Travail in an Arab Land

"Samuel Romanelli was a free spirit who spent most of his life traveling in search of adventure, knowledge, and patrons for his literary endeavors.... During a voyage to Italy in 1786, he became stranded in Gibraltar... and circumstances forced him to join a merchant traveling to Morocco. Through misadventure, he lost his passport and was retained in that country for four years, the story of which forms Travail in an Arab Land. This first-person account is an important and unique work treating the life and culture of Jews in 18th-century Morocco."; - Jewish Book News; "This first-hand account of the author's adventures during the four years he was stranded in Morocco between 1787 and 1790 is the most vivid, accurate portrait of a Jewish community in Hebrew literature."; - Jewish Book Guide; "An absorbing, entertaining, and richly informative tale.... The Stillmans have provided readers with a lucid translation accompanied by helpful notes and illustrations, a brief, informative introduction, a concise bibliography and index. The text is illuminating [and] of broad interest to a wide audience." - Choice"