Mogador y los arabescos en el espacio del deseo de Alberto Ruy Sánchez

In his writing, the Mexican author Alberto Ruy Sánchez explores various forms of erotic desire. His novels are primarily situated in the exotic environment of the Moroccan town of Mogador. As they clearly contain many motives pertinent to a romantic vision of the Orient, they may be considered – for better or worse – a continuation of the Orientalist literary tradition. What makes Sanchez' novels stand out, however, is the way in which the author's narration approximates a concrete expression of Islamic decorative art and architecture, making him an excellent "artisan of the word" and subsequently allowing particular elements of the Arabic literary tradition to resonate throughout his work.