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Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations
A marvelous tale of an adventurous life of great historical import She has been called the female Lawrence of Arabia, which, while not inaccurate, fails to give Gertrude Bell her due. She was at one time the most powerful woman in the British Empire: a nation builder, the driving force behind the creation of modern-day Iraq. Born in 1868 into a world of privilege, Bel...more
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
April 29th 2008
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
(first published 2006)
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Brisk, well-written bio of the early 20th century British traveler, explorer and later diplomat who helped shape the modern Middle East. A bit hagiographic -- ignoring the fact that the states she helped to forge were not real nations and therefore contained the seeds of modern conflicts -- it is nonetheless fascinating, as is its subject.
Sandie
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review of another edition
Recommended to Sandie by:
Dinner book group
Shelves:
book-group
Gertrude Bell was a very, very interesting woman. This book could have been good, but bordered on hagiography. The author felt compelled to add every single detail of her research and the result is nearly 450 very crowded pages. The writing was not that good, the author's background is as a writer for fashion magazines. Since I had earlier read the Janet Wallach bio, I skipped around in this and only read chapters or parts of chapters that were of interest to me.
GB was a fear...more
GB was a fear...more
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Fascinating account of a pretty amazing woman. Growing up in Victorian England, Bell received a First at Oxford, became an accomplished mountaineer, and traveled extensively through the desert in Syria and Iraq. Her most noted accomplishment was her involvement in the Arab Revolt during World War I and helping to create an Iraqi nation under the British mandate.
Well-written, well researched - Howell integrates lots of primary sources into her text, but it's not detracting and adds a...more
Well-written, well researched - Howell integrates lots of primary sources into her text, but it's not detracting and adds a...more
This was an excellent account of a fascinating (and totally bad-ass) woman. Part of her amazingness is that what she did, and how she did it, and how her life went, was something that could have only happened during the narrow window in which she lived; she pretty much single handedly caused Britain to not force the newly-born Iraq into becoming part of Saudi Arabia, but thought womens' suffragists were kind of silly. I wish the book had talked more about politics, rather than focusing so on her...more
Non-fiction. Gertrude Bell was an amazing woman at a time when it was much more difficult for women to be amazing outside of their homes or roll of wife/mother. Gertrude disregarded all expectations of herself and did as she damn well pleased. In the process she helped to establish the country of Iraq. This book will also give you a better understanding of the history of Iraq, it's Kings and warlords.
I was dubious about this book as I had not selected it for myself and it wasn't really about something I thought I was interested in. But the life of Gertrude Bell, one of the founders of Iraq was quite interesting. She was a non-feminist feminist, an adventurous dutiful daughter, in a world made for men. I learned a lot about her life, the times she lived in and through (WWI and the aftermath of that), and the impact of those historical currents and events on the life of privilege she lead. ...more
And that then is my reason for connecting this review with that of Gertrude Bell’s biography. For indeed, how do you begin a biography? Especially with a woman who has lived such a life? A woman who once used to be more famous than T.E. Lawrence (who was a good friend actually), who travelled the Middle East, at a time when women rode side saddle (she had an apron sort of garment made to cover her pants), who climbed mountains (taking off her skirt to do so!), who was daring and brave and advent...more
Gertrude was a brilliant, wealthy Victorian woman who was an accomplished photographer, mountaineer, archaeologist and cartographer. Fluent in six languages including Arabic and Persian, she befriended many of the warring tribes in what is today the Arab world. Although not as well known as her good friend Lawrence of Arabia, she is credited with creating the independent states of Iraq(King Faisal) and Jordan. She was critical to the British imperial-policy making after WWI because of her de...more
I had known little about her, but she was a Mesopotamian expert and (along with T.E. Lawrence) one of the driving forces behind the creation of the country now called Iraq. She was an amazing woman with many talents–she was fluent in many languages (she even published translations of classic Arabic poetry), was a noted mountaineer, cartographer and archeologist, and lived a life of adventure that was quite rare for a woman of her class and time. Her detailed knowledge of and friendship with many...more
Bought this years ago as a read when I retire book. Drug it out when I read that Angelina Jolie was considering a movie about Gertrude. Thought I better read it so I would know the story. She was amazing. And a sign of her times that we know about Lawerance and we don't have common knowledge of Gertrude who was his contemporary.
Now that I have finished it, I agree with some of the reviews that said the Ms. Howell is not the greatest writer. But she did a credible job and I very much ...more
Now that I have finished it, I agree with some of the reviews that said the Ms. Howell is not the greatest writer. But she did a credible job and I very much ...more
How can such an interesting life result in such a boring book? This was a real slog, reminding me of a reading assignment I was forced to do when I was in school. I finished the book only because she was such an important figure in an era that I'm very interested in. Having zoned out through much of it, I will now read Wikipedia's article on Gertrude Bell to round out my knowledge of her life.
Unfortunately, this is the second boring book I've read about Gertrude Bell. Should any good...more
Unfortunately, this is the second boring book I've read about Gertrude Bell. Should any good...more
I knew very little about this important turn-of-the-century British woman, who at one time was more famous than Lawrence of Arabia. She certainly shaped the furture of the middle east and Iraq--to what (at that time) was a very prosperous, independent future. Despite her life's accomplishments, I found most interesting the path that she choose to get there--the languages she learned, the schools she attended, and her desert explorations. I highly recommend this book.
My only critici...more
My only critici...more
I was startled to see the spectrum of reviews this book elicited.
Perhaps it is a special taste, and I do like history, but I don't consider myself an eccentric. A fascinating story, a heroic protagonist with an entourage of heros and villains , statesmen and tribesmen. More importantly, as many readers remarked, a window into what could have been done a hundred years ago to assuage the conflicts in the Middle East- but was not done beause of the prevalent dismissal of women's abilities and...more
Perhaps it is a special taste, and I do like history, but I don't consider myself an eccentric. A fascinating story, a heroic protagonist with an entourage of heros and villains , statesmen and tribesmen. More importantly, as many readers remarked, a window into what could have been done a hundred years ago to assuage the conflicts in the Middle East- but was not done beause of the prevalent dismissal of women's abilities and...more
Gertrude Bell belongs to a particular class of British women with means who ventured into unsettled corners of the world where a combination of keen intelligence and chutzpah allowed them to thrive and be far more useful than they would have been at home. Ironic that women like Bell and Beryl Markham had to travel thousands of miles from home to prove their worth. Howell follows Bell on her many treks, charts her discoveries and her involvement in spying and politics. She weaves a gripping tale ...more
I loved this book, this woman, and how much I learned from both of them. I did not know how much I did not know about the 1st World War. The events of this period are still reverberating today and this woman was in the thick of it all. It is a great story: an adventurous and extraordinary woman, a tragic romance, exotic desert travels, intrigue in the foreign service, and the heart-breaking history of the creation of the nation of Iraq.
I was enthralled and inspired to learn more about her ...more
I was enthralled and inspired to learn more about her ...more
A fascinating biography of a strong woman who played an integral part in developing relationships in the Middle East in the early 1900s. Because she's not a man, she gets easily passed over more often than not, but her contribution shouldn't be forgotten. I enjoyed the book and eagerly devoured the first 3/4. The last 1/4 of the book gets a little too political, and I kind of lost interest, but I loved learning about Gertrude Bell and how she established some precendents I'm still benefitting fr...more
Keegan
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommended to Keegan by:
Jen
Shelves:
biography,
non-fiction
Am I just completely uneducated that I had no idea who this woman was before my aunt mentioned reading this book? Do other people recognize the name of Gertrude Bell? Well, we should! What an amazing woman: rock climber, archaeologist, explorer, writer, and major contributor to the establishment of an Iraqi government!
Her love life saddened me, both as an unfortunate situation for her (to fall in love with a married man) and as a horrible betrayal both on her part and the part of Doug...more
Her love life saddened me, both as an unfortunate situation for her (to fall in love with a married man) and as a horrible betrayal both on her part and the part of Doug...more
this is the report I wrote on this book for school, I think it is rather good :)
Photographer, archaeologist, mountaineer, historian, cartographer, linguist, author, traveler, spy, poet, gardener, scholar and dedicated diplomat- Gertrude Bell’s extensive endeavors were exceptional and defining. Born in 1868 to a family whose enormous wealth came from the profitable, but certainly not glamorous coal trade, a mischievous, young Gertrude Bell learned the importance of hard work and traditional...more
Photographer, archaeologist, mountaineer, historian, cartographer, linguist, author, traveler, spy, poet, gardener, scholar and dedicated diplomat- Gertrude Bell’s extensive endeavors were exceptional and defining. Born in 1868 to a family whose enormous wealth came from the profitable, but certainly not glamorous coal trade, a mischievous, young Gertrude Bell learned the importance of hard work and traditional...more
This is a fascinating history about an amazing person I had never heard of until a favorite professor dropped her name in passing during a conversation a few years ago. Gertrude Bell lived the kind of life few people can dream of, and accomplished things that still seem rather legendary in spite of the evidence of photographs, newspaper clippings, diaries, and letters. I had a hard time tearing myself away when I had chores to do.
My quibbles with Howell's book are relatively minor....more
My quibbles with Howell's book are relatively minor....more
Nicola Turner
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people interested in why the Middle East is the way it is
I could not put this book down once I got past the first few opening chapters. This woman was born at a time in England when women of her class were schooled to be wives, mothers and hostesses. Gertrude ended up unmarried, fiercely independent and a major player in middle-eastern politics during and after World War One. She helped give birth to the independent Arab nations of Iraq and Saudi Arabia after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire's control despite the British government's unwillingness t...more
This is a terrific biography. Gertrude Bell would have been remarkable in any age but at the beginning of the 20th century women were so restricted we rarely hear of one so amazing on multiple fronts. She was brilliant, fearless (mountain climber, desert traveler), passionate and feminine to boot. She shaped the middle east after WWI. And when she decided she had had enough she checked out on her own. Amazing! Good writing, thoroughly researched, great history of the middle east.
It is a fascinating tale of a fascinating, courageous, intelligent, and nervy woman. Well-written, the book tells of her life as a child in the late 1800's through her adventures: risky mountain-climbing in the Alps for four years, followed by many years traveling through the deserts of the yet-unboundaried Arabia. Eventually she served in British intelligence in the Middle East during World War I. I am glued to this book, unable to put it down, and quite inspired.
This is the best biography I have ever had the pleasure of reading. If you want to understand the politics of the Middle East, you must read about Gertrude Bell. T.E. Lawrence aka; Lawrence of Arabia is better known historically ,however Gertrude Bell's story is more compelling, simply because it is about a woman of power in a place and time that did not afford women power. Gertrude Bell shaped the Middle East as we know it today for better or worse....
The author clearly put a great deal of time into researching Bell's life, and yet completely diminished her accomplishments by couching her story in gossip and speculation. Yes, a number of Bell's opportunities arose because of her privileged background, but somehow this disjointed narrative's focus on her wardrobe, home decor, and social life misses the mark in its failure to connect her achievements to their context in a meaningful way. Only rarely do I contemplate not finishing a book, no mat...more
Audra
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
adventurers, presidents, foreign policy makers, screenwriters, feminists
I think I have a new heroine...
It boggles my mind that with our current involvement in Iraq, Gertrude Bell's name isn't bandied about on a daily basis. It's also a shame that we can't clone this amazing woman a hundred times over, as she seemed to be one of few to actually take the time to learn about the multitude of desert tribes and interact with them in a respectful, dignified manner.
In an era where women still struggled for basic rights, she used her vast knowledge ...more
It boggles my mind that with our current involvement in Iraq, Gertrude Bell's name isn't bandied about on a daily basis. It's also a shame that we can't clone this amazing woman a hundred times over, as she seemed to be one of few to actually take the time to learn about the multitude of desert tribes and interact with them in a respectful, dignified manner.
In an era where women still struggled for basic rights, she used her vast knowledge ...more
A really interesting book on a woman we don't know nearly enough about, or appreciate the tremendous work that she did. Her knowledge on the culture and society of the middle east, and how much her assessments still apply to the region today are really quite amazing. I wish the people who decided that invading Iraq was going to save the world would read this book. Perhaps (although probably not) it would have made them stop and think, and consider that a completely difference cultural background...more
I am reading currently reading Gertrude Bell: Queen Of The Desert, Shaper Of Nations by Georgina Howell. I want to be Gertrude when I grow up, except I don't really want to move to another country and lead an Islamic nation to become an independent and democratic nation. Known as the female "Lawrence of Arabia", Gertrude Bell was instrumental in the creation of Iraq. One of the most dynamic, accomplished women of her times (first woman to ever earn a first at Oxford) she was a true ren...more
This is the fascinating biography of an Englishwoman adventurer who was tremendously important in the history of what we now call the Middle East early in the last century but who is generally unknown, never having sought (or received) any credit for her contributions.She discussed land boundaries and power sharing over tea and hookahs at a time when women never set foot in the tents of shieks, especially foreign women.
A very interesting read for anyone with even a passing interest in the geo-political history of the Middle East. This statement, and the title of the book belie the fact, however, that much of the book (half?) is devoted to Gertrude Bell's life outside of the Middle East. It is a very comprehensive biography, and one which tells a lot more than just Bell's influence in the organisation of the British in Arabia. It tells quite a lot about social mobility in late 19th century Britain, as well as s...more
Wasn't sure this book would interest me, but I felt I needed to know about this woman's life. She was as important as Lawrence of Arabia, but I believe she has been forgotten because she was not a feminist nor a proponent of the Zionist state. Gertrude Bell was an interesting and important person in the history of the modern mid east and worth the read.
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