Mikhail Khoury's novel transports readers to the vibrant intellectual heart of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad. This historical fiction masterfully intertwines the grand narrative of the legendary House of Wisdom—a beacon of knowledge and translation—with an intimate and compelling love story. The plot follows a protagonist whose scholarly pursuits and perilous adventures are driven by a profound passion, undertaken 'for her eyes.' It's a rich tapestry of history, romance, and the timeless quest for knowledge, set against the backdrop of one of civilization's greatest academic institutions.