Amin Maalouf’s novel, “The Rock of Tanios,” unfolds in the 1880s in the mountains of Lebanon during a period marked by struggles between the Egyptian Pashas and Ottoman rule, as well as geopolitical maneuvering between the British and French. The story begins with Tanios, a child of the mountains, and his mysterious disappearance. Tanios, the illegitimate son of a powerful Sheik, becomes entangled in political turmoil when his adopted father causes the death of a formidable political rival. Fleeing their homeland, father and son get involved with international spies and politicians, with Tanios becoming a crucial intermediary in the conflicts between European and Middle Eastern powers. The novel weaves a fascinating legend around the enigmatic rock where Tanios was last seen sitting.