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Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) was born to an aristocratic family and became a renowned archaeologist, Arabist, linguist, writer, poet, and mountaineer. During WWI she served as a spy, army major, and then advisor for the British armed forces. In the aftermath of the war, her statesmanship helped to lay the framework for the modern Middle East. Georgina Howell is the author of the acclaimed biography Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations.
[A] well-chosen selection from [the] letters and memoirs [of] one of the most remarkable figures of the late 19th and early 20th century . . . Bell might be regarded as the much happier, female equivalent of T. E. Lawrence, who knew and admired her * Washington Post * A fascinating glimpse at [Bell's] larger-than-life personality . . . Timely and timeless . . . The genius of this collection is letting Bell tell her story in her own words-just as her fiercely independent spirit would have wanted. Impossible to put down, the book reads a bit like a travelog, part humorous wit and part educational lecture, allowing the reader an in-depth look at the life of a true heroine and the time period she inhabited and conquered * Library Journal * An impressive anthology . . . Howell brings the 'female Lawrence of Arabia' to life through judicious selections from Bell's massive public writings and personal papers. . . . Bell comes across as a compassionate, erudite quasi-diplomat worthy of great admiration * Kirkus Reviews * Tantalizing . . . Fascinating . . . Bell's own words showcase . . . a personality and intellect that glittered like the sun-drenched Arabian sands. . . . Readers will accompany her on some of her most daring exploits. . . . This is a nifty little volume that illuminates a remarkable life * Publishers Weekly *
