Land of Marvels: A Novel

· Sold by Nan A. Talese
4.5
2 reviews
Ebook
288
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

Barry Unsworth, a writer with an “almost magical capacity for literary time travel” (New York Times Book Review) has the extraordinary ability to re-create the past and make it relevant to contemporary readers. In Land of Marvels, a thriller set in 1914, he brings to life the schemes and double-dealings of Western nations grappling for a foothold in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire.

Somerville, a British archaeologist, is excavating a long-buried Assyrian palace. The site lies directly in the path of a new railroad to Baghdad, and he watches nervously as the construction progresses, threatening to destroy his discovery. The expedition party includes Somerville’s beautiful, bored wife, Edith; Patricia, a smart young graduate student; and Jehar, an Arab man-of-all-duties whose subservient manner belies his intelligence and ambitions. Posing as an archaeologist, an American geologist from an oil company arrives one day and insinuates himself into the group. But he’s not the only one working undercover to stake a claim on Iraq’s rich oil fields.

Historical fiction at its finest, Land of Marvels opens a window on the past and reveals its lasting impact.

Ratings and reviews

4.5
2 reviews
A Google user
January 31, 2010
This is more a novella than a fully-fledged novel, I think. But despite its brevity, Unsworth packs in a huge amount of speculation and reflection on modern-day socio-political trends, without being overly preachy or tendentious. In fact, the main achievement of this book is that it reads like a fast-paced thriller, building to a (literally) explosive climax. Set in 1914, when the world is on the verge of being changed forever, it focuses on the wheelings and dealings of various countries eager to get at the spoils of the Ottoman Empire in Mesopotamia, which of course is now called Iraq. The large cast -- from servants to archaelogists, zealots and politicians -- is finely drawn, and the writing is wonderfully evocative. A fantastic addition to Unsworth's growing collection of historical fiction.
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About the author

BARRY UNSWORTH, who won the Booker Prize for Sacred Hunger, was a Booker finalist for Pascali’s Island and Morality Play, and was long-listed for the Booker Prize for The Ruby in Her Navel. His other works include The Songs of the Kings, After Hannibal, and Losing Nelson. He lives in Italy.

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