La Boîte à merveilles

La Boîte à merveilles
Author Ahmed Sefrioui
Country France
Language French
Subject Autobiography
Publisher Editions du Seuil
Publication date
 1954
Pages 184

La Boîte à merveilles is an autobiographical 1954 novel by writer Ahmed Sefrioui.

Background

It was written in 1952, and was long thought to be the first Moroccan novel written in the French language.[1] The novel presents a slice of life within the context of North African Francophone literature of the century.

The book follows the Maghreb tradition of an autobiographical style, written in the first person.[2] It explores, through an adult's memories of commonplace events in his childhood, his perception and emotional relationship with his parents.[3][4] Surrounded by the love, passion and drama of life, in quiet times the boy can always return to his secret box of marvels.[5] The novel has been recognized by critics as exceptional in style and content.[6] It has been described as a classic work.[7]

The novel has been used as a vehicle for teaching French to students of Maghreb origin, since they can more easily relate to the experiences of the author than they would to books written by and about French people.[8]

Extracts from the book has been used for the first year Baccalauréat examinations by the French Ministry of Education.[9]

Synopsis

The narrator adult, plagued by loneliness begins his story to better understand dating his solitude forever. It then presents the tenants Dar chouafa: lalla kenza the seer (ground floor), Driss El Aouad, his wife and their daughter Rahma zineb (first floor) and fatma Bziouya the second floor). It evokes memories Moorish Bath and its Wonders box where the objects found there to keep him company. Then he recounts memories of a dispute between his mother and Rhimo.

Returning from m'sid, the narrator finds his ailing mother .. Lalla Aicha her friend comes to visit and convinces to visit Sidi Boughaleb. At the end of the visit, Sidi Mohamed is scratched by a cat. Tired, the child does not go m'sid and describes the mornings at home while evoking the origin of their parents, and the memory of the nasty Driss, apprenticed to his father.

The narrator recounts his day at Msid. evening, noting that Fatima Bziouiya lights with an oil lamp, Lalla Zoubida insists that her husband bought one of which is the following day. Then He reminded of the disappearance of zineb, and how his mother managed to find her at home Idrissides. Rahma, as a praise to God, preparing a meal for beggars. All the neighbors involved with a good heart.

The first days of spring, Lalla Zubaida and his son visiting Lalla Aicha. Sidi Mohamed took the opportunity to play with the neighbors' children. Lalla Aicha then tells her friend the misfortunes of her husband with his partner Abdelkader. The next day, the mother reported that her husband unhappy story. This will raise with the small Sidi Mohamed Abdellah memories of the grocer who told stories.

A Wednesday Fquih explains to his students his plans for Ashura. At home, Lalla Zoubida not get tired to recount the misfortunes of Lalla Aicha at Fatima Rahma then making them promise to keep the secret. Then, the narrator recounts the memory of the death of Sidi Tahar Ben billion. Who attended the scene, the child had a nightmare the night.

During the preparations for the Ashura Msid the Fquih organizes the work and form teams. The small Sidi Mohamed was appointed head of the brushes. The next morning, he accompanied his mother to kissaria to buy a new jacket. Back home, Sidi Mohamed argues with Zineb. Sa mother angry. Sad and taken Hunger, the child plunges into her dreams. The narrator then tells us the story of Lalla Khadija and her husband's uncle Othman told the neighbors by Rhima.

On the eve of Ashura, women buy drums and a trumpet Sidi Mohamed. He participates in Msid preparations for the feast. The next day, he accompanied his father to the hairdresser where he listens without interest to adult conversations.

The day of Ashura, the child wakes up early and put his new clothes before going to m'sid celebrate this special day .. After the meal, Lalla Aicha comes to visit the family of the narrator. After Ashura, life regains its monotony. But with the first warm days, the mother declares war on bedbugs. One day, the narrator's father decides to take his wife and son to the souk to buy jewelry bracelets. Fatma Bziouya accompanied the family of the narrator arrives at jewelers souk but the father is the face all bloody after a fight with a broker. Lalla Zubaida, superstitious, does not want these bracelets, she thinks they are evil. Mother Lalla Aicha tells the misadventures of the souk. Sidi Mohamed sick.

The father lost all his capital. He decides to sell the bracelets and go to work at around Fez. Sidi Mohamed still suffering from fever. Father's departure is Véu as a great drama. One day, the mother visits her friend Lalla Aicha, who offered him to consult a soothsayer: If elArafi. the narrator evokes memories of seeing if Elarafi. Lalla Zoubida returns home while keeping the secret of the visit ... she decides to keep her child at home and take each week to visit a marabout.

One morning she was visited by a messenger from her husband. Lalla Aicha just ask his girlfriend to visit him the next day because she has something to tell him.

In Lalla Aicha, women talk. It is visited by Salama, who recounts his role in the marriage of the daughter Larbi If the hairdresser and the problems of the new couple.

The narrator in this last chapter recounts the return of his father. Sidi Mohamed tells his father past events during his absence. The narrator's father learns that M.Larbi broke with his young wife. Sidi Mohamed, still at the beginning and also solitary dreamer, takes out his box and wonders lulled by his dreams

References

  1. ↑ In fact the first Moroccan novel written in French was Mosaïques ternies (Tarnished Mosaics) by the writer Abdelkader Chatt of Tangier, published in France in 1932 under the pseudonym Benazous Chatt BNF.
  2. ↑ Bonn & Rothe 1995, p. 40.
  3. ↑ Bonn & Baumstimler 1991, p. 51.
  4. ↑ Bonn & Baumstimler 1991, p. 55.
  5. ↑ Gaudio 1982, p. 236.
  6. ↑ Alami & Martini-Valat 2005, p. 40.
  7. ↑ Benchama & Groux 2011, p. 190.
  8. ↑ Benchama & Groux 2011, p. 197.
  9. ↑ Omar 2012.

Further reading

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