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Au Couchant, l'espérance
Le 12 août 1912, contraint à l’exil par les Français, le sultan Moulay Abd el-Hafid fait savoir qu’il renonce au trône, "son état de santé ne lui permettant plus d’assumer les charges du pouvoir". Il détruit les emblèmes sacrés qu’il tient de ses prédécesseurs : le parasol que l’on porte au-dessus de sa tête lors des cérémonies officielles est brûlé, la litière mise en pièces. C’est le futur maréchal de France, Hubert Lyautey, qui le conduit à bord du croiseur Du Chayla à destination de Marseille. Après les vingt et un coups de canon réglementaires, le croiseur largue les amarres. Lyautey remonte en selle et déclare à ses officiers : '"Voilà. Et maintenant nous allons faire le Maroc. "
C’est ainsi que s’ouvre cette épopée qui durera près d’un demi-siècle, jalonnée d’instants lumineux et de ténèbres. Lyautey, Churchill, Roosevelt, Abd el-Krim, le futur Mohammed V, père de l’indépendance, sont autant de figures historiques qui vont côtoyer la destinée d’hommes et de femmes témoins ou victimes des bouleversements de l’Histoire.
C’est ainsi que s’ouvre cette épopée qui durera près d’un demi-siècle, jalonnée d’instants lumineux et de ténèbres. Lyautey, Churchill, Roosevelt, Abd el-Krim, le futur Mohammed V, père de l’indépendance, sont autant de figures historiques qui vont côtoyer la destinée d’hommes et de femmes témoins ou victimes des bouleversements de l’Histoire.
323 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 8, 2025
About the author
Gilbert Sinoué
79 books560 followersSee also: جيلبرت سينويه
At age 19, after studying at a Catholic Jesuit school in Cairo, Sinoué went to France to study at the national music conservatory in Paris. He became skilled in classical guitar. He later taught classical guitar to others and started writing.
In 1987, at about age 40, he published his first novel, La Pourpre et l’olivier ou Calixte 1er le pape oublié (The Crimson and the Olive Tree or Calixte I the Forgotten Pope). It earned the Jean d’Heurs prize for best historical novel. In 1989, he published Avicenne ou La route d'Ispahan, relating the life of Avicenna (Abu Ali Ibn Sina in Arabic), the Persian doctor, philosopher and scientist.
His novels and other books span a variety of genres. Sinoué's third novel The Egyptian is the first of a saga set in Egypt of the 18th and 19th centuries. Published in 1991, this novel won the literary prize Quartier latin. In the biography L'ambassadrice (2002), Sinoué relates the life of Emma, Lady Hamilton.
In 2004 his thriller Les Silences de Dieu (The Silences of God) won le Grand prix de littérature policière (Grand Prize for Mystery/Detective Literature).
Gilbert Sinoué quickly established himself as an engaging storyteller and master of a variety of genres. His biography, The last phar'aoh, depicts the battle of Mehmet Ali, the pacha, with the Ottoman empire. In the thriller Le Livre de Saphir (The Sapphire Book), the narrator converses with God.
In addition to writing books, Gilbert Sinoué is a scriptwriter and screenwriter.
At age 19, after studying at a Catholic Jesuit school in Cairo, Sinoué went to France to study at the national music conservatory in Paris. He became skilled in classical guitar. He later taught classical guitar to others and started writing.
In 1987, at about age 40, he published his first novel, La Pourpre et l’olivier ou Calixte 1er le pape oublié (The Crimson and the Olive Tree or Calixte I the Forgotten Pope). It earned the Jean d’Heurs prize for best historical novel. In 1989, he published Avicenne ou La route d'Ispahan, relating the life of Avicenna (Abu Ali Ibn Sina in Arabic), the Persian doctor, philosopher and scientist.
His novels and other books span a variety of genres. Sinoué's third novel The Egyptian is the first of a saga set in Egypt of the 18th and 19th centuries. Published in 1991, this novel won the literary prize Quartier latin. In the biography L'ambassadrice (2002), Sinoué relates the life of Emma, Lady Hamilton.
In 2004 his thriller Les Silences de Dieu (The Silences of God) won le Grand prix de littérature policière (Grand Prize for Mystery/Detective Literature).
Gilbert Sinoué quickly established himself as an engaging storyteller and master of a variety of genres. His biography, The last phar'aoh, depicts the battle of Mehmet Ali, the pacha, with the Ottoman empire. In the thriller Le Livre de Saphir (The Sapphire Book), the narrator converses with God.
In addition to writing books, Gilbert Sinoué is a scriptwriter and screenwriter.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 23, 2025
Fiction historique bien documentée donnant au lecteur envie de chercher encore plus pour mieux comprendre cette histoire de colonisation du Maroc par la France qu’on appelle protectorat.
4 ⭐️
4 ⭐️
June 18, 2026
The book is an enjoyable read and, overall, a very good work of historical fiction. As a Moroccan, I was already familiar with much of the history surrounding the French Protectorate in Morocco, but the novel allowed me to see certain events from another point of view and shed light on details I did not know before. It was interesting to experience this period through a different perspective.
One aspect I particularly appreciated is that the author included references and sources, allowing readers to explore the historical context further. However, as with any historical fiction novel, I would encourage readers to approach it as both entertainment and a starting point for further research rather than as a definitive historical account.
One aspect I liked less was the portrayal of Lyautey. In the novel, he is presented as a figure who genuinely cared for Morocco and its people, which I found somewhat one-sided. While some historians acknowledge his interest in preserving certain aspects of Moroccan culture and heritage, other sources portray him primarily as a colonial administrator whose policies were designed to strengthen and maintain French control over the country. Some historians also argue that he strategically used existing religious and traditional institutions as tools of governance and influence.
This does not make the novel less enjoyable, but it is one example of why I believe readers should explore different perspectives on the period. The book offers a compelling interpretation of Moroccan history, and its greatest strength is perhaps its ability to spark curiosity, encourage further reading, and inspire readers to form their own informed opinions.
One aspect I particularly appreciated is that the author included references and sources, allowing readers to explore the historical context further. However, as with any historical fiction novel, I would encourage readers to approach it as both entertainment and a starting point for further research rather than as a definitive historical account.
One aspect I liked less was the portrayal of Lyautey. In the novel, he is presented as a figure who genuinely cared for Morocco and its people, which I found somewhat one-sided. While some historians acknowledge his interest in preserving certain aspects of Moroccan culture and heritage, other sources portray him primarily as a colonial administrator whose policies were designed to strengthen and maintain French control over the country. Some historians also argue that he strategically used existing religious and traditional institutions as tools of governance and influence.
This does not make the novel less enjoyable, but it is one example of why I believe readers should explore different perspectives on the period. The book offers a compelling interpretation of Moroccan history, and its greatest strength is perhaps its ability to spark curiosity, encourage further reading, and inspire readers to form their own informed opinions.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews