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. An[...]

In 1908, on a small Greek island, Basile Pascali receives payment for reporting the activities of people in his community, and when he thinks the townspeople have discovered his secret, he becomes trapped in a world of paranoia, as a dashing Englishman steals the heart of the woman he loves, causing[...]

"His keen understanding of history and legend...illuminate[s] his visits." --"Publishers Weekly" "A vivid picture of the island." --"Associated Press" "It is hard to think of anywhere on earth where so many firsts and mosts are crammed into a space so small," Barry Unsworth writes of the isle of Cre[...]