Land of Marvels

A fascinating exploration of the differing threads of political influence in pre-WWI in Mesopotamia - modern Iraq; as the European powers jockey for position and influence and the Ottoman Empire crumbles. Somerville, an idealistic archaeologist is under pressure from all sides. An American geologist is surveying potential oilfields under pretence of being an archaeologist. Agents from Austria, Germany and Britain keep an uneasy eye on each other and the local Arabic peoples try to gain what advantage they can. Two women, a wife and a fiancee, offer both traditional and radical notions of contemporary feminity. A study of past upheavals in the area do not prepare Somerville for the present cataclysms. I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the geological formations, the bitumen sands and other features which presaged oil being present and the somewhat naive idealism of the geologist who thinks that cheap and plentiful fuel will bring the world's people out of poverty by providing cheap power. Barry Unsworth explores his characters motivations with lyricism and understanding.
Wendy