The Lives of Shadows

A traveler finds a home in Damascus and fights to keep it through two ruinous wars in a unique novel: “Page-turning intrigue and extremely readable prose.” —Toronto Globe & Mail

In the spring of 1914, a restless young man leaves England for a tour of the exotic east. A bit of Egypt, a glimpse of Syria, a nod to Constantinople—that’s all that was supposed to happen. Instead, Julian Beaufort becomes mesmerized.

Wandering in idle admiration through the labyrinthine streets of Damascus, he stumbles upon Bait Katib, a house that takes possession of his heart. It is elegant; it is ancient; and it is, after a bit of negotiation with the owner, his. He has every intention of staying there for the rest of his life. But the world doesn’t relinquish its hold so easily. Two bloody wars—one in Europe and one in Syria—leave Julian wounded and the city of Damascus in ruins. He returns from battle to find his precious house still standing, but no longer entirely his. It seems someone else may be occupying the shadows of Bait Katib.

A mystery, a love story, and a journey to a sepia-toned past, Barbara Hodgson’s beautifully illustrated novel will haunt and delight her many devoted readers and tempt legions more to take a guided journey into another world.

“A mysterious, mesmerizing tale . . . an exquisite excursion back into history, borne on the author’s keen imagination and creativity.” —Booklist (starred review)