It’s 1914. Tensions are about to erupt in Europe. John Somerville, however, has problems of his own to worry about. He’s excavating what he believes to be a forgotten Assyrian palace in Mesopotamia, part of the gigantic Ottoman Empire. Unluckily for him, the Germans are coming with a railroad that will go right through Tell Erdek, his precious site, the excavation of which he has self-financed for three years in a desperate bid to make a name for himself. Along with him is his younger colleague, Palmer, who has a passion for ancient writing; his wife Christine, who thrives on Somerville’s enthusiasm and purity of passion; Patricia, a grad student who is at the forefront of the feminist movement and very outspoken; and Jehar, an Arab man who feeds Somerville information in exchange for the gold to win him the love of his life. Into this mess arrives Elliott, an American geologist masquerading as an archaeologist to gain information about oil. Every character’s loyalties are tested as tensions escalate not only between European powers but at the excavation site itself.

I’d heard, before starting this book, that others really struggled with it, abandoning it and giving it away. I thought it was going to be terrible. Once again, I put it off. When I finally did read it, I could see in some cases what those who disliked this book thought about it. For one thing, it’s quite political. A lot of time is spent discussing the importance of the oil and the conflicts between the countries who are racing to get it. Nor are all the characters likeable. Christine spends time feeling disdainful towards Patricia because she is too outspoken. The mere idea that women could vote shocks Christine, who desires nothing more than to spend her life supporting a powerful and influential man. Can you tell that Christine made me gag a little? Okay, a lot.

On the bright side, though, despite its faults I found myself loving the book. I have to say being an aspiring historian and secret fan of the exciting part of archaeology really helped me in that. If I didn’t feel as excited about Somerville’s discovery as he did, the book would have totally fallen flat for me. There is something fascinating about pulling history out of the ground and this is just what Somerville is doing and what he’s passionate about. How could I not love a guy like him? This is even if he is a bit uncertain about himself, especially given that it’s hard to blame him. As soon as he realized that there was something amazing down there, I was hooked.

I also found this book incredibly politically relevant. I’m often irritated that so many of the problems in the Middle East have to do with European powers stepping in and carving up arbitrary countries for their own benefit. Here we have a novel that is set just as this is happening; we have a character who is unearthing the enthralling past of these areas which are now war-torn from intervention and internal turmoil and conflict. And hardly for the last time, it is all about oil. While set firmly in the past, this book also sheds light on how we got to this point in history ourselves. I think it also shows how our disregard for history leads us to repeat the mistakes we have made over and over again.

In conclusion, this is definitely a book worth reading. I highly recommend it, especially to those who love history and/or secretly wish they could be on Time Team. While I wait for that day to come, I’ll be seeking out more of Barry Unsworth’s works.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=1249 ( )

Land of Marvels just sounded like it would be fun. I love archeology! Somerville makes a MAJOR discovery: an unknown tomb. This could only be good.

But oh, I was wrong. First, the characters are extremely dull and flat. Christine, the wife, has no thoughts beyond being a perfect society wife. She reminds me of a paper doll, beautiful to look at and fun to dress up, but absolutely lacking in personality. Patricia, the only other major female in the novel, is supposed to be extremely clever and bright. But her major role seems to be to ask the ‘intelligent’ questions so the big strong men can answer and catch the reader up via the celebrated art of mass information dumps. (Minor pet peeve: the women and foreigners are referred to by their first names, but the men by the last name.) Somerville, our hero, is so utterly fixated on the railroad the Germans are building near his archeology site that little else attracts his notice, and reading a man’s fretting brain natterisms is not captivating narrative.

The story’s meant to educate readers on why Iraq’s politics in the last century are so screwed up and why oil is the major currency in the Middle East. It also seeks to warn about empires inevitably collapsing. But it’s so heavy-handed! I feel like the archeologists are hitting me over the head with their tools, shouting “THIS. IS. SYMBOLISM. PAY ATTENTION. THIS. IS IMPORTANT.” Yeesh. I didn’t want a lecture.

Finally, the ending is SUCH A FUCKING COP-OUT. So much so that I did not censor my cussing as would have been proper. I can’t bitch about why it was so bad, as that would be a major spoiler, but it was such a terrible way to end the story that I actually threw the book across the room. I’ve never done that before; I usually protect my books as precious! It’s like the author wrote himself into a corner, couldn’t figure out how to untangle the plot to get out of it, and just gave up. (I suppose that is better than believing he planned such a craptacular ending from Day One.)

I was a little angry when I finished the book. Angry at the horrible ending, angry at the interesting concept gone horribly wrong, and angry that I felt I’d wasted my time to finish the story. Land of Marvels? I am marveling that Barry Unsworth apparently won the Booker Prize for a previous novel. This is the first time I have ever read one of his books, so hopefully this is just the exception proving the rule, and his quality is normally higher. But seriously, folks, skip this book. It will only leave you unsatisfied and disappointed at a great idea gone sour. ( )

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. ( )

Take yourself back to the tense times in the Middle East just before the outbreak of World War I. The world is beginning to fully wake up to the need for oil in the new modern world and the importance of securing a steady supply. The world powers are manouvering for access to the newly discovered desposits in what will become modern day Iran.

However, as many of us will know from ancient history, Mesopotamia was the birthplace of civilisation, and a British archaeologist, Sommerville, dreams of finding fame and reknown. His wife is wondering about her marriage, while Sommerville's assistant has fallen for a young female research assistant. This little community of Brits is living together and tensions are heightened when the British government sends an America geologist posing as an archaeologist to work with them. Sommerville is in a constant state of nerves as he fears that the building of a German railroad will cut through his digsite.

Outside this community there is Jehar, a local who carries messages for Sommerville and dreams of making a life with the woman he loves. It is his desire to earn her bride price, along with Sommervillles fear of the approaching German railroad that ultimately leads to the surprising climax of the novel.

This novel skilfully mixes politics, intrgue, espionage, history and human nature. The growing desire for oil in the early twentieth century is still present today, especially in the context of the Middle East. The novel is an easy read, although there are scholarly passages on geology and Assyrian history. The characters are what make this novel shine. ( )

Passion, mystery, history, espionage… what more could you want in a novel? I was unfamiliar with Barry Unsworth’s work before I was offered this novel to review. I have to say that I was not disappointed. At some points, it felt like this book was written directly according to my tastes. I’ve always been interested in archeology, but I haven’t read much fiction about the topic. This book was a great blend of history, technical archeology talk, as well as personal conflict and relationships.

The characters are nowhere near perfect, and that’s what makes them great. They are real, and you almost wonder if they once walked around where Unsworth could observe them. I always enjoy a novel when I can watch characters grow, and this is no exception. However, this does not mean the characters improve. Much of this novel can be read with an apathetic eye to the decline of morals, values, and personal character. There are tricks, trades, and desperate attempts to find what they crave most in the world. Once again… this is real.

My only critique of this novel would be that scenes with Rampling, and indeed many of the highly technical discussions of oil, can feel a bit drawn out and overwhelming. The archeology talk is fascinating because it is history, and it tells a story. I almost feel as though I read more about oil than those in the oil industry have even read, and none of it really told a story. It felt like a dramatic break in the story, and fell flat in my eyes. That’s disappointing, because the rest of the story was exciting and dramatic. From the very first pages, I was worried about the railroad, the dig site, the relationships between characters… everything. To stop and read political discussions on oil felt like hitting a brick wall.

This story is still a good one, and I think anyone interested in the artifacts of history would enjoy it. The characters are the best element. Unsworth, at least in this novel, shows a unique ability to create extraordinarily real people, which he then uses to advance his plot. ( )