These historic events form the background to this short, arresting historical novel, written almost as a prose poem, which recounts the Dome's construction from the viewpoint of one of the Caliph's advisers, who is of Jewish origin but has adopted the new Muslim creed.

ECONOMIST: New fiction from the Middle East

Cut into tiny, abrupt chapters that can each function as a separate prose-poem, this odd, discombobulated little book is knit by a disaffected nay, sarcastic disposition.

ECONOMIST: American fiction (1): Cauterise | The