Rabat, the World Book Capital of 2026, honors foreign authors as much as it honors its own. Moroccan novelists and writers are richly varied in their genres; nevertheless, one thing is certain, these authors share a single passion: Moroccan identity.
On day two of the International Publishing and Book Fair 2026 in Rabat, treasures remain waiting to be discovered. Today, we recommend a surrealist Moroccan novel for those who think beyond the logical reflections of life. "Al-Laroub" (meaning "an hour minus a quarter") brings you into a world where time has stopped. This world spans the modern history of Morocco and the Arab world, from 1962 to 2018.
The author, Hassan Aourid, is a renowned political scientist and writer known for Sintra (2017) and Mutanabbi’s Rabat (2018), which was nominated for the Arabic Booker Prize in 2020. Aourid takes the reader on a journey through the overlapping eras of Morocco and the Arab world, using a touch of surrealism and an otherworldly vision that provides both leisure and profound enjoyment.
The Big Hand of the Clock Has Stopped!
Bennis, the main character, raises his head toward the hanging clock. Its big hand is stuck at the number nine: Al-Laroub. It is no longer a calendar, but a state frozen in time. The narrative suggests that while there is safety in caution and regret in haste, concepts here are capricious and the states of time are unpredictable.
Bennis is a man devastated by old age and memory loss following a car accident, his journey is transformative. He shifts from an observer of daily life to a progressive socialist, and eventually to a pilgrim performing the Hajj in Mecca. Aourid uncovers social issues through the self-discovery of his characters, who stumble upon unknown aspects of themselves, using poetry and song to find authenticity.
Almost There, But Not Yet
In Moroccan Darija, Al-Laroub refers to the quarter-hour. It is a plain, basic term used daily. However, the book gives this uncomplicated term a deeper, more tragic meaning: a flawed time of successive setbacks.
"An hour minus a quarter" brings us close to the appointed time, yet we are almost there but not quite. It speaks of missed opportunities, twisted daydreams, and the endless "what if" scenarios, the second chances that never quite appear on the horizon.
So, what book did you find at the Fair? See you next time with a different book, new characters, and fresh wisdom to share.
