This work investigates the arduous intellectual and physical process of deciphering cuneiform, the ancient script of Mesopotamia, through the lens of Henry Rawlinson's life and work. Lesley Adkins, an accomplished historian and archaeologist, utilizes primary source documents, including Rawlinson's personal correspondence and field notes, to reconstruct the 19th-century race to unlock the secrets of the Behistun Inscription. The book argues that the decipherment of this script was not merely a scholarly achievement but a high-stakes endeavor involving geopolitical maneuvering and immense personal risk.

The text provides a dense, well-researched account of 19th-century scholarship that will appeal to readers interested in the history of archaeology and linguistics. Its focus on the technical and physical hurdles of the decipherment process offers a clear, authoritative look at how ancient languages were brought back into the modern light.