Passionate Nomad : The Life of Freya Stark

Rating:
Summary: An excellent biography of an English explorer.
Review: Spending time with interesting women who are inaccessible to us in real life is one of the pleasures of a good book and Jane Fletcher Geniesse has just added to the list. The author gives us a detailed account of the life of a fearless wanderer, Freya Stark, whose 100 years on earth (1893-1993)were packed with adventures to rival the tales of the Arabian Nights. Freya, though hardly living up to the attributes of her Norse namesake (no goddess of love and beauty, she!), nevertheless conquered the Arab world by making full use of her strengths: drive, intelligence, and an extraordinary empathy for the peoples of the Middle East. Geniesse does not dismiss her shortcomings but offers good reasons for the bizarre behavior of her heroine. She also handles the historical background with grace and understanding. It was an extraordinary time, made even more so by an indomitable English woman, and the author is to be congratulated for presenting her with such skill.

Rating:
Summary: There ought to be a law
Review: There ought to be a law against an author writing a biography of a person whom she doesn't really like, respect, or understand. According to Geniesse, Freya Stark was a homely, erratic opportunist who could never commit herself to a loving relationship. The only good thing I have to say for this book is that it has encouraged me to read Freya's own words. Having started now with "The Valley of the Assassins," I now see how utterly Geniesse missed Freya's humor, compassion, and intellect. If you're interested in the life of an incredibly perceptive, funny, and courageous adventurer, and would like to learn something about what the Middle East was like a generation or two ago, my own recommendation would be to give this book a miss and head straight for Freya Stark's own writings.

Rating:
Summary: There ought to be a law
Review: There ought to be a law against an author writing a biography of a person whom she doesn't really like, respect, or understand. According to Geniesse, Freya Stark was a homely, erratic opportunist who could never commit herself to a loving relationship. The only good thing I have to say for this book is that it has encouraged me to read Freya's own words. Having started now with "The Valley of the Assassins," I now see how utterly Geniesse missed Freya's humor, compassion, and intellect. If you're interested in the life of an incredibly perceptive, funny, and courageous adventurer, and would like to learn something about what the Middle East was like a generation or two ago, my own recommendation would be to give this book a miss and head straight for Freya Stark's own writings.

Rating:
Summary: Great writing about a great woman
Review: This book is for anyone who loves adventure, different cultures, exciting and interesting characters, and history. I had never even heard of Freya Stark before stumbling upon a recommendation for this book. I started it with some uncertainty, but soon I couldn't put it down. The author has done a wonderful job of presenting the life of this fascinating woman in the context of the times. I learned so much about the history of the Middle East and have a little bit better understanding of the many complexities facing that area today.

I loved the writing syle, the pictures, and the use of quotes from Stark's writing as chapter headers (several I have copied to keep on file). This book is definitely readable, informative, entertaining, and has lead me to explore Stark's own writings as well as information about the many individuals who appear in the book (such as Gertrude Bell).

The only annoying element of this book was the author's focus on Stark's appearance. Apparently, however, this was a huge concern for Stark herself, but by looking at her pictures, she certainly was not that unattractive. And her smile is delightful.

I thank the Amazon reader who lead me to this book. I highly recommend it as well.



Rating:
Summary: Passionate reading
Review: This book is wonderful. In addition to being a thoroughly researched biography of a fascinating gifted writer who lived and traveled in exotic places, the book is itself a joy to read and demonstrates that its writer too is clearly very gifted.

Rating:
Summary: A well-written, well-researched page-turner.
Review: This is a fair, rounded, and delightfully written biography ofa complex woman who was a brave, solitary British explorer in the Middle East and something of a social misfit in England. In addition to her acclaimed explorations, Stark put her experience to good use during World War II in the service of her country as a propagandist. Mrs. Geniesse bases much of her account on Stark's voluminous correspondence and on many interviews with people who knew her. In ably presenting the many facets of Stark's personality and achievements, she has also produced an extremely readable book.

Rating:
Summary: A woman ahead of her time
Review: This is a well written book about a woman who was an adventurer in an era where women were expected to stay at home and raise kids. She explored Syria, Iraq and Persia and with the knowledge of the peoples and lands became an advisor to Britain during WWII. What a character she was!! Funny, brilliant and a bit of a hypochondriac. I found this book extremely interesting and couldn't wait to read more each day.

Rating:
Summary: A woman ahead of her time
Review: This is a well written book about a woman who was an adventurer in an era where women were expected to stay at home and raise kids. She explored Syria, Iraq and Persia and with the knowledge of the peoples and lands became an advisor to Britain during WWII. What a character she was!! Funny, brilliant and a bit of a hypochondriac. I found this book extremely interesting and couldn't wait to read more each day.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating story, beautifully told
Review: This is an exquisitely well written and lovingly told story of the life of a little known but fascinating person. Adventurer, diplomat, prolific author and raconteur--Freya Stark enchanted, bewildered, and sometimes infuriated the remarkable cast of British expats and Arab chieftains she encountered during decades of Middle East travel by plane, car, and donkey. The author reviews Stark's stormy personal life and her considerable professional accomplishments with finesse and carefully researched detail. A treasure of a book!