What Year Is 'In Morocco' Set In?

I’ve always been fascinated by Edith Wharton’s travel writing, and 'In Morocco' is this vivid, almost cinematic snapshot of her journey through a place that felt both ancient and alive. The book was published in 1920, but it’s set during her actual trip in 1917, right in the thick of World War I. That timing adds such a unique layer to the whole thing—Morocco was under French colonial rule then, and Wharton’s observations weave together the beauty of the landscapes with these subtle, sharp notes about power and cultural clashes.

What’s wild is how she captures the era without hammering you over the head with dates. You get the sense of a world on the brink of change: the sultans’ palaces still dripping with mosaics, the bustling markets where European influence creeps in, and the quiet resilience of local traditions. She describes Fez and Marrakech with this painter’s eye, but also doesn’t shy away from the grit—like the forced labor she glimpses or the way colonialism stains even the prettiest scenes. The year 1917 isn’t just a backdrop; it’s this invisible character shaping every interaction she has, from the French officers’ arrogance to the Moroccans’ guarded hospitality. It’s less a history book and more a time capsule, cracked open to let you smell the spices and feel the desert heat.

I love how Wharton’s voice shifts between awe and critique. One minute she’s raving about the Atlas Mountains at sunset, the next she’s side-eyeing the colonial administration’s hypocrisy. The book doesn’t romanticize the era, but it doesn’t drown in gloom either. You finish it feeling like you’ve time-traveled—not to a textbook version of 1917, but to the messy, vibrant reality of a country caught between its past and someone else’s idea of progress. If you’re into travelogues with teeth, this one’s a masterpiece.