Land of Marvels By BARRY UNSWORTH
John Somerville is an archaeologist who has financed his dig with his own money, which is running low. He believes that the area he is exploring hides remains of an ancient civilization. If he can find proof, he will win fame and others will rush to support him. However, he is threatened by a railroad that the Germans are building across the territory, which looks as though it will run right through his project.
His wife Edith once admired John’s enthusiasm and knowledge, but has become bored and troubled by new attitudes like those of Patricia, a young woman who has just joined the expedition. She, in turn, is enamored of Somerville’s assistant, Palmer, a cuneiform expert.
Romance doesn’t have much time to flower as the group rushes to discover evidence for the cause. Meanwhile, the only important local character, Jehar, is selling information about the German plans to Somerville, trying to save enough money to marry his beloved. Entering this setting come Alex Elliott, an American geologist, posing as an archaeologist, but really a spy, and Major Manning, a stereotypical British army man.
While Elliott is trying to seduce Edith and Somerville is scrambling to find significant artifacts, Lord Rambling is plotting against almost everybody back in Constantinople. Unknown to even him, Spahl arrives, convinced that Elliott is after oil deposits, which he covets for Germany. Before things can settle down, two Swedish missionaries enter, having determined that the Garden of Eden was located right nearby, where they hope to open a luxury hotel.
More than one of these people are planning murder, and the suspense builds rapidly. The book can be enjoyed on several levels. The plot is absorbing, and the characters well-drawn. Political attitudes are examined (painlessly), and the historical period is fascinating.
Only in the last sentence does the reader learn that this part of Mesopotamia will become Iraq. Land of Marvels is available at the Mary Willis Library.
