"The Moriscos" by Driss Chraïbi: A Deep Dive into Historical Identity and Cultural Struggles
Driss Chraïbi’s novel "The Moriscos" (الموريسكي) offers a powerful narrative on one of the darkest episodes in the history of Spain—the forced conversion and subsequent expulsion of the Moriscos, Muslims who had converted to Christianity under duress. This 1981 novel serves as both a historical account and a philosophical reflection on the themes of identity, religion, and exile, weaving the personal story of Youssef, the protagonist, into the larger historical experience of his people. The novel provides readers with a poignant look at how the Moriscos endured religious persecution and cultural erasure while fighting to preserve their sense of identity. Chraïbi, through his deeply human storytelling, captures both the personal and collective suffering of a community, allowing his readers to grasp the complexities of what it means to be torn between two worlds. Biography of Driss Chraïbi: A Voice for the Marginalized Driss Chraïbi was born in 1926 in Mazagan (El Jadida), Mor...