Inspired by the astonishing true history of one of the world's most beautiful—and mysterious—books…

In a sweeping tale of obsession, sacrifice, and hope for readers of Cloud Cuckoo Land and The Red Violin, a British librarian becomes entangled in the haunting fate of a legendary book and the generations of keepers who have been consumed by its beauty—and the curse said to follow it.

Dulcie Finch’s promotion at the British Library couldn’t come at a better time. Dulcie, a widowed single mother, has been struggling to care for her daughter, Ava, who is wheelchair-bound with a rare degenerative disease. With Dulcie’s new role as Curator of Bookbindings comes a raise and more responsibility, including caring for the library’s most celebrated work.

The Great Omar, a lavishly decorated edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, is one of the most exquisite books ever created, its elaborate cover emblazoned with gold leaf and studded with over 1,000 jewels. Yet for all its splendor, the book is haunted by tragedy. The first version, created by the famous bookbinding firm Sangorski & Sutcliffe, sank without a trace onboard an ocean liner that too was shrouded in superstition: the RMS Titanic. Its creator drowned shortly afterward at an English seaside resort. A second edition, steeped in sacrifice and secrecy, was incinerated by German bombers during the London Blitz.

Dulcie settles into her new role, growing more and more intrigued with The Great Omar—both the exquisite binding and the mystic poetry that lies within, as well as the amulet that is stored with the book and believed to ward off the evil eye. But The Great Omar’s fascination remains potent for others as well, including a Russian oligarch who makes Dulcie a tantalizing, dangerous offer that will bring together the book’s past, present, and future in one fateful decision . . .