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In 1914, as much of the world is bracing for war, John Somerville looks out over a mound of dirt in Mesopotamia and braces himself for the arrival of the Germans, who are building a railroad that will inevitably destroy his dreams of archaeological greatness. So far, the British archaeologist’s years of digging have been far from fruitful. And while part of him is still convinced that his team will find something of importance, there’s another part of him that welcomes the coming of the railroad, since it will give him a good excuse to give up and go home.
But just as the scheming messenger, Jehar, brings the news that the railroad isn’t far off, an important discovery is made at the site—one that could secure Somerville’s place in archaeological history.
Meanwhile, politicians and businessmen alike are eyeing Somerville’s little corner of Mesopotamia because of the other treasure that might be hidden below the surface: oil.
Land of Marvels is a literary work of historical fiction that’s built on a web of connected plots and subplots. There’s a failing archaeological dig, a woman who’s losing respect for her husband, a man who’s fighting for the woman he loves, a race against time, and the beginnings of the struggle to control the world’s oil. For the most part, each of those plotlines adds a different facet to the story—love, greed, ego, fame, obsession. But while Land of Marvels has been marketed as a thriller, the suspense ends up getting buried in the details.
While it’s clear that Somerville is under pressure to succeed before he loses his site, Unsworth fails to capitalize effectively on the growing tension. Instead, his storytelling meanders from one plot to another, frequently wandering off on tangents or getting caught up in details that—while clearly carefully researched—only pull the reader out of the action. And as I read through the lengthy passages that relate all kinds of detailed information about everything from politics to geology to ancient history (a topic that I typically find fascinating), I often found myself losing interest. My mind would wander off, and I’d have to go back and reread a paragraph or two. I’ll even admit that, from time to time, I simply gave up—occasionally skimming over especially tedious passages that were crammed with scientific details that just didn’t seem to matter.
Though many of the plotlines eventually come together in a brief but thrilling and thoughtful conclusion, it takes a tough and determined reader to make it that far. At times, the stories are captivating—but Land of Marvels often feels like an elegantly-written textbook: the ideas are there, but it’s not a particularly enjoyable read.
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