Book description
1914, and 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 are vying for
control over the land and its manyprizes. And Somerville, whose
intention is purely to discover and preserve the land's ancient
treasures finds his idealism sorely tested. Naked ambition, treachery
and greed are at play, in a thrilling adventure from the master of the
historical novel.
Barry Unsworth was born in 1930 in Durham. He was the author of many
novels, including
Pascali's Island
, which was shortlisted for the 1980 Booker Prize;
Stone Virgin
(1985);
Sacred Hunger
, which was joint winner of the 1992 Booker Prize;
Morality Play
, which was shortlisted for the 1995 Booker Prize;
Losing Nelson
(1999);
The Songs of the King
(2002);
The Ruby in Her Navel
(2006);
Land of Marvels
(2009); and
The Quality of Mercy
(2011), which was shortlisted for The Walter Scott Prize for historical
fiction. Barry Unsworth died in 2012.
