16 stories
The Calligraphy Lesson | درس الخط
An American student learns Arabic calligraphy from a master in Fez. The ink stains her fingers—but his touch stains her deeper.
دَرْسُ العَطْفِ | The Lesson of Coordination
Twin sisters in Fez learn the grammar of connection through حروف العطف, as they share one forbidden love between them.
دَرْسُ المَدْحِ وَالذَّمِّ | The Lesson of Praise and Blame
A court poet in medieval Fez learns the grammar of judgment through المدح والذم, as she navigates the dangerous art of praising tyrants and blaming fools.
صانع النحاس | The Brass Smith of Fez
A brass smith discovers passion with an interior designer who comes seeking Moroccan metalwork.
شغف الخطاط | The Calligrapher's Passion
A master calligrapher discovers his muse in a student who comes to learn the art of Arabic writing in Fez.
حارس النافورة | The Fountain Keeper of Fez
A fountain keeper discovers passion with an urban historian studying the ancient water systems of Fez.
نقاش الجبس | The Plaster Carver of Fez
A master plaster carver discovers passion with an architect studying Moroccan decorative arts.
مجلد الكتب | The Bookbinder of Fez
A traditional bookbinder discovers passion with a rare book collector in the ancient city of Fez.
خياط المدينة | The Medina Tailor of Fez
A master tailor discovers passion with a fashion designer who comes to learn traditional Moroccan sewing.
نافورة الفسيفساء | The Mosaic Fountain of Fez
A mosaic master discovers passion with a museum curator documenting Islamic geometric art.
معلم الفخار | The Pottery Master of Fez
A pottery master discovers passion with a student who comes to learn the ancient art of Fassi ceramics.
نساج الحرير | The Silk Weaver of Fez
A silk weaver discovers passion with a textile designer seeking authentic Moroccan craftsmanship.
أرملة المدابغ | The Tannery Widow of Fez
A master tanner discovers unexpected passion with a voluptuous widow who comes to buy leather in the ancient tanneries of Fez.
مغني الأعراس | The Wedding Singer of Fez
A traditional wedding singer discovers passion with an ethnomusicologist studying Moroccan celebrations.
The Bookbinder of Fez | مُجَلِّدُ فاس
In the ancient medina of Fez, a master bookbinder discovers that the widow who commissions a special Quran binding ignites desires he thought were long forgotten.
The Weaver's Secret of Fez | سِرُّ النَّسَّاجَةِ في فَاس
In the ancient medina of Fez, a master weaver creates carpets that tell forbidden stories, each thread soaked in memories of a love that defied kingdoms.