A thriller set in 1914 as the Western nations are making a grab for political power and oil in the Middle East, by a writer with an 'almost magical capacity for literary time travel' (The New York Times Book Review).

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, Christine; 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.