David Monroe is a young New Zealander who, during World War I, finds himself in the heat of battle in Gallipoli, standing beside a Turkish doctor named Mahmoud who directs David to save a wounded soldier. The next instant, a shell bursts over them and David and Mahmoud are both sent to an army hospital on Lemnos.┬а As their wounds heal, a deep and enduring bond grows between them and Mahmoud begins to teach David some of the truths of Sufi mysticism.┬а Their bond is strong enough for David to want to betray his country for his friend, which nearly gets him executed.┬а The savage punishment that follows will break and then remake him and ultimately allow David to find deep compassion within himself.