Book excerpt: The stunning photographs and evocative text in this volume capture the essence of Tangier life from the 1920s to the present day. Many of the legendary residents of this Moroccan port city such as Woolworth heiress Barbara Hutton, playwright Tennessee Williams, and royal photographer Cecil Beaton, are portrayed in these reminiscences and candid portraits. Personal family photographs depict the extravagant parties hosted and attended by the author and her circle. The evolution of design and style in some of the great houses as they changed ownership is documented, demonstrating how the composition of life in this archetypal city unfolded throughout the 20th century.