and what a movie it might have made." --The Boston Globe

"A colorful account. . .Douglas Porch tells the story of the conquest of Morocco with wit, wisdom and a proper appreciation of the accidents of history." --The New York Times Book Review

"[An] exotic and bravura popular history." -- Newsweek

"A lively chronicle . . . A good and valuable book." --The Washington Post Book World

"Porch applies his considerable wit and notable literary style to an exciting story ringing with ancient and modern war cries." --The Chicago Sun Times

"An entertaining history." --The Atlantic Monthly

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Fromm Intl (March 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088064057X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880640572
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,013,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Geat History and a Great Read!, November 23, 1999

By 

Aussie Reader ""Rick"" (Canberra, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Conquest of Morocco (Paperback)

I have read this author's account on the French Foreign Legion and 'The Conquest of the Sahara' and this book is just as good as those two. Douglas Porch almost seems to have a inside line into what it must have felt like to be one of the actors of these great drama's. If you want to read a great book and learn something of the French involvement in the Middle East, you'll love this book and his others. Take the chance and buy a copy and then sit down and enjoy!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid - 3.5, June 19, 2005

By 

R. Albin (Ann Arbor, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Conquest of Morocco: The Bizarre History of France's Last Great Colonial Adventure, the Long Struggle to Subdue a Medieval Kingdom by Intrigue and Force of Arms, 1903-1914 (Hardcover)

This is essentially a case study of European imperialism at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. The author is an expert on the French Army who has drawn into this topic by his interest in the colonial French Army. This is not, however, a campaign or traditional military history. Porch's emphasis is really on the politics of conquest and he does a good job of presenting multiple points of view, including analyses of French metropolitan politics and Moroccan politics. Porch takes pains to rebut the traditional schematic view of imperial conquest as systematically planned and driven by economic motives. In the case of Morocco, at least, colonization was not widely popular in France, though there was a substantial colonial lobby. Complicating the colonial enterprise was the fact that among Frenchmen supporting imperialism in Morocco, there was considerable disagreement about methods. Just as important were the personal ambitions and motives of French officials and soldiers on the ground in Morocco and Algeria. Motivations for imperialism in Morocco appear to be less economic than considerations of national prestige, the murky calculations of inter-European diplomacy, and the personalities of major actors like Gen. Lyautey, who became proconsul in Morocco.

Porch presents Morocco as a feudal/tribal society stressed by contact with modernizing Europe. Morocco's disorder was exacerbated by the predatory economic and political policies of the European powers. The French, in particular, fomented unrest in an effort to justify conquest. French tactics also inadvertantly tended often to provoke resistance. Porch shows that the goal of a "civilizing" mission, held sincerely by some Frenchmen, including Lyautey, was either window dressing or a self-delusion. Ultimately, the conquest depended on sponsorship of dubious proxies and the naked use of force.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The French conquest of Morocco at the turn of the century., June 4, 2002

By 

Kevin M Quigg (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Conquest of Morocco: The Bizarre History of France's Last Great Colonial Adventure, the Long Struggle to Subdue a Medieval Kingdom by Intrigue and Force of Arms, 1903-1914 (Hardcover)

Porch focuses his story on the last grab at Africa from a European country (except Mussolini's grab at Ethiopia). The story resolves around a general named Lautrey nibbling away at the borders of a falling apart Morocco. The Sultan no longer commands the repect of his countrymen and the Eurpoean powers have set up their privileges in the country. France sets the conditions whereby the Colonial department can add Morocco as a
protectorate. I like Porch's writing style. This book focuses on Morocco similar to where The Scramble for Africa focuses on the colonial experience of all Africa.