How did Syria's revolution lose its way? Drawing on the author's firsthand knowledge of the country's complex religious & ethnic communities this book illuminates the darker recesses of Syria's history politics & society With the unique perspective of an Arabic-speaking British woman Diana Darke became deeply embedded in all levels of Syrian society when she bought & restored a house in a mixed Sunni Shi'a neighborhood of the walled Old City of Damascus In September 2012 as fighting intensified & millions were forced to flee their homes she offered her house as a sanctuary to friends By following her experiences & struggles with the realities of life on the ground inside Syria the reader will arrive at a clearer understanding of why the country remains locked in conflict & why most ordinary Syrians are caught between a repressive government & a splintering opposition