Land of Marvels

by Barry Unsworth

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.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Archaeology, Middle East, Historical, British Literature, Literary Fiction

287 pages, Hardcover

First published January 6, 2009

About the author

Barry Unsworth was an English writer known for his historical fiction. He published 17 novels, and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times, winning once for the 1992 novel Sacred Hunger.

Reviews

[Algernon · Rating 4 out of 5]

[9/10] Powerful storytelling from Barry Unsworth, focused on a more recent historical period than Songs of Kings or Morality Play. The Land of Marvels here is northern Mesopotamia, on the eve of World War I, a place rich in history and rich in mineral resources. Empires have fought over it for millennia, and looking at today events they are still fighting over it.

What struck me about this story is a sense of fatalism, of ants caught in a storm, going about their personals obsessions while the world around them burst in flames. Even love, in several disguises, fails to overcome an atmosphere of unavoidable fate. In this presentation the novel reminded me strongly of Joseph Conrad, either in his far East novels or in his Secret Agent book. Espionage actually plays a strong role in the plot development, with major nations engaged in backroom deals and subverting each other in the struggle to subvert Turkey control over the region and to grab a bigger share of the spoils - again reflecting through history the actuality of "real" politics in the region today.

Beside politics and exploration for oil - presented in great detail - the novel focuses on archeologycal digging for lost empires, plus a cautionary tale about dreams of economic or military dominion.
Barry Unsworth is one of my favorite authors when it comes to style of presentation, and Land of Marvels is no exception with poetic language, extensive research of subject matter and sharp observations of human psyche. This being a modern novel, it provides its own commentary, or deconstruction, in the extended analysis of motivations and symbolism. Here is an example taken from the book, on the theme of idealism versus pragmatism:

"But John is a sensitive man, and it must be distressing to be living at a time when people like him - and like you too - people trying to put things together, make sense of things, add to the sense of human community, are facing a contrary spirit of dismemberment and destructiveness that is terribly strong and pervasive. It is a kind of brutality that goes under the name of realism, and it is alive and well in Britain. You can call it the spirit of commerce, or the spirit of empire, or the elan vital."

[edit for spelling]

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the early part of the 20th century many foreign interests intersected in the Middle East. Barry Unsworth sketches with preternatural skill a British archeologist fruitlessly toiling for years over a dig he finds it increasingly difficult to sustain financially. The stresses added by German railroad and American petroleum contractors encroaching on his stake which he is desperate to believe will yield results shortly is too real for comfort.

The years leading up to the Great War in Europe were prime for many men of industry, particularly for those in petroleum prospecting. Unsworth shares stories of how those times might have looked, using historical events to bracket his imaginings. It is his characterizations of personalities that ring so true—Lord Rampling, the British industrialist who tramples truth “for the glory of the British empire” while being out-deceived by a loping and sun-bleached American engineer who plays representatives from all countries against his own company’s interests.

The tension builds to the last pages, when we learn WWI has begun in Europe, and when that storm has passed, the land we’d seen as a large fragment of the disintegrated Ottoman Empire has become something quite new—a vast new country called Iraq, which had never before been home to a single nation.

Erudite, stimulating, large in scope and small in detail, this is a novel to restore one’s interest, should it ever flag, in fiction.

[Kinga · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I had to describe this book in one word, it would be 'meh'. That's probably not even an actual word. If I had to write more it would probably be something like: meh, meh, meh.

I couldn't care less about the characters, and got myself thinking that if Unsworth killed everybody on the next page I wouldn't care at all. Which is actually what he eventually did and so this book ended.
Let's move on.

[The Cats’ Mother]

Too literary and not a topic that interests me (Mesopotamian archeology.)
This was another book that’s been on my shelf for years - I acquired a couple of boxes from a friend who was decluttering - I’m now trying to clear some shelf space. I gave it a go, but knew within the first few chapters that the style and subject matter were not for me. I skimmed through it quickly to get an idea of the plot and am happy to pass it on to someone else.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

The work suffers from a number of the most egregious faults to which the historical novel is prone. These include, but are not limited to: stock characters; stilted conversations; misuse of specialist jargon (in this case geological); heavy-handed moral commentary on the present by the "ironic" presentation of past events; ethnic, cultural, and gender stereotyping; and twisting the historical and archaeological record beyond the breaking point. The fiery, petroleum-fueled deaths at the end make a fine metaphorical statement with the added irony of treating the fictitious bones of Sin-shar-ishkun to the baptism of fire which the Greeks thought had killed the historical Assyrian king. Such an ending might fly in an H. Rider Haggard novel, but it lacks any credibility in Unsworth's attempt. I really wanted to like this, having not been unfavorably impressed by the author's Morality Play. Sigh!

[Bettie]

Description: In 1914, an English archaeologist called Somerville is fulfilling a lifelong dream - to direct an excavation in the desert of Mesopotamia.

Yet forces beyond his control threaten his work. The Great War is looming, and various interest groups - Turkish, German, English and American - are vying for control over the land and its strategic and economic prizes. The Germans are securing trade routes with a new railway; a major in the Royal Engineers is working undercover, secretly mapping for the British the areas rich in oil; the Bedouin Jehar takes what he can from his new paymasters. The greatest idealist is Somerville, whose intention is to discover and preserve the land's ancient treasures.

As he weaves these stories together in a powerful narrative, Unsworth provides a brilliant commentary on imperial ambition in the Middle East, and an acute historical perspective on the land that became modern Iraq.

Opening: He knew they would come that day or the next. Jehar had sent word. But it was only by chance that he saw them approach.

[Thom Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry Unsworth continues to create impressively detailed historical novels, each on a singular period in history when the British figured heavily...if not always at their most laudable. Each of his books makes me want to read all the others again. And I have.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because I once dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, and having lived in the region, I was especially interested in the early history of the search for oil. Let me start out by saying that the book is definitely a better read than the flap copy might lead you to believe. The narrative focus on this small group works extremely well, and serves to underscore the myriad of competing interests focused on the region at the time.

Unsworth is a skilled writer, and all of the characters (no matter how unlikeable) are fully drawn and add value to the story. The main problem I had was that I really just couldn't get myself to like any of the characters, despite their backstories. Even when I found their actions completely understandable, I still didn't really feel that invested in the outcomes. In the end, the utter futility of the entire enterprise was crystal clear, lending itself so well to disturbing comparisons to the current situation in Iraq.

This was a solid read, 3.5 stars for me just because I never felt that emotional connection to the characters. I will certainly look for Unsworth's Booker Prize winning Sacred Hunger to read.

[Angeliki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Όταν είδα αυτό το βιβλίο στο ράφι του βιβλιοπωλείου είπα αρχαιολογία και πολιτική?! ΟΥΟΟΥ! Τι άλλο θα μπορούσα να ζητήσω; Όμως από την αρχή κανέναν από τους χαρακτήρες δεν συμπάθησα ιδιαίτερα ενώ και ο τρόπος αφήγησης των γεγονότων ήταν λίγο βαρετός. Δύο φορές το άφησα στην άκρη και τελικά όταν το τελείωσα έμεινα με ένα συναίσθημα μέτριου. Σαν βιβλίο δεν θα το χαρακτήριζα ως κακό ούτε αξίζει λιγότερα από 3 αστέρια. Απλά μάλλον δεν ήταν αυτό που περίμενα...

[Dora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Το διάβασα με μισή καρδιά...ας χρησιμοποιήσω μια λαϊκή έκφραση. Δεν ξέρω αν κάτι από όλα τα γεγονότα είναι αληθινό , θα ήθελα όμως να είναι η ανακάλυψη του τάφου. Μου άρεσε τελικά γιατί δεν ήξερα ότι οι Ασσυριοι ήταν τόσο μεγάλη αυτοκρατορία (Όσο ζεις μαθαίνεις 😁😁) το απρόσμενο φινάλε δημιούργησε ένα αγωνιώδες τέλος. Ασσυριοι, πετρέλαιο, ο κήπος της Εδέμ και όλες οι μεγάλες δυνάμεις είναι οι πρωταγωνιστές της γης των θαυμάτων

[Magdelanye · Rating 4 out of 5]

One who grows more powerful seeks more space, and he needs to dominate that space, and to do this he needs to diminish the power of rivals, by conquest if possible, or at least by impeding co-operation among them. p97

There will always be a reason, if you can find it. p12

In his meticulously crisp and oblique way, Barry Unsworth cuts to the heart of obsession, which is delusion, specifically self-delusion. Whether the focus is fame or love or security, logic or caution have no say in the inexplicable acts of people who are seduced by their own visions.

We go on signing contracts and making speeches with the ground shifting under our feet....What else is there to do? p113

Set in the not so distant past, on the verge of the First World War when empires were crumbling and alliances shaky, an archeological dig in Mesopotamia requires considerable maneuvering. Does the attention to the past impede progress? BU acts himself as an archeologist, digging through the overlapping layers. What he finds sets off more questions and perhaps a shift in perspective.

We all aim at happiness, I suppose, but I wouldn't want to find mine in a literal belief in some vengeful brute up in the sky raining fireballs down on whole populations. p245

[Jim Leffert · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. Like the previous one, The Ruby in Her Navel, this book deals with the collision between Europe and the Arab world. This time, the collision takes place not in medieval Sicily but in early 20th century Mesopotamia, during the months preceding World War I, during the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

I found The Ruby in Her Naval to be a much more satisfying book than Land of Marvels. For one thing, the former book is rich in atmosphere and follows one character, giving him time to develop and for the reader to care about him. The plot in that book is not as important as the character development—we already get strong hints at the beginning of the book about how the story is going to turn out, but this doesn’t detract from our appreciation of the story.

Land of Marvels, by contrast, is heavy on plot. The job of advancing the intricate plot falls to cluster of main characters. None of these characters deeply engages the reader. Each comes across as a “type”, relentlessly pursuing his chosen goal, rather than as a fully realized individual: Somerville, the obsessive English archaeologist, determined to make a name for himself by uncovering amazing findings from ancient Assyria; Lord Rampling, the scheming, influential, and fabulously wealthy robber baron, determined to make an even greater fortune and manipulate geopolitical events; Jihar, the young Arab laborer, dreamy, romantic, and desperate to amass the bride price for his beloved, the young woman Ninanna, before someone else takes possession of her; and Elliot, a crafty, resourceful, and ambitious American geologist, who is searching the area for oil deposits while pretending to be an archaeologist.

The characters represent, in more or less clear fashion, certain broad features of their nationality: unbridled European ambition to dominate exploit the Middle East, American drive to harness technology and supplant the Europeans, European romance for uncovering and deciphering the stories of ancient civilizations, and (less clearly) Arab desire to gain something from all this activity.

Since the characters’ goals are deeply in conflict and much is at stake, it is likely that one or more of them or perhaps one or more subsidiary characters are likely to be dead by the end of the story. The twists and turns in the story ratchet up the suspense and uncertainty regarding who is going to succeed and who is going to get hit. The result is an entertaining story with an ending that I found to be not very satisfying, but which might be viewed as having some symbolic meaning.

[switterbug (Betsey) · Rating 5 out of 5]

With lean, clean, clear, and well-lit prose, Barry Unsworth delivers a flawless and restrained masterwork in a sober but subtly ironic tone. From the opening passages until the end, I was enveloped in the naturalness and ease in which this historical novel unfolded.

On the precipice of World War I, a convergence of civilizations and a clash of egos surround an archaeological dig at Tell Erdek in Mesopotamia (Iraq). British archaeologist John Somerville seeks fame and something deeper as the head of the dig site of what he hopes to be an ancient Assyrian palace. For three years, he has come up almost empty-handed, and pressures surmount as a German railway threatens to cross into the path of the tell and sabotage the venerable past and his uncertain future. His wife is distant and newly energized by Alex Elliot, an American geologist posing as an archaeologist. Eliott is working in cunning collaboration and competition for different countries and interests bent on excavating oil rather than artifacts. Jehar, an Arab hired by Sommerville to assist him with various duties, has his own agenda to secure enough money to marry the beautiful woman of his dreams. Various other characters enrich the story with their guile and their quest to control not just the oil fields of Mesopotamia, but the hidden and unbidden tangibles and intangibles that haunt them. The plot quickens and thrills without ever becoming heavy-handed or sententious. This cautionary tale of the past ultimately reveals a chilling tableau of the present. If you seek superior and sublime literature, you will savor this book.

[Jayne Charles · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this novel of Mesopotamia in 1914, a stiff upper lipped Englishman is in charge of an archaeological dig, but those confounded chaps intent on organising a war won’t let him get on with it and it’s a dashed nuisance. And if that weren’t enough there’s an awful lot of bally nonsense over oil.

Enter the loquacious American oil man, like an early version of George Dubya, the sort of guy who in a film would have been played by Clint Eastwood or somesuch, and who has clearly been introduced to shake everyone up and sleep with people he shouldn’t.

The characters line up like an Agatha Christie murder mystery – there’s even the old army man with a toothbrush moustache, and elegant lady wife in her sunhat who actively participates in her own repression. The cast are assembled, and there will obviously be some kind of dramatic interplay between them but it’s not clear until things really get going at the end who’s meant to be the goody and who will be the baddie.

So far so good, but my main problem with the novel was that the early stages were too slow. All those lengthy descriptions of archaeological artefacts made my eyes glaze over like an Assyrian vase. If only some of the drama of those closing scenes could have been relocated this would have been as great as the blurb suggested.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, ye socks, I just finished this novel about pre-WWI Iraq.

And, I struggled to get thru it.

Basically, it's the tale of a British archaeologist named John Somerville who is running out of time in his quest to unearth an ancient tomb in the Mesopotamian desert.

He has to contend both with an advancing German railroad that threatens to lay its tracks right thru the excavation site, and with violent competing oil interests.

Sounds like exciting stuff, right.

Wrong.

Unsworth's writing style is like a car with a bad transmission. There's a lot of higgety-jerk. Parts of it read fast, and advance the plot line(s). But, other parts are slow--full of excruciating details that simply are not as fascinating as he evidently thinks they are and do nothing to develop his nearly-one-dimensional characters.

In fact, I didn't care a whit that four of the main characters were vaporized at the end of this arduous tale.

Save your time and weary eyes, and leave this book on the shelf.

[Writerlibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow and mellow with a big bang at the end. This illustrates how obsession and believing in one's lies can be a very dangerous to your health. Two men, one a scholar by choice, who is seeking self validation and is riddled with doubts, the other a man with no education but skills, self made, in love with a dream and obsessed with a woman. Both destinies tied together and for both to achieve their dreams both must succeed or die trying.

The setting is wonderfully done. Mesopotamia right before WW1, archeological digs, spies uncover as scholars, military men, the end of a great empire. You can feel the sand, the heat. You feel the despair Somerville is experiencing, his nightmare of losing his dream. The sounds of the railroad approaching.

It's a slow read, not a thriller, definitely not a spy novel but well worth reading if you like to read about how men behave under duress and how some bend, some crack and some race through it and come out stronger on the other side.

[Tony Cowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unsworth was a master at bringing readers into the past. His characters were drawn as real individuals. One does not see the brush strokes of his research which is unusual in historical fiction. I feel he was to historical fiction what Ursula Le Guin is to Sci-Fi...and that is the highest praise I can give.

This tale brings one into Mesopotamia at that critical period before WWI, when the actions of the worlds superpowers created the morass we are still paying for.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

From 2009, a tale of archaeologists & double-dealers in the Ottoman Empire in the months before the First World War; the desert landscapes yielded great profits to both earnest culturists & oil-hungry economists...in what was shortly to become Iraq!
Unsworth captures his characters so succinctly, & motivates them with human desires, frailties & weaknesses that help to enliven what threatens to be a dull story of trowel-wielding & esoteric musings on ancient Mesopotamian potentates & religious myths!
This very gifted writer interpolates the politics of those years before the final collapse of Ottoman power, with the Germans lurking to seize the economic benefits open to the great powers, & offers a rare perspective on the eternal struggles of empires...so clearly laid out in the scattered & buried histories of Assyria, Babylonia & other now almost-vanished civilisations. As an Englishman, I can see where Britain might be in the next millenia...buried in the ground & lost to oblivion...though the language might survive!
A very intense read; I hardly put it down for long.

[Anne]

I'm very unsure about how to feel about the whole thing. It reads like something written in the 90s but is very surprisingly written in 2009. Extremely misogynistic and racist, Supremacism in short.
Enough to distort history...

on to other reads I guess

[Wendy Jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried. The ingredients of a good story were there, but it did not come together for me.

[Taveri · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is 1914, and Barry Unsworth's The Land of Marvels opens on a frustrated archeologist, John Somerville, digging in Mesopotamia. The narration then alternates between Somerville and those who make his acquaintance (a cast of con-men and murderers). Some bent on glory, others greed, but all wish to exploit the land of modern day Iraq. By the story's end everyone will have compromised themselves as oil mania consumes the region.

The plot is good, but the novel reads more as a political commentary about modern international diplomacy and worldwide oil greed. No country is rendered favorably. As the novel strives for importance, much of the story takes a co-starring role. The characterization is lacking as the male characters are all one note, the women are portrayed as dull and naïve. The story doesn't find a steady rhythm, so it is slow to engage the reader, and it only begins to pay off in the last few chapters when everything does tie up nicely. Devoted Unsworth fans, or those interested in Mesopotamian history will likely find this novel the most enjoyable.

[Peter Corrigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 4th Barry Unsworth novel (Sacred Hunger, After Hannibal and Losing Nelson) and no disappointment whatsoever. This effort confirms my belief that he was one of finest fictional writers and observers of both history and humanity that I have encountered. There are few out there of his caliber. The 'land' referred to here is Mesopotamia in the Tigris-Euphrates basin, the time early 1914. Archaeology, ancient history, the dawn of the oil age, and big power struggles on the eve of WW1. A potent and interesting combination, and it is all tied together in a thoroughly absorbing tale just under 300 pages. I found myself wanting to learn more about the empires that bestrode this land, especially the mighty Assyrians about whom much of the sub-plot revolves.

[Erik van Berkum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t enjoy the book, difficult to get into the story and stay attached to the storyline. Happy I finished it.

[Dimitris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Δεν ξέρω γιατί έχει σχετικά χαμηλή βαθμολογία, εγώ το αγάπησα. Υπέροχη γραφή, χαρακτήρες, υπόθεση και κυρίως ατμόσφαιρα. Μεσοποταμία πριν 100 χρόνια, ακόμη υπό Οθωμανική κατοχή, Βρετανικές ανασκαφές αρχαιοτήτων, ντόπιες φυλές, η τεχνολογία που έρχεται απειλώντας, διαπλοκές, συμφέροντα, ό,τι χρειαζόμουν για να ξεφύγω από την σημερινή καθημερινότητα.
Βέβαια ομολογώ πως στο άνοιγμα αρχαίου τάφου κανείς δεν φτάνει τον Wilbur Smith στο Πουλί του ήλιου και τον Έβδομο Πάπυρο! Αλλά εδώ έχουμε μια γραφή κι ένα βάθος άλλου επιπέδου...

Θα διαβάσω και την διάσημη Ιερή πείνα του Άνσγουορθ κάποια στιγμή!

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I had never read a book by this author until this time. Lots of pre-WW1 intrigue in Mesopotamia.

[Ben · Rating 2 out of 5]

ugh...
not terrible, but not very inspiring and a bit of a slog.
not recommended.

[Jayant Maini · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good start.....but too many characters spoiled the experience for me.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The time is 1914 and the place is Mesopotamia (now Iraq). In the leadup to the First World War, a collection of individuals from around the globe have gathered to attempt to attain their goals. Somerville is a British archaeologist and believes that he has found an undiscovered Assyrian palace. He has financed the expedition himself to a large extent and he is desperate to make a momentous discovery and assure his place in history. He is accompanied by his wife, who chose him over more prestigious matches because she found his quest fascinating but now that she is here, she is bored and looking for excitement.

Others in the party include graduate students who have found romance with each other and of course, the native men who do the actual work. Jehar is one of these men, a scout whose main interest is getting enough money from this work to pay the dowry of his love and make her his wife. He is scouting and reporting back on the progress of a railroad to Baghdad which Somerville is fearful will come through his digging and ruin his plans. There are also government officials who have paved the way for Somerville's work and a shadowy businessman who cares not a whit about the upcoming war, ancient history or what will happen except for how it affects his fortune. These last two make a pact with Somerville. He will allow an American geologist, Elliot, who is scouting for oil reserves to join his expedition, hiding his true plans behind that of being another archaeologist.

Tensions mount as each individual pursues his own agenda. Somerville makes a breakthrough in the excavation and it appears that he does have a major find. Elliot is also successful in his explorations and believes that he has discovered a massive oilfield. He knows that there are both business and military rivals that would do anything to know his discoveries. Jahar becomes more and more frantic as the time grows shorter for him to find the money to marry and he comes up with a plan to blow up the railroad works to delay their progress. Somerville's wife starts an affair with the American out of boredom and fear that her husband is not as impressive as she believed when she married him. The tension rises and it is inevitable that there will be clashes between the opposing agendas. Who will emerge victorious?

Barry Unsworth had a long and distinguished career as an author. He wrote seventeen historical fiction novels, usually with some connection to the British Empire. He was shortlisted three times for Booker Prize and his novel, Sacred Hunger, won the Booker in 1992. This novel with its' conflicting agendas and personalities is an exploration of the urges that drive men to complete amazing feats and their willingness to do whatever it takes, good or evil, to accomplish their goals. It starts slowly but the tension and pace increase until the book reaches its thrilling climax. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skullduggery and skull-diggery in a marvellous archaeological adventure.

Aside from the story, the real mystery to be unearthed is how I can disagree so fundamentally with quite so many reviews on Goodreads. It may not be for everyone, but in no respect did I find this 'boring', it is manifestly untrue that 'nothing happens', and the hackneyed chestnuts on unsympathetic characters miss the point. With a remarkable economy of words, Unsworth sketches out complex personalities that often operate with mixed motives. Likeability is not in question when we are faced with recognisably human qualities of hypocrisy, avarice, duty, ego, murderous calculation and idealism.

I found Unsworth penultimate book, set in spring 1914, a sophisticated and enthralling Mesopotamian thriller in the desert. The plotting is intricate, with competing vested interests vying for land rights in the desert, with a sting in the tail for anyone who likes their historical fiction cosily distant from the present. The fight over spoils in the Middle East with British, German and US interests echoes with pitch-perfect explosive resonance.

I have found Unsworth remarkably consistent across his historical novels. There is constant variety in location, period and theme, but the same meticulous historical and sociological research goes into each. Like a well-conducted dig, 'Marvels' transmits layers of meaning. At the simplest level it is the story of Somerville's battle to complete an archaeological dig. Deeper, it is an arms race (against time and against competing interests) to exploit soil at the forecast demise of the Ottoman Empire. It chimes historically with Unsworth's 1982 'The Rage of the Vulture' but with the lens put on the colonising powers that are preparing for the carve-up. These layers of meaning carry down further to the tectonic shifts in gender norms (Suffragettes, women's education), economic liberalism (e.g., the money market in metals) and attitudes to religion (notably on the arrival of evangelists seeking to reclaim the turf as the site of the Garden of Eden).

There is lots going on here and it won't be for everyone. That said, if you haven't picked it up yet, don't assume that a shorter book equates to a lighter read. It's well-written enough to be enjoyed as a simple historical thriller, but it has depths that will reward thoughtful reading. The mercantile machinations of Rampling in particular gets into the weeds of capitalist economics, while Somerville and Palmer get swept up in archaic reveries as archaeologists. The difference with Unsworth is that I have learned to trust that this will be broadly accurate and credible. Nor is any word extraneous, but rather lustres with inner light. Read this as if you were painstakingly brushing away the dross of the present and with an eagle eye to hidden meaning.