The city gates
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Fez remains a walled city, as it was in 1924 when Russell and Holmes walked its streets, as it was for the centuries before that. Cars are kept out by the high adobe bricks, the population kept in by the press of the walls. The gates,
although now largely symbolic, remain places of gathering and transition as much now as they were a thousand years past. Russell meets the first of the city’s gates from the inside of the city:
I soon came to the explanation for this district’s relative bustle: a city gate, very new and strong-looking, ornate with mosaic tile (zellij, the translator in my head whispered). Beyond it was clearly a more modern part of this city, with men in suits, the sign for a bank, several horse-carts, even a motorcar. And: soldiers.
I leant casually against a wall. Armed French soldiers, with the bored stance and alert gaze of guards the world around. As I watched, they moved forward to intercept a man on a white mule, who freely handed over the immensely long Jezail rifle he held and continued inside. It would seem that arms were not permitted in the city.
To read more from Garment of Shadows, go here.
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It feels like I’m there in Fez! With a little imagination, I could be there with Russell (and Holmes?)!
With every preview, I get more excited for the book!
Oh, for crying out loud … just get the thing printed and in my hands!!
Wish I was there. You bring me on the best travels my friend.
“zellij, the translator in my head whispered”
I respect Russell so much for her observational abilities and the bits of languages she has learned.
LOL, La Donna! I want the book now, too!!
Wow, the gates are gorgeous!
I can’t wait, I can’t wait, I can’t wait…
Beautiful pictures!
Major cool! Thanks for the snippet and the eye candy. Can’t wait to read the book.
I can’t wait to visit Fez and the reenter the world of Mary Russell!
Fascinating! I can’t wait to read more!
The gates are very beautiful.
No cars?! Huzzah!
Currently reading “The God of the Hive” again and loving it just as much as the first time I read it. I love the intricate geographical and historical detail as well at the action of the plots. Thank you for “intelligent” writing to read.
What a great picture. I love the close up – showing all the details. And to know how many years and years they’ve been there – what stories they could tell. I love these daily tastes of foreign lands. Thanks for sharing.
Sitting here on a quiet, foggy morning, wishing I had this next book in my hands to enjoy with my cup of tea.
Interested to read this one, but STILL waiting for the book where they are in Japan. Pllleeeasssee?
Squee!!! I can’t wait!!!!
to shorten the wait I started to reread some books, still thrilling although I have reread them several times before already!
I am feeling the urge to travel building in me from all these posts!
I grow more anxious for this book every day. Russell with amnesia!!
I’ve always thought I would feel trapped in a walled city, though I realize it met more safety than entrapment.
I have been a fan of Mary Russell from the beginning and have enjoyed all my travels with her and Holmes. I’m really looking forward to the release of this next book! Thanks for the photos.
I’ve always wanted to live in a walled city. There’s something about the feeling of being in your own special world…
I learn so many fascinating words from Russell, and it always makes me eager to try and learn a new language. So looking forward to seeing Fez with Holmes and Russell!
That gate reminds me of the Ishtar gate of Babylon that currently sits in a Berlin Museum… A method of both controlling the populace and inspiring awe in the might of the state!
Gorgeous.
What beautiful structures these entryways are.
What a beautiful picture! September really can’t come soon enough 🙂
So excited for more of Russell’s descriptions!
This is such a teaser. I really want the rest.
Oh my gosh…I need this book now! September can’t come soon enough!!
These pictures are wonderful! I hate to admit it, but I only just now finished Pirate King…I’m on a Russell fix again! September is way too long…but the blog posts can act as a band-aid until then =)
I want to BE Russell! I want to see the gates and find Sherlock.
It’s so interesting seeing these details through modern pictures and through Marys words.
Those archways are gorgeous!
Can’t wait!
After all this, when I read the book I’ll be haunted by a sense of familiarity.
Those gates are beautiful…very different from some ancient cities you see where the walls and gates are just stone.
Those gates are quite impressive! I’m so excited for “Garment of Shadows” to get here!!!
I can’t wait for this book!! Ii love Mary Russell
I’m sure Russell and Holmes will find a way to get around the arms rule, they always seem to anyway! I can’t wait for their latest adventure!
Almost finished re-reading all of the original Holmes’ stories and then on to re-reading the Russell-Holmes stories (which I personally find much more satisfying). I should be finished just in time for Garment of Shadows!
Can’t wait!
Come on September!!
These pictures are great
I’ve always wanted to visit Fez. Maybe now I’ll have to!
Whoa!! I am rereading the Beekeeper’s Apprentice, O jerusalem, Justice Hall, A letter of Mary, and The game. I love it so much!! my the time I move on to the next set of books, I should be ready to read the new book. I don’t mean to be rude, but write faster!
*Waves at another Meredith” above* I, also, have been reading books various including O Jerusalem and Justice Hall. There does seem to have been some slowing in the space/time continuum!//:)//Meredith
So excited to read this!
I love the fact that reading Russell makes me feel smarter.
You are tantaliziing us with this glimpses, both of the sory itself and the environments ..
I have really enjoyed your photos of Fez. The 2nd one in this post is lovely and brings Russell’s words to life for me.
I’ve decided to harves, print out and collate all of these Fez photos to complement Garment of Shadows.
That is, “harvest” the photos …
Fez is similar today, a wonderful view of what Russell and Holmes experienced in 1924.
However…. outside the city walls, the French were bringing major changes: (1912-1927 Moulay Youssef et Lyautey au début du protectorat du Maroc) http://youtu.be/IxJoebMnCAU
I hadn’t realized you were posting pictures of the settings for “A Garment of Shadows”. It really adds a richness to my imagination when I read the excerpts. Very much looking forward to the new book!
As if I didn’t have enough history reading to do this summer… Your books always make me want to dig deeper into the background of the stories.
I can just feel the heat and smell the mixed scents of this place(some good, some bad). Your writing captures everything. These pictures are wonderful. Of all the characters I have met in books lately, I believe I would truly like to get to know Mary Russell. Looking forward to the newest story.
I love the theme of city gates, an entry into a new world. I see that as a metaphor for life choices and I would love to do a poster of different city “gates” in my life.
Keep on writing so we can keep on reading
Betty B