Desert Queen : The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally ofLawrence of Arabia

Rating:
Summary: A woman beyond her time
Review: This was one of the most fascinating women of her time. Bold, beautiful, and smart. She went where most men wouldn't dare. This book is not only a tribute to Gertrude Bell, but a great insight into the history of Iraq,and the middle east, the people and, why they may not ever be a democracy.

Rating:
Summary: Exciting book on an extraordinary woman
Review: When I read this book, I had never before heard of Gertrude Bell. This book is also the only thing I have read about her, so my opinion of the job this book does in presenting her life (in comparison to other works) is limited. Although the book is very detailed (some parts were a little hard to get thru...) I overall thought it was well written. I did not find it lame at all!

I greatly enjoyed this book! Some call her the female version of Lawrence of Arabia. Her life was a grand adventure in many ways. She was intelligent, college educated, and fluent in many languages. She refused to conform to what was expected of a typical Victorian woman, and went off boldly traveling. She became an expert on Arabia, even traveling into areas where no white man had gone, let alone a white woman!

Her first-hand expertise on Arabia landed her a job with the British government during WWI. Although as a woman she got no credit (your average person has never even heard of her!) - the information and analysis she provided guided much of the policy that was developed on Arabia. She herself drew the map that divvied up Arabia into countries. (Hmm...she is really responsible for some of the problems that exist over there.) She attended the Cairo Conference in Egypt after the war. And had much to do with the formation of Iraq. In fact, she is sometimes called the "uncrowned Queen of Iraq".

However, her life was also very tragic. One of the only men she ever truly loved - her father refused to grant his permission for her to marry him. This devastated her, and the man actually died soon after this refusal. She was lonely... Often isolated, and discriminated against in various ways because she was a woman in a government position. She was also an atheist with no spiritual faith to guide or help her. In the end, she committed suicide. A tragic end to a life that was truly a bold and grand adventure!




Rating:
Summary: fascinating
Review: While the author's writing style could use some work, Gertrude Bell's life is fascinating. The idea of a British woman in that time period (or even today) leading caravans into the Arabian desert, having the respect of Bedouin tribal leaders, etc. is incredible. The book also provides an interesting look at the way the Middle East was politically shaped early on. On a side note: if you are a reader of Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody mysteries, you will see some parallels--the female British fortitude, the same hotel in Egypt mentioned, the comedic tangled-in-the-bed-net description. One wonders if Peters took some of her inspiration from Bell's writing.