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The Lost Daughter of Marrakech: A Heartwrenching and Emotional Historical Fiction Novel
Morocco, 1942. As France and Europe are caught in the shadow of a terrible war, sixteen-year-old Mamakh, a romantic and curious Jewish merchant’s daughter, moves to the city of Marrakesh to follow her childhood love, the handsome and passionate Jacques.
A far cry from her rural village at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Mamakh finds that the lively and enchanting Marrakech is full of beautiful opportunities to pursue her passions—until tragedy strikes Mamakh’s young family and she is forced to leave the city—and her true love—forever.
Morocco, 1980. Forty years after Mamakh’s departure from Marrakech, another young woman arrives in Casablanca looking for a fresh start. After her father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, Haya is looking for any semblance of independence from the rigid religious conservatism that reigns over her family. She will marry only for herself, and only for love. But when she opens a letter from her late mother, with strict instructions to keep its contents a secret, Haya starts down a road that entangles her story with Mamakh’s, the long-lost Jewish community of Morocco, and the history embedded in Marrakech.
For fans of Khaled Hosseini and The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri, The Lost Daughter of Marrakech is a “fascinating and poetic novel that allows us a unique taste of the Moroccan Jewish community in the diaspora and beyond.” – Isaac Herzog, the 11th President of Israel
A far cry from her rural village at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, Mamakh finds that the lively and enchanting Marrakech is full of beautiful opportunities to pursue her passions—until tragedy strikes Mamakh’s young family and she is forced to leave the city—and her true love—forever.
Morocco, 1980. Forty years after Mamakh’s departure from Marrakech, another young woman arrives in Casablanca looking for a fresh start. After her father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, Haya is looking for any semblance of independence from the rigid religious conservatism that reigns over her family. She will marry only for herself, and only for love. But when she opens a letter from her late mother, with strict instructions to keep its contents a secret, Haya starts down a road that entangles her story with Mamakh’s, the long-lost Jewish community of Morocco, and the history embedded in Marrakech.
For fans of Khaled Hosseini and The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri, The Lost Daughter of Marrakech is a “fascinating and poetic novel that allows us a unique taste of the Moroccan Jewish community in the diaspora and beyond.” – Isaac Herzog, the 11th President of Israel
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2025
221 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2025
good read to learn the culture. easy
Easy to follow the story. Nice to learn how tribal cultures treated women in Morocco. I guess it was the same for the Jewish women as it was for the Islamic women. Some men need to learn “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”.
Easy to follow the story. Nice to learn how tribal cultures treated women in Morocco. I guess it was the same for the Jewish women as it was for the Islamic women. Some men need to learn “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”.
December 9, 2024
A Tapestry of Love and Resilience...
In "The Lost Daughter of Marrakech," Haim E. Dahan tells a painful yet compelling story that transcends generations and delves into the nuances of love, identity, and the quest for freedom. Set against the backdrop of Morocco's rich history and vivid culture, the novel tells the connected experiences of Mamakh and Haya, two young women from different eras who encounter life-altering trials and make difficult decisions that determine their futures.
Dahan's meticulous attention to detail and evocative prose convey readers to the picturesque alleyways of Marrakesh and the conservative families of Casablanca, engrossing them in the lives of his memorable characters. This historical fiction novel is not only a poignant reminder of the global struggle for self-determination and the enduring power of love, but it also emphasizes Morocco's frequently overlooked Jewish population. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
In "The Lost Daughter of Marrakech," Haim E. Dahan tells a painful yet compelling story that transcends generations and delves into the nuances of love, identity, and the quest for freedom. Set against the backdrop of Morocco's rich history and vivid culture, the novel tells the connected experiences of Mamakh and Haya, two young women from different eras who encounter life-altering trials and make difficult decisions that determine their futures.
Dahan's meticulous attention to detail and evocative prose convey readers to the picturesque alleyways of Marrakesh and the conservative families of Casablanca, engrossing them in the lives of his memorable characters. This historical fiction novel is not only a poignant reminder of the global struggle for self-determination and the enduring power of love, but it also emphasizes Morocco's frequently overlooked Jewish population. Highly recommended. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
September 1, 2025
A nice book for younger readers
An interesting window into a culture and place. The writing was undeveloped and reads like a fairytale at times. Star-crossed lovers are overdone, for my taste.
An interesting window into a culture and place. The writing was undeveloped and reads like a fairytale at times. Star-crossed lovers are overdone, for my taste.
April 9, 2025
Good
This book took me on an adventure through the Jewish culture in Morocco during WW2. So much interesting detail. I loved the story.
This book took me on an adventure through the Jewish culture in Morocco during WW2. So much interesting detail. I loved the story.
August 21, 2025
A nice read for people who have a connection to the Jewish Moroccan community, from the early years in Morocco to the present in Israel.
November 10, 2025
This book was very interesting to me as it takes place in the time, culture and location my mother in law grew up in.
February 23, 2026
Book kept me interested and was really informative. I found the timeliness a bit confusing as the dates didn't seem to match up with the supposed ages of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews