The Moors Account by Laila Lalami

Review by Sarah Khattab

The short:

The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalami is a historical fiction that reimagines the journey of a Moroccan slave and one of the first African explorers of the Americas. It blends adventure, survival, and the legacies of colonialism.

The long:

In The Moor’s Account, Laila Lalami gives voice to Estebanico, an overlooked figure in history. The novel follows the Narváez expedition in the 1500s, where Estebanico, originally named Mustafa, is sold into slavery and embarks on a journey through what is now modern-day Florida with a group of Spanish conquistadors. As the expedition falls into chaos, the story transforms into one of survival, resilience, and the clash of cultures.

Lalami’s prose is rich with detail, bringing the reader into the harsh landscapes of early colonial America while simultaneously exploring the inner struggles of Mustafa, a man torn between his homeland, his enslavement, and the world he’s forced to navigate

To read or not to read:

Definitely read! The Moor’s Account is a great balance of history and fiction. Lalami’s storytelling left me reflecting on the untold voices of history long after I finished the book.