He currently resides in Paris with his wife and daughter.In this lyrical, hallucinatory novel set in Morocco, Tahar Ben Jelloun offers an imaginative and radical critique of contemporary Arab social customs and Islamic law. Tahar Ben Jelloun is credited for prolifically contributing in the genre of poetry, play, novel, short story and non-fiction. The female protagonist is shown to struggle against these norms to attain equality. The Fruits of Hard Work is one example that sheds light on women’s unequal treatment in a Moroccan patriarch society. However, Jelloun’s reference to Moroccan society and his condemnation of its certain aspects earned him praise from numerous organizations. The attempt alienates the readers, rendering it difficult for them to relate to the subject matter. Word that he uses in French to refer to something have slightly altered meaning in Arabic which adds dual meaning and complexity to his literary works.Īnother feature of his writing, that has been critiqued on is the incorporation of Moroccan culture in his works primarily written for French audience.
Therefore, it can be said that bilingualism not only serves as his medium of writing but also the subject matter of his works.
The author shared his views regarding the matter that he feels more comfortable writing in French, nonetheless, Arabic is also integral to his development as a writer. The plot of this novel can be directly compared to Jelloun’s own situation. His novel, Les Yeux Baisses, narrates the story of a Moroccan girl, who develops admiration for French language and aspires to be a French writer. It is as if he particularly tries to cater the French readers, relinquishing his native language in favor of foreign language. Jelloun is considered to be the first Moroccan writer to have received the prestigious accolade.Īccording to critics, Jelloun’s medium of writing is one of the interesting factors. Its sequel, La Nuit Sacrée ( The Sacred Night), was awarded the Prix Goncourt in 1987. Almost ten years later he produced his fourth novel, titled L’Enfant de Sable, and upon its translation in English, Jelloun established his position as a major literary writer. His second novel was based on his dysfunctional patients’ account which he fictionalized in La Reclusion Solitaire (1976).
Jelloun published his first novel, Harrouda, in 1973. His experience as a psychotherapist facilitated him in his creative writing which he also used as the subject of his dissertation, La Plus Haute des Solitudes. He also worked for a literary magazine, “Le Monde” and subsequently, earned a Ph. Upon completion of his degree he emigrated from Morocco to France and enrolled at the Université de Paris.
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