“Groundbreaking and innovative…. Holden’s comparative investigation of Moroccan and colonial food policies enables her to reexamine and challenge some commonly held views about the ‘despotic’ characteristics of Islamic (or ‘Oriental’) government or the exploitative nature of the colonial state.”—Enterprise and Society
“Charity, patronage, and highly personalised economic relations are a theme running through the book, just as they are a strong strand in Moroccan political culture.”—Middle East Bulletin
“An important, welcome, and fresh contribution to the literature on political modernity in the Middle East and North Africa. . . . Extremely ambitious in its scope. . . . Points to new paths for future research.”—Middle East Journal
“Argues that the successful distribution of food during environmental crises has contributed to the stability and longevity of the Moroccan monarchy. . . . A welcome addition to literature focusing on how food-related commodities and ecological conditions affect politics.”—American Historical Review
“Offers a deep analysis of Moroccan history through the lens of food production and distribution. . . . Exposes the tensions between modernized (predominantly favored by French colonists) and traditional (predominantly favored by all classes of indigenous Moroccan peoples) food production methods. Highly recommended.”—Choice
“Strongly recommend[ed] . . . [for] everyone interested in the history of modern Morocco, pre-industrial towns, colonial policies and the study of politics in the Arab Islamic world.”—Social History
