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Bell of the Desert
A grand historical novel about Gertrude Bell, one of the most influential women of the twentieth century.
She was the most celebrated adventurer of her day, the brains behind Lawrence of Arabia, an adviser to kings and desert sheikhs, and the British government’s secret weapon in WWI in the campaign against the Turks. A brilliant academic, mountaineer, explorer, linguist, politician, and towering literary figure, Gertrude Bell is the most significant unsung heroine of the twentieth century.
Alan Gold’s meticulously researched novel accurately opens history’s pages on a peerless woman who broke all molds on how Victorian women were supposed to behave--socially, intellectually, and physically. Guiding the events of the day in open, sanctioned diplomacy and adventure all across the Middle East, her influence on the men at the vanguard of history, and her unparalleled skill in sculpting the pathways and influences of the English, French, and Arab allies on the region, all lead to perhaps her greatest achievement: single-handedly creating today’s Iraq. Told as a biographical narrative of history, Alan Gold reveals that, more than any other single figure, it was this extraordinary woman who most determinedly fashioned the Arab world as we know it today.
She was the most celebrated adventurer of her day, the brains behind Lawrence of Arabia, an adviser to kings and desert sheikhs, and the British government’s secret weapon in WWI in the campaign against the Turks. A brilliant academic, mountaineer, explorer, linguist, politician, and towering literary figure, Gertrude Bell is the most significant unsung heroine of the twentieth century.
Alan Gold’s meticulously researched novel accurately opens history’s pages on a peerless woman who broke all molds on how Victorian women were supposed to behave--socially, intellectually, and physically. Guiding the events of the day in open, sanctioned diplomacy and adventure all across the Middle East, her influence on the men at the vanguard of history, and her unparalleled skill in sculpting the pathways and influences of the English, French, and Arab allies on the region, all lead to perhaps her greatest achievement: single-handedly creating today’s Iraq. Told as a biographical narrative of history, Alan Gold reveals that, more than any other single figure, it was this extraordinary woman who most determinedly fashioned the Arab world as we know it today.
567 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2012
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435 people want to read
About the author
Alan Gold
53 books46 followersAlan Gold began his career as a journalist, working in the UK, Europe, and Israel. In 1970, he emigrated to Australia with his wife, Eva, and now lives in St. Ives, Sydney, where he divides his time between writing novels and running his award-winning marketing consultancy.
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September 20, 2017
Reseña completa en el blog
http://www.lacomunidaddellibro.com/re...
La Reina del desierto es un thriller histórico que nos descubre a una mujer excepcional que la historia ha olvidado. Como dice el autor en su dedicatoria, son mujeres que han sido borradas o descartadas de los anales de la historia porque son los hombres lo que escribieron la historia. En este caso, Gertrude Bell fue la mujer que estuvo a lado de Lawrence de Arabia, lucharon codo a codo, pero mientras este hombre paso a la historia, la mujer fue olvidada.
El autor ha sabido armar un libro con una trama de aventura que te atrapa desde el principio, mientras nos va descubriendo la vida de esta fascinante mujer.
La mayor parte del libro transcurre durante la IMG en el frente de Oriente Medio, en las maniobras diplomáticas que hicieron Gertrude Bell y Lawrence de Arabia para conseguir que los arabes se pusieran de parte de los ingleses para combatir en contra de los turcos, Turquía luchaba del lado de Alemania. Una vez acabada la guerra tendremos ocasión de ver como la protagonista crea un país nuevo, Irak, y como lucha para que la nación árabe sea un pueblo unido y democrático.
A parte de ser un libro de aventuras, histórico muy entretenido a mi me ha ayudado a entender un poco más esa parte del mundo, a los árabes, a los musulmanes, sus costumbres, sus religiones, su forma de vida...
http://www.lacomunidaddellibro.com/re...
La Reina del desierto es un thriller histórico que nos descubre a una mujer excepcional que la historia ha olvidado. Como dice el autor en su dedicatoria, son mujeres que han sido borradas o descartadas de los anales de la historia porque son los hombres lo que escribieron la historia. En este caso, Gertrude Bell fue la mujer que estuvo a lado de Lawrence de Arabia, lucharon codo a codo, pero mientras este hombre paso a la historia, la mujer fue olvidada.
El autor ha sabido armar un libro con una trama de aventura que te atrapa desde el principio, mientras nos va descubriendo la vida de esta fascinante mujer.
La mayor parte del libro transcurre durante la IMG en el frente de Oriente Medio, en las maniobras diplomáticas que hicieron Gertrude Bell y Lawrence de Arabia para conseguir que los arabes se pusieran de parte de los ingleses para combatir en contra de los turcos, Turquía luchaba del lado de Alemania. Una vez acabada la guerra tendremos ocasión de ver como la protagonista crea un país nuevo, Irak, y como lucha para que la nación árabe sea un pueblo unido y democrático.
A parte de ser un libro de aventuras, histórico muy entretenido a mi me ha ayudado a entender un poco más esa parte del mundo, a los árabes, a los musulmanes, sus costumbres, sus religiones, su forma de vida...
May 7, 2017
*I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley to review.
Gertrude Bell was a woman before her time and reading this historical fiction based upon this remarkable woman came across very well as a fictionalized biography. I truly love books that inspire me and encourages me to discover more about who or what I am reading about. What I liked about the book was the way that the author handled bringing Gertrude Bell front and center in our story. Her curiosity and drive not to be held back because of her sex was thoroughly outlined. This book was chocked full of adventure and bits of information about Arabia and its' people.
Politics was par for the course in such an undertaking writing about such an important figure in history. My patience waned at times with the political maneuvering but I don't hold it against the book, it is a personal disinterest on my part. The story was wrapped up quite nicely and you had a good sense of what Gertrude had done for that part of the world. She rubbed elbows and locked minds with many historical figures such as Harry Lawrence also known as Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill.
I did find that the many references to her sexual escapades did tax my patience but I think that the majority of the public are interested in such details but personally I found it taxing and quite unnecessary. Overall it is a good read, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, adventure, women who have overstepped their rigid roles of the time and in the Middle East.
Gertrude Bell was a woman before her time and reading this historical fiction based upon this remarkable woman came across very well as a fictionalized biography. I truly love books that inspire me and encourages me to discover more about who or what I am reading about. What I liked about the book was the way that the author handled bringing Gertrude Bell front and center in our story. Her curiosity and drive not to be held back because of her sex was thoroughly outlined. This book was chocked full of adventure and bits of information about Arabia and its' people.
Politics was par for the course in such an undertaking writing about such an important figure in history. My patience waned at times with the political maneuvering but I don't hold it against the book, it is a personal disinterest on my part. The story was wrapped up quite nicely and you had a good sense of what Gertrude had done for that part of the world. She rubbed elbows and locked minds with many historical figures such as Harry Lawrence also known as Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill.
I did find that the many references to her sexual escapades did tax my patience but I think that the majority of the public are interested in such details but personally I found it taxing and quite unnecessary. Overall it is a good read, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in history, adventure, women who have overstepped their rigid roles of the time and in the Middle East.
July 13, 2024
Este libro cuenta la historia de Gertrude Bell, la primera mujer en licenciarse en Historia en Oxford. Experta en el mundo árabe fue escritora, geógrafa, politóloga, arqueóloga y espía británica durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, siendo la mentora de figuras tan conocidas como Lawrence de Arabia. Me ha gustado mucho conocer su historia. Por poner un pero, muy largo, creo que algunos capítulos no aportan mucho a la historia.
March 11, 2019
I am kind of divided when it comes to this novel. On the one hand, I found the novel inspiring as it sheds light on challenges faced and conquered by yet another woman with brains and ambitions in a man’s world. I have never heard about Gertrude Bell before, despite her colossal achievements, and from this point the reading was also educational. It was also a good learning experience to familiarize myself with another perspective on other famous politicians, who have left their trace in the Middle East history. For instance, having read Martin Gilbert’s account of Churchill’s life-long commitment to Jews, it was interesting to read about Churchill’s handling of the Arabs’ destiny following the WWI, as presented by Alan Gold. Egos and hasty and intuitive (as opposed to well-founded) decisions directing the course of history, and diplomacy in the making were the other subjects that the book implicitly reflects upon, and which I have found of strong interest to read about.
Having said that, I found the book to be more of an abridged version of historical fiction, that would work well as a screenplay for a movie with little adjustments. This has its advantages as the novel is easy to read. But it also has its disadvantages for history lovers, as the bulk of the narrative is about deliberations of characters with little proof of these being genuine. So as a result, the historical bits come across more as a carrying wall in a dwelling premise, rather than statues serving as architectural support of columns in grand buildings, to enjoy scrutinizing in their own right. At times I also found the narrative patchy, as the book pieces together different intervals in Gertrude’s life, without explaining the gaps. In fact, often the narrative leads to expectations of more to be revealed on a certain matter in her life, but then the expectations are never met. Some parts were also repetitive, which came across as spoon-feeding. I am also left with a feeling of being presented with a bit of her private life, and a bit of her public life, but never a full picture.
Having said that, I found the book to be more of an abridged version of historical fiction, that would work well as a screenplay for a movie with little adjustments. This has its advantages as the novel is easy to read. But it also has its disadvantages for history lovers, as the bulk of the narrative is about deliberations of characters with little proof of these being genuine. So as a result, the historical bits come across more as a carrying wall in a dwelling premise, rather than statues serving as architectural support of columns in grand buildings, to enjoy scrutinizing in their own right. At times I also found the narrative patchy, as the book pieces together different intervals in Gertrude’s life, without explaining the gaps. In fact, often the narrative leads to expectations of more to be revealed on a certain matter in her life, but then the expectations are never met. Some parts were also repetitive, which came across as spoon-feeding. I am also left with a feeling of being presented with a bit of her private life, and a bit of her public life, but never a full picture.
May 12, 2020
Una mujer de otro tiempo, una inteligencia excepcional y una pasión sin límite por el mundo Arabe. Ecuánime, diplomática, británica, con un extraordinario sentido de humanidad. Alan Gold nos regala una mirada a la naturaleza de Gertrude Bell, y pone ante nosotros una historia de vida maravillosa.
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December 30, 2024DNF
August 30, 2014
From the Acknowledgements: "Gertrude Bell is just one of countless numbers of women throughout the ages whose names and deeds have been expunged from history. I often pose a question to an audience, 'Name just a couple of women who lived before the 19th Century and who were famous in their own right for their own deeds, and not because they were the family or consorts of famous men.' The silence in almost all audiences is something of a revelation."
"Who is Gertrude Bell?" I asked myself as I picked up this book. The advanced materials mentioned Arabia and T. E. Lawrence. The further I delved into this most interesting and informative tale, the more I wondered why I had never heard of her until now. She was one remarkable woman!
At the turn of the 20th Century, she began to immerse herself in Arabian thought, culture, politics and geography, her goal being to help them shed their Ottoman Turk overseers and unify. T. E. Lawrence and WWI accelerated this movement, and Gertrude was invited to participate in the post-war discussions, which created the country that we know today as Iraq. The many Arabic factions, kings, emirs and warlords made any steps toward unity very difficult. "Unity has never been part of the Arab mind. At heart, you're a nation of individuals, of nomads, of wanderers. You and your people have never developed beyond the level of the tribe."
"Miss Bell has crafted the mold for women for all time to come. She has broken barriers once thought impassable. She has crossed borders once thought impenetrable. She has set a standard to which other women, and indeed men, must now aspire."
"There are many commanders, but only one Gertrude Bell. Your knowledge of our people, our history, and our language sets you apart from all others. Your commanders come and speak with us as though we are children. Yet people in my country and in Syria and Palestine and the land of the Druze and in Mesopotamia still speak of Gertrude Bell as the Daughter of the Desert, as a woman who understands the way in which we think ad the needs we have, caught up in a world not of our making."
Gertrude Bell was a linguist, explorer, archaeologist, diplomat. She had reached the highest position any woman had ever reached in the British civil service, she had published numerous books about her travels and archaeological discoveries, she had directed British policy in the Great War, she was fluent in six languages, had climbed unclimbable mountains in Switzerland, and a formerly-unconquered peak had been named after her, she had befriended and advised the most important men in England and the Middle East, she had been imprisoned by a tribal warlord, and now she is known as the woman who invented Iraq and the woman who is responsible for consolidating and preserving 4,000 years of history in the Baghdad Museum of Ancient Archaeology.
Alan Gold has specialized in bringing back from obscurity those fabulous but forgotten women who changed the course of their societies.
Thank you, Alan Gold.
I read this E-ARC courtesy of Edelweiss.
"Who is Gertrude Bell?" I asked myself as I picked up this book. The advanced materials mentioned Arabia and T. E. Lawrence. The further I delved into this most interesting and informative tale, the more I wondered why I had never heard of her until now. She was one remarkable woman!
At the turn of the 20th Century, she began to immerse herself in Arabian thought, culture, politics and geography, her goal being to help them shed their Ottoman Turk overseers and unify. T. E. Lawrence and WWI accelerated this movement, and Gertrude was invited to participate in the post-war discussions, which created the country that we know today as Iraq. The many Arabic factions, kings, emirs and warlords made any steps toward unity very difficult. "Unity has never been part of the Arab mind. At heart, you're a nation of individuals, of nomads, of wanderers. You and your people have never developed beyond the level of the tribe."
"Miss Bell has crafted the mold for women for all time to come. She has broken barriers once thought impassable. She has crossed borders once thought impenetrable. She has set a standard to which other women, and indeed men, must now aspire."
"There are many commanders, but only one Gertrude Bell. Your knowledge of our people, our history, and our language sets you apart from all others. Your commanders come and speak with us as though we are children. Yet people in my country and in Syria and Palestine and the land of the Druze and in Mesopotamia still speak of Gertrude Bell as the Daughter of the Desert, as a woman who understands the way in which we think ad the needs we have, caught up in a world not of our making."
Gertrude Bell was a linguist, explorer, archaeologist, diplomat. She had reached the highest position any woman had ever reached in the British civil service, she had published numerous books about her travels and archaeological discoveries, she had directed British policy in the Great War, she was fluent in six languages, had climbed unclimbable mountains in Switzerland, and a formerly-unconquered peak had been named after her, she had befriended and advised the most important men in England and the Middle East, she had been imprisoned by a tribal warlord, and now she is known as the woman who invented Iraq and the woman who is responsible for consolidating and preserving 4,000 years of history in the Baghdad Museum of Ancient Archaeology.
Alan Gold has specialized in bringing back from obscurity those fabulous but forgotten women who changed the course of their societies.
Thank you, Alan Gold.
I read this E-ARC courtesy of Edelweiss.
April 27, 2015
This is a well-intentioned and meticulously researched historical novel based on the life of Gertrude Bell, a remarkable woman by any standards and this could have been a wonderful re-creation of her amazing life. Unfortunately the author ignored that cardinal rule of all historical fiction that the characters should remain true to their place and time. For all her unconventionality Gertrude Bell still lived at a time when sexual matters weren’t talked about openly and well-brought up women, however adventurous, were still bound by the codes of the time. As a result some of the episodes in the book are simply ridiculous. We are led to believe that Bell calmly lay under the desert stars with the man she fell for, unchaperoned, and made love. That she talked openly with T.E. Lawrence about his latent homosexuality – and this at a time when such matters were never alluded to in polite society and Gertrude was a product of polite society. It seems inconceivable that she would have gone to Prince Faisal’s bedroom unchaperoned and naked except for a “bathrobe” – this could have destroyed her reputation once and for all. There are just so many anachronisms in the book that a good editor should have weeded out. Is it really likely that Bell would have lain on her bed shouting “shit, shit, shit” in irritation? Call someone a “pompous arse”? And in any case she wouldn’t have had a bathrobe and purse, but a dressing gown and handbag. She was English. These may seem small quibbles but to me they show a lack of understanding and make me doubt a lot more of what I read. I must point out, however, that I was reading an uncorrected proof from Netgalley so some of my quibbles may be ironed out in the final version. Perhaps an editor stepped in and did what editors are supposed to do.
The writing itself leaves much to be desired, with repetitions galore (people “ply their trade” twice in one paragraph.) One minute Lawrence has “piercing blue eyes” and then a little later “flamboyant blue eyes”. We get the point. Clichés such as this abound. Arab women are “dusky”, Arab men are “lean and tall and magnificent in their jet black beards, their faces burnished like bronze by the desert sun” and they walk “majestically with leonine steps”. Elinor Glyn would have been proud. All this detracts from what could have been a serious examination of Gertrude Bell and her exploits. She was such an important and influential figure in the Middle East and deserves better than to be turned into a heroine of a cheap women’s magazine type story.
To be fair, however, the book does present the facts of this troubled and volatile period fairly well. The politics take some sorting out and Gold seems to be both informed and knowledgeable. I’m not knowledgeable enough myself to know how accurate his accounts are, but I suspect he is historically correct. If only his dialogue and characterisation were better this would have been a much more readable novel. I suggest that if you really want to know more about this intrepid and ground-breaking woman you turn to a good biography.
The writing itself leaves much to be desired, with repetitions galore (people “ply their trade” twice in one paragraph.) One minute Lawrence has “piercing blue eyes” and then a little later “flamboyant blue eyes”. We get the point. Clichés such as this abound. Arab women are “dusky”, Arab men are “lean and tall and magnificent in their jet black beards, their faces burnished like bronze by the desert sun” and they walk “majestically with leonine steps”. Elinor Glyn would have been proud. All this detracts from what could have been a serious examination of Gertrude Bell and her exploits. She was such an important and influential figure in the Middle East and deserves better than to be turned into a heroine of a cheap women’s magazine type story.
To be fair, however, the book does present the facts of this troubled and volatile period fairly well. The politics take some sorting out and Gold seems to be both informed and knowledgeable. I’m not knowledgeable enough myself to know how accurate his accounts are, but I suspect he is historically correct. If only his dialogue and characterisation were better this would have been a much more readable novel. I suggest that if you really want to know more about this intrepid and ground-breaking woman you turn to a good biography.
May 12, 2016
3.5 / Novel based on the life of Gertrude Bell: world traveller, political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist. She became an expert on the Middle East and was highly influential in establishing Iraq and Jordan after WWI. Good friends with Lawrence of Arabia and King Faisal, highly respected by Winston Churchill. From her 30 years of "digging in the sand", she started the Iraqi Museum. I didn't even know this woman existed and what a woman she was in a time where women just didn't do the things she did. The beginning and ending of this book are good, the middle is dry, dry, dry. A movie has recently been made with Nicole Kidman playing Gertrude in "Queen of the Desert" with James Franco (Henry Cadogan) and Robert Pattinson as Lawrence of Arabia. Supposedly it was released in 2015. Checked Netflix & it's in the saved queue.
January 25, 2019
يسرد الكتاب حياة مس بيل من إنجلترا واكسفورد الى وفاتها في بغداد قبل أيام من افتتاح المتحف الوطني العراقي اللذي عملت على تأسيسه. وحياتها تحكي تاريخ المنطقة العربية في عز التغييرات التي حدثت إبان وبعد الحرب العالمية الأولى والثورة العربية وسقوط الدولة العثمانية.
عرفني الكتاب بالكثير عن تأثير هذه السيدة في تشكيل جغرافيا ومستقبل منطقة الشام والجزيرة العربية وتكوين الدول العربية بعد الحرب. وحتى لو لم تكن كل احداث الرواية حقيقية تماما الا انها مفتاح جيد للبحث في تاريخ دول الشام والعراق والجزيرة والتحول اللذي حدث وقتها ولإيزال يؤثر على حياتنا اليومية الان من احتلال فلسطين الى الصراعات العرقية والدينية والنزاعات الدموية في العراق وسوريا ولبنان.
كتاب انصح الجميع بقراءته ومعرفة التاريخ العربي من خلال شخصية وحياة هذه الرحالة.
عرفني الكتاب بالكثير عن تأثير هذه السيدة في تشكيل جغرافيا ومستقبل منطقة الشام والجزيرة العربية وتكوين الدول العربية بعد الحرب. وحتى لو لم تكن كل احداث الرواية حقيقية تماما الا انها مفتاح جيد للبحث في تاريخ دول الشام والعراق والجزيرة والتحول اللذي حدث وقتها ولإيزال يؤثر على حياتنا اليومية الان من احتلال فلسطين الى الصراعات العرقية والدينية والنزاعات الدموية في العراق وسوريا ولبنان.
كتاب انصح الجميع بقراءته ومعرفة التاريخ العربي من خلال شخصية وحياة هذه الرحالة.
January 5, 2018
الكتاب الثاني الذي اقرؤه عن الشخصية المثيرة للجدل غيرترود بيل بعد كتاب جرترود بيل ملكة الصحراء غي المتوجه وهذا رابط الكتاب https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
هذا الكتاب عبارة عن سيرة غيرترود بيل بطريقة اشبه بالرواية المطولة الاسلوب جيد والسرد غير ممل ولكن هناك كثي من التفاصيل لا يوجد دليل عليها وبعضها يكاد يكون مستحيلا مثل لقاء غيرترود بيل مع عبدالرحمن الفيصل والد الملك عبدالعزيز في بوخارست رومانيا حيث يبدو هذا الادعاء مستحيلا وهناك تفاصيل اخرى تحتاج الى اثبات والمقصود ان هذا الكتاب لايعد مرجعا تاريخيا يحال اليه وانما يعتبر فرصة للتعرف على هذه الشخصية
هذا الكتاب عبارة عن سيرة غيرترود بيل بطريقة اشبه بالرواية المطولة الاسلوب جيد والسرد غير ممل ولكن هناك كثي من التفاصيل لا يوجد دليل عليها وبعضها يكاد يكون مستحيلا مثل لقاء غيرترود بيل مع عبدالرحمن الفيصل والد الملك عبدالعزيز في بوخارست رومانيا حيث يبدو هذا الادعاء مستحيلا وهناك تفاصيل اخرى تحتاج الى اثبات والمقصود ان هذا الكتاب لايعد مرجعا تاريخيا يحال اليه وانما يعتبر فرصة للتعرف على هذه الشخصية
May 10, 2020
Na historia que cuenta la lucha de las mujeres por ser tomadas en serio, con opiniones y conocimiento amplio de temas que eran exclusivos en los n mundo de hombres
La lucha de una mujer maravillosa para ser reconocida
Inspiradora
La lucha de una mujer maravillosa para ser reconocida
Inspiradora
August 3, 2015
A highly enjoyable read.
October 1, 2020
No tengo palabras que me alcancen para tratar de explicarles todo lo que he sentido al leer este libro, esta maravillosa biografía de una de las mujeres más influyentes del siglo XX.
Creo que esta será de las reseñas más difíciles que haré en mi vida, y no estoy exagerando, no puedo ahora mismo sentarme y tratar de escribir un par de párrafos sobre por qué amé "Bell of the Desert", sobre por qué la historia de "la mujer que creó Iraq" me tocó tan profundo. Primero tengo que ordenar mis ideas, e investigar un poco más sobre los datos históricos de esta libro.
Pero, quería contarles el por qué terminé las últimas páginas de este libro llorando, con un dolor en el pecho, con angustia y tristeza, con ira e impotencia... Gertrude Bell fue una mujer, una política, una gran estratega, una aventurera que llevaba en la sangre el desierto, que sirvió al gobierno británico durante la Primera Guerra Mundial (1914-1918), gracias a sus conocimientos sobre el pueblo árabe, sobre todas las diversas tribus que pueblan el desierto, ella logró que los árabes se unieran a la guerra en contra de los turcos, y de no ser haber sido así, no me cabe duda alguna de que La Primera Guerra hubiera durado más años de lo que duró.
Lo que Gertrude Bell vivió es digno para retratar en mil libros, películas y series, su historia debería estudiarse en cada escuela, sus aventuras deberían narrarse aun hoy día, su nombre debería ser recordado, pero tristemente, como ocurre con muchxs célebres personajes de la historia que no "encajaban" con el resto de las personas de la época, fue olvidada, en este caso fue el género de Gertrude lo que hizo que la olvidaran.
Cuando la gran guerra había pasado, y a ella le tocó la gran tarea de definir las fronteras de lo hoy conocemos como Irac, se dedicó a fondo a ello, viajando y recorriendo territorio por territorio, pensando en la mejor manera de juntar a todas aquellas tribus desperdigadas y unirlas bajo un mismo gobierno, tarea no muy fácil si conocen algo sobre esta parte de la historia. Aun así, pese a la constante sublevación y enfrentamientos entre el pueblo árabe y el británico, ella logró establecer los límites de Irac, creo que el país básicamente, y no sólo eso, sino que fue quien puso al Rey Faysal I en su puesto de gobernante.
En el libro dice que fue en aquel momento, en la coronación del nuevo rey, que ella se dio cuenta de a dónde pertenecía y no era Inglaterra, sino Irac, fue de las primeras en pedir la doble ciudadanía y dedicó los siguientes años a recolectar cientos de objetos arqueológicos y fundar el Museo Nacional de Irac en 1926, pero llegado esta época, lejos de los conflictos bélicos y las decisiones post guerra, poco a poco, sus amigos, desde Wiston Churcill, pasando por el conocido Lawrence de Arabia (quien Alan Gold, el autor de esta biografía dice que fue Gertrude quien lo formo y educó para ser quien es hoy en día para la historia), y el mismo rey Faysal I, quien le debe mucho más que el trono que ocupó, la olvidaron, la dejaron de lado, y poco a poco ella, dolida por aquella ausencia de amistad, de reconocimiento de todas sus proezas, hundida en varias copas de wiski y pastillas para dormir, dejó este mundo, aunque no se sabe su fue de manera accidental o no.
Terminé este libro anoche, con lágrimas en los ojos y dolor en el alma por cómo alguien como Gertrude Bell terminó así, personas como ella han cambiado la historia de nuestro mundo y nadie se los reconoce o recuerda siquiera, como con Alan Turning, el matemático que descifró la máquina Enigma de los nazis, quien luego de terminar la guerra y años después descubrir que era homosexual lo sometieron a una castración química, no importaba los años que dedicó a terminar la guerra, todo lo que hizo dejaba de tener relevancia al lado de su orientación sexual, y sé que no es lo mismo, y que a Alan Turing si que lo recuerda y se lo estudia en las escuelas, pero yo me refiero al final que tuvieron, que después de ser los héroes de sus naciones, del mundo en realidad, hayan sido dejados de lado, olvidados por sus amigos, desechados como basura.
Gertrude Bell se quedó en mi corazón, y quiero que su nombre vuelva a estar en boca de todos, que sus aventuras sean recordadas, porque ella al igual que muchas otras mujeres se les ha arrebatado el lugar que se han ganado en la Historia. Y quiero agregar que esta no es una reseña, sino más bien un prólogo, necesito tiempo y mucha investigación para traerles la historia de Gertrude Bell, alpinista, escritora, política, hija del desierto, viajera, arqueóloga, espía y sabrán los dioses cuantas cosas más.
Lean este libro y maravíllensen, no sólo con la excelente pluma del autor, sino que la extraordinaria vida de Gertrude Bell.
Creo que esta será de las reseñas más difíciles que haré en mi vida, y no estoy exagerando, no puedo ahora mismo sentarme y tratar de escribir un par de párrafos sobre por qué amé "Bell of the Desert", sobre por qué la historia de "la mujer que creó Iraq" me tocó tan profundo. Primero tengo que ordenar mis ideas, e investigar un poco más sobre los datos históricos de esta libro.
Pero, quería contarles el por qué terminé las últimas páginas de este libro llorando, con un dolor en el pecho, con angustia y tristeza, con ira e impotencia... Gertrude Bell fue una mujer, una política, una gran estratega, una aventurera que llevaba en la sangre el desierto, que sirvió al gobierno británico durante la Primera Guerra Mundial (1914-1918), gracias a sus conocimientos sobre el pueblo árabe, sobre todas las diversas tribus que pueblan el desierto, ella logró que los árabes se unieran a la guerra en contra de los turcos, y de no ser haber sido así, no me cabe duda alguna de que La Primera Guerra hubiera durado más años de lo que duró.
Lo que Gertrude Bell vivió es digno para retratar en mil libros, películas y series, su historia debería estudiarse en cada escuela, sus aventuras deberían narrarse aun hoy día, su nombre debería ser recordado, pero tristemente, como ocurre con muchxs célebres personajes de la historia que no "encajaban" con el resto de las personas de la época, fue olvidada, en este caso fue el género de Gertrude lo que hizo que la olvidaran.
Cuando la gran guerra había pasado, y a ella le tocó la gran tarea de definir las fronteras de lo hoy conocemos como Irac, se dedicó a fondo a ello, viajando y recorriendo territorio por territorio, pensando en la mejor manera de juntar a todas aquellas tribus desperdigadas y unirlas bajo un mismo gobierno, tarea no muy fácil si conocen algo sobre esta parte de la historia. Aun así, pese a la constante sublevación y enfrentamientos entre el pueblo árabe y el británico, ella logró establecer los límites de Irac, creo que el país básicamente, y no sólo eso, sino que fue quien puso al Rey Faysal I en su puesto de gobernante.
En el libro dice que fue en aquel momento, en la coronación del nuevo rey, que ella se dio cuenta de a dónde pertenecía y no era Inglaterra, sino Irac, fue de las primeras en pedir la doble ciudadanía y dedicó los siguientes años a recolectar cientos de objetos arqueológicos y fundar el Museo Nacional de Irac en 1926, pero llegado esta época, lejos de los conflictos bélicos y las decisiones post guerra, poco a poco, sus amigos, desde Wiston Churcill, pasando por el conocido Lawrence de Arabia (quien Alan Gold, el autor de esta biografía dice que fue Gertrude quien lo formo y educó para ser quien es hoy en día para la historia), y el mismo rey Faysal I, quien le debe mucho más que el trono que ocupó, la olvidaron, la dejaron de lado, y poco a poco ella, dolida por aquella ausencia de amistad, de reconocimiento de todas sus proezas, hundida en varias copas de wiski y pastillas para dormir, dejó este mundo, aunque no se sabe su fue de manera accidental o no.
Terminé este libro anoche, con lágrimas en los ojos y dolor en el alma por cómo alguien como Gertrude Bell terminó así, personas como ella han cambiado la historia de nuestro mundo y nadie se los reconoce o recuerda siquiera, como con Alan Turning, el matemático que descifró la máquina Enigma de los nazis, quien luego de terminar la guerra y años después descubrir que era homosexual lo sometieron a una castración química, no importaba los años que dedicó a terminar la guerra, todo lo que hizo dejaba de tener relevancia al lado de su orientación sexual, y sé que no es lo mismo, y que a Alan Turing si que lo recuerda y se lo estudia en las escuelas, pero yo me refiero al final que tuvieron, que después de ser los héroes de sus naciones, del mundo en realidad, hayan sido dejados de lado, olvidados por sus amigos, desechados como basura.
Gertrude Bell se quedó en mi corazón, y quiero que su nombre vuelva a estar en boca de todos, que sus aventuras sean recordadas, porque ella al igual que muchas otras mujeres se les ha arrebatado el lugar que se han ganado en la Historia. Y quiero agregar que esta no es una reseña, sino más bien un prólogo, necesito tiempo y mucha investigación para traerles la historia de Gertrude Bell, alpinista, escritora, política, hija del desierto, viajera, arqueóloga, espía y sabrán los dioses cuantas cosas más.
Lean este libro y maravíllensen, no sólo con la excelente pluma del autor, sino que la extraordinaria vida de Gertrude Bell.
October 5, 2018
If Winston Churchill and the other leaders of Western Europe had listened more closely to Gertrude Bell and T.E Lawrence during and after the First World War, the Middle East might have been a very different place today. Bell and Lawrence both understood the complexities of the region better than any other outsiders, both having spent decades travelling the Arab peninsula as archaeologists, unofficial envoys, cartographers, reporters and writers and (in Lawrence’s case) officer of the Army.
And if Gertrude Bell had not been a woman, the immediate aftermath of the war may also have been quite different as she battled the male dominant hierarchy of British army generals ignorant of the history and culture of the Arab nations.
Author Alan Gold has made his name writing about the forgotten women of history. The book is written almost as an auto-biography, cleverly constructing scenes and dialogue as a first hand account of events. As such there is no doubt quite a bit of ‘poetic license’, but that doesn’t detract from the accuracy of the overall narrative, quite the contrary.
Apart from being exceptionally intelligent, Gertrude Bell also had the distinct advantage of coming from a very well-to-do and well connected industrialist family. Her grandfather was Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell, a Liberal MP during Benjamin Disraeli’s second term as Prime Minister, and her father was Sir Hugh Bell, who with a title of 2nd Baronet was (almost) to be counted as gentry.
Money and connections enabled her to study at Oxford and she was one of the first two women to graduate with a first class honours degree in history, when she was only 19. Never married – another factor that made her achievements in those times even more extraordinary – she started travelling the world at an early age. She developed a passion for archaeology and mountaineering (Gertrudspitze in the Swiss Alps near Bern is named after her – being one of the first to ascend it).
But her first and enduring interest was in the lands of the Arabs – Persia, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia as it was known then – borders fluid and very different to the lines later drawn up by men in the smoky map rooms of the war planners and at “peace” conferences.
Gertrude Bell learnt the languages, befriended the kings, princes and sheiks of the region and made it her life’s work to understand what so many of her countrymen did not bother to. Some of the top brass did appreciate her contributions, but most were, of course, threatened by the mere thought of a woman of knowledge and influence.
Neither T E Lawrence nor Gertrude Bell were supporters of the Sykes-Picot agreement or the Balfour Declaration, which in hindsight both proved to be disastrous for the region. I doubt if there ever was a greater example of “divide and conquer” than the British (and French) strategy in the Middle East during and after the First World War. It was all about the oil, of course, making sure that no Arab nation would be strong enough by itself. “Solving” the “Jewish problem” was just a side effect. The world is still suffering from the consequences.
Bell of the Desert provides excellent insights into all of these events, places the various combatants and participants in context and illuminates the history. It is also a most enjoyable read (or ‘listen’ as I did). The author cannot hide his love and admiration for Ms Bell, and it is hard for the reader not to join in. There are doubtless embellishments in the narrative – events and conversations that the author could not possibly be privy to. But it works as a great yarn whilst providing fascinating insights into an extraordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances.
Highly recommended.
PS> The movie “The Queen of the Desert” is no way of getting to know and understand Gertrude Bell. It is as narrow in scope as (lead actress) Nicole Kidman’s facial expressions.
And if Gertrude Bell had not been a woman, the immediate aftermath of the war may also have been quite different as she battled the male dominant hierarchy of British army generals ignorant of the history and culture of the Arab nations.
Author Alan Gold has made his name writing about the forgotten women of history. The book is written almost as an auto-biography, cleverly constructing scenes and dialogue as a first hand account of events. As such there is no doubt quite a bit of ‘poetic license’, but that doesn’t detract from the accuracy of the overall narrative, quite the contrary.
Apart from being exceptionally intelligent, Gertrude Bell also had the distinct advantage of coming from a very well-to-do and well connected industrialist family. Her grandfather was Sir Isaac Lowthian Bell, a Liberal MP during Benjamin Disraeli’s second term as Prime Minister, and her father was Sir Hugh Bell, who with a title of 2nd Baronet was (almost) to be counted as gentry.
Money and connections enabled her to study at Oxford and she was one of the first two women to graduate with a first class honours degree in history, when she was only 19. Never married – another factor that made her achievements in those times even more extraordinary – she started travelling the world at an early age. She developed a passion for archaeology and mountaineering (Gertrudspitze in the Swiss Alps near Bern is named after her – being one of the first to ascend it).
But her first and enduring interest was in the lands of the Arabs – Persia, Palestine, Syria and Mesopotamia as it was known then – borders fluid and very different to the lines later drawn up by men in the smoky map rooms of the war planners and at “peace” conferences.
Gertrude Bell learnt the languages, befriended the kings, princes and sheiks of the region and made it her life’s work to understand what so many of her countrymen did not bother to. Some of the top brass did appreciate her contributions, but most were, of course, threatened by the mere thought of a woman of knowledge and influence.
Neither T E Lawrence nor Gertrude Bell were supporters of the Sykes-Picot agreement or the Balfour Declaration, which in hindsight both proved to be disastrous for the region. I doubt if there ever was a greater example of “divide and conquer” than the British (and French) strategy in the Middle East during and after the First World War. It was all about the oil, of course, making sure that no Arab nation would be strong enough by itself. “Solving” the “Jewish problem” was just a side effect. The world is still suffering from the consequences.
Bell of the Desert provides excellent insights into all of these events, places the various combatants and participants in context and illuminates the history. It is also a most enjoyable read (or ‘listen’ as I did). The author cannot hide his love and admiration for Ms Bell, and it is hard for the reader not to join in. There are doubtless embellishments in the narrative – events and conversations that the author could not possibly be privy to. But it works as a great yarn whilst providing fascinating insights into an extraordinary woman in extraordinary circumstances.
Highly recommended.
PS> The movie “The Queen of the Desert” is no way of getting to know and understand Gertrude Bell. It is as narrow in scope as (lead actress) Nicole Kidman’s facial expressions.
December 24, 2017
I have decided that I love fictionalized history. I work with a lot of Iraqi families so it has been a country of interest for some time ... and Gertrude Bell was a real person, a woman before her time. Someone who was clever, independent, brave and willing to go against societal expectations.
At a time when women 'came out' and then kept charming folk with small talk until they snared a husband, Gertrude went to university and studied the only subject available to women at the time - history. She then travelled through Europe and the middle east, learning Arabic and becoming very familiar with the customs and social norms.
Add into the mix the First World War and the inimitable Lawrence of Arabia and you have a great story.... a little bit of a 'boy's own annual' feel sometimes but I admire her gumption and the description of cultural differences. The British were also amazing in their 'bloody mindedness' to do things the British way and look after their own interests
At a time when women 'came out' and then kept charming folk with small talk until they snared a husband, Gertrude went to university and studied the only subject available to women at the time - history. She then travelled through Europe and the middle east, learning Arabic and becoming very familiar with the customs and social norms.
Add into the mix the First World War and the inimitable Lawrence of Arabia and you have a great story.... a little bit of a 'boy's own annual' feel sometimes but I admire her gumption and the description of cultural differences. The British were also amazing in their 'bloody mindedness' to do things the British way and look after their own interests
January 15, 2018
Bell of the Desert is well worth reading although it isn't a page-turner. We've all heard of Lawrence of Arabia, even if we don't know about what he did. Gertrude Bell is a relative unknown even though she was instrumental in helping to establish the Arabian state in the Middle East following the first World War. Gertrude Bell was a scholar, a graduate of Oxford with a degree in modern history. She was fluent in several languages and had a strong interest in the MIddle East. She traveled extensively through the area and learned Arabic and Persian languages. Her understanding of the people of the Middle East enabled her to be of great use to the British during and following WWI.
Gertrude Bell was a highly intelligent woman who involved herself in archaeology and politics. She developed close friendships with Arab leaders and advised the British military on Middle Eastern matters. Her greatest frustration was that men discounted her or ignored her, despite her great knowledge.
Gertrude Bell was a highly intelligent woman who involved herself in archaeology and politics. She developed close friendships with Arab leaders and advised the British military on Middle Eastern matters. Her greatest frustration was that men discounted her or ignored her, despite her great knowledge.
January 2, 2019
This was a interesting book for so many reasons - in summary it describes the Middle East 'as a land of such extraordinary contrasts'. It expounds on Gertrude Bell who attained the highest position ever reached (around the 1920's) by any female in the British Civil service,her numerous books about her travels and archaeological discoveries, her mountaineering feats ( a peak in Switzerland is named after her), her direction of British policy in WW1, her fluency in 6 languages, her friendships with important individauls in both England and the Middle East, her imprisonment by a tribal war-lord and how she became known as the woman who had huge influence in the formation of Iraq.
'And because she was a woman, she was still walking in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia'!!
It is so well written (although there were quite a number of editorial slips) that you never feel belaboured with historical facts.
Highly recommend the book
'And because she was a woman, she was still walking in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia'!!
It is so well written (although there were quite a number of editorial slips) that you never feel belaboured with historical facts.
Highly recommend the book
September 24, 2017
This is a great book despite some typos and repetition. It is very long. That said, it is a tremendously interesting and readable story which made the history of the Middle East interesting to me. It brought this region alive and now I want to read more on this subject. There is much detail of the political intrigue, the forming of the League of Nations and other actions at the end of WW1, the negotiating between countries, the carving up of the Arab territories, and, finally, the emergence of Iraq and Syria as countries which united the many tribes of the desert. The problems of the first half of the 20th century persist today. Reading this book gave me an understanding of today's issues in the Middle East, and also why the European and American governments are so reviled. Colonialism was at times brutal.
March 27, 2018
Fiction, Fast and Loose
I've read deeply in the Lawrence boxes at the Bodleian, a year or so before their release from the required permissions from Tweedie and Prideaux, London. The presentation of Lawrence is a travesty, but I was not discouraged from finishing the novel. [Good God. TEL never signed himself as Lawrence of Arabia.] And Gertrude was oversimplified but for a Gold-imagined sex life and promiscuity. But I was not discouraged from finishing the novel. I think that because Gold's story of Gertrude Bell is well written--but for the ungrammatical use of "laying" throughout and the misspelling of Balliol--his story is a satisfactory read. I enjoyed it, and I hope it will lead readers to serious encounters with the compelling histories of T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell.
I've read deeply in the Lawrence boxes at the Bodleian, a year or so before their release from the required permissions from Tweedie and Prideaux, London. The presentation of Lawrence is a travesty, but I was not discouraged from finishing the novel. [Good God. TEL never signed himself as Lawrence of Arabia.] And Gertrude was oversimplified but for a Gold-imagined sex life and promiscuity. But I was not discouraged from finishing the novel. I think that because Gold's story of Gertrude Bell is well written--but for the ungrammatical use of "laying" throughout and the misspelling of Balliol--his story is a satisfactory read. I enjoyed it, and I hope it will lead readers to serious encounters with the compelling histories of T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell.
September 18, 2020
Gertrude Bell - An English woman who changed the Middle East.
This is a book about an extraordinary English aristocratic woman who is so intelligent that no man wants to marry her. Instead she starts to travel all over the Middle East and makes friends with the important natives by learning their languages. Her job is to map out the whole middle that Britain has won as a result of World War 1. This book is a must read for anyone who is a history buff and wants to read about an amazing woman and what she achieves despite being a woman.
This is a book about an extraordinary English aristocratic woman who is so intelligent that no man wants to marry her. Instead she starts to travel all over the Middle East and makes friends with the important natives by learning their languages. Her job is to map out the whole middle that Britain has won as a result of World War 1. This book is a must read for anyone who is a history buff and wants to read about an amazing woman and what she achieves despite being a woman.
March 27, 2021
If you want a fictionalized story of a real woman who broke a lot of barriers and was a true adventurer along with a gifted writer and diplomat, read this book. You might not have heard of Gertrude Bell and her role in the Middle East, but you should have. Alan Gold looks at how she tried to get the men in charge to see things a different way and the trials of being a woman in a man's world. Maybe if they had listened to Bell, Iraq would not be such a hot spot.
November 6, 2023
Lame book - and WHERE is there any mention of the Armenian Genocide?! Bell practically tripped over dead bodies while passing through Armenian villages with her "Armenian-Arabian" servant, Fattuh. Fattuh was Armenian. (not Armenian-Arabian). Bell ended up beside herself with with worry about his safety.
I realize this is a "historical novel" but the complete absence of such a monumental event of the time (Armenian Genocide) is glaring, conspicuous.
I realize this is a "historical novel" but the complete absence of such a monumental event of the time (Armenian Genocide) is glaring, conspicuous.
November 24, 2019
Gertrude Bell was born into a life of privilege in upper class English society, formerly presented to Queen Victoria as a debutante. Fortunately for us, she was a woman born out of her time, with brains, courage and ability; qualities that were not admired in the person of a women during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Seeking adventure and a life outside of the restricted social sphere of London society, she travelled the world and during those travels, started a lifelong love affair with the world known as Mesopotamia and Arabia and its peoples. She spoke fluent Arabic, Persian, French, German, Italian and Turkish and deeply understood the differing cultures, customs and thinkings of the many diverse tribes of the many peoples who lived in this land, holding a lifelong dream to somehow help them to unite and self administer themselves under a democratic style government. Through this attainment, she hoped that they might find peace and personal freedom for themselves and also be educated and enlightened to finally begin to treat the women of their families as equals instead of discardable possessions.
Brilliant Oxford scholar, mountaineer, authoritative archeologist, diplomat, advisor and spy in Arabia for the the British Government before, during and after World War I, Gertrude Bell was responsible for determining the boundaries of modern day Iraq and setting out the procedure for finally granting independence to its government under King Faisal in a constitutional monarchy. She was accepted as an honorary man in her many counsels with Arabic and Islamic leaders, who could not otherwise have spoken directly with her. She was the chief advisor on the customs and interpretation of political interactions for the British Government and advisor for the mapping out of the previously unknown desert tribal lands during the outbreak of WWI. She was also the brains, friend and primary advisor behind the famous figurehead, the legendary 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Alan Gold has written a fictional biography about the life of Gertrude Bell, commencing with her presentation at court until her death in Iraq in 1926. He has abundance source material in the copious diaries, letters and publications personally written by Gertrude Bell, as well as to her from all the most famous political leaders of the time around the early part of the 20th Century. Because of the extensive nature of this material, Gold has chosen to focus particularly on what he considers the most important parts of Gertrude's life. Unfortunately this lead often to an un-sated curiosity for me, the reader, about what actually happened during large chunks of missing life events, which led to difficulty connecting to and understanding the person of Gertrude Bell. In particular, I was confused and annoyed when I was left at breathtaking moments of denouement, turning the page quickly, only to find myself months or years into the future. I actually tried to work out if there were pages missing or stuck together, it seemed so clumsy. Afterwards there were a few negligent references to those missing periods of time, which never explained properly the sequence of events or how Gertrude had finally managed to escape her peril or overcome her difficulty. I can only imagine that they may be parts of her life that Gertrude may have left undocumented...I certainly intend to read her letters for myself in the near future to find out the truth of this for myself. I feel I must point out here that in reading a work of what I know is a work of historical FICTION, no matter how factually based, I expects the author of the story to take a front seat here and imaginatively fill out for us in detail what he interprets may have really happened and how the person he is writing about experienced the circumstances.
For this reason, I found the book (while absolutely gripping in subject material) was slightly disappointing in narrative. I cannot but wonder if it is the gender of the author who writes about such a fiery woman in the first person, is at the root of the problem. Without wishing to be offensive, such a woman as Gertrude Bell, who dared to dream of equality and defy paternalistic conventions, deserves to have a woman's passion and point of view behind the narrative first person voice used. This position may gain me some hate from those reading this review, but I truly feel that only a woman can speak with true authority on such subjects as the frustration of being marginalised and disrespected by men in a male dominated world, which are notable themes throughout this story. Although the author does extensively address these issues in the book, they have a slightly dry and repetitive flavour which does not ring completely true for the outspoken and passionate Gertrude Bell. She must have constantly felt such frustration and impotence at the continuing lack of acknowledgement, respect and injustice she received during her lifetime.
I acknowledge that after reading the book, I am completely intrigued by this amazing historical pioneer, of whose existence I am ashamed to say, I had no prior knowledge. I am determined to learn more about her and to impart that knowledge to the next generation as one of the 'Greats' who stood tall and demanded the acknowledgement and respect for gender equality, which we are far closer to in current times.
Brilliant Oxford scholar, mountaineer, authoritative archeologist, diplomat, advisor and spy in Arabia for the the British Government before, during and after World War I, Gertrude Bell was responsible for determining the boundaries of modern day Iraq and setting out the procedure for finally granting independence to its government under King Faisal in a constitutional monarchy. She was accepted as an honorary man in her many counsels with Arabic and Islamic leaders, who could not otherwise have spoken directly with her. She was the chief advisor on the customs and interpretation of political interactions for the British Government and advisor for the mapping out of the previously unknown desert tribal lands during the outbreak of WWI. She was also the brains, friend and primary advisor behind the famous figurehead, the legendary 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Alan Gold has written a fictional biography about the life of Gertrude Bell, commencing with her presentation at court until her death in Iraq in 1926. He has abundance source material in the copious diaries, letters and publications personally written by Gertrude Bell, as well as to her from all the most famous political leaders of the time around the early part of the 20th Century. Because of the extensive nature of this material, Gold has chosen to focus particularly on what he considers the most important parts of Gertrude's life. Unfortunately this lead often to an un-sated curiosity for me, the reader, about what actually happened during large chunks of missing life events, which led to difficulty connecting to and understanding the person of Gertrude Bell. In particular, I was confused and annoyed when I was left at breathtaking moments of denouement, turning the page quickly, only to find myself months or years into the future. I actually tried to work out if there were pages missing or stuck together, it seemed so clumsy. Afterwards there were a few negligent references to those missing periods of time, which never explained properly the sequence of events or how Gertrude had finally managed to escape her peril or overcome her difficulty. I can only imagine that they may be parts of her life that Gertrude may have left undocumented...I certainly intend to read her letters for myself in the near future to find out the truth of this for myself. I feel I must point out here that in reading a work of what I know is a work of historical FICTION, no matter how factually based, I expects the author of the story to take a front seat here and imaginatively fill out for us in detail what he interprets may have really happened and how the person he is writing about experienced the circumstances.
For this reason, I found the book (while absolutely gripping in subject material) was slightly disappointing in narrative. I cannot but wonder if it is the gender of the author who writes about such a fiery woman in the first person, is at the root of the problem. Without wishing to be offensive, such a woman as Gertrude Bell, who dared to dream of equality and defy paternalistic conventions, deserves to have a woman's passion and point of view behind the narrative first person voice used. This position may gain me some hate from those reading this review, but I truly feel that only a woman can speak with true authority on such subjects as the frustration of being marginalised and disrespected by men in a male dominated world, which are notable themes throughout this story. Although the author does extensively address these issues in the book, they have a slightly dry and repetitive flavour which does not ring completely true for the outspoken and passionate Gertrude Bell. She must have constantly felt such frustration and impotence at the continuing lack of acknowledgement, respect and injustice she received during her lifetime.
I acknowledge that after reading the book, I am completely intrigued by this amazing historical pioneer, of whose existence I am ashamed to say, I had no prior knowledge. I am determined to learn more about her and to impart that knowledge to the next generation as one of the 'Greats' who stood tall and demanded the acknowledgement and respect for gender equality, which we are far closer to in current times.
October 19, 2020
Although it was interesting to read about a woman supporting women's rights over 100 years ago, I found the book a bit tedious with too many descriptive details ... I did like learning about Gertrude Bell who I had never heard of - I heard there is a move about her which is pretty good but didn't watch it.
January 6, 2023
Excellent
I have this book for some months and finally thought I should read it.
It was excellent and gives a insight into the formation of the Middle East.
Read it and u will understand. I am not aware if it is based on the true recollections of history but it is believable. I do so love a strong woman.
I have this book for some months and finally thought I should read it.
It was excellent and gives a insight into the formation of the Middle East.
Read it and u will understand. I am not aware if it is based on the true recollections of history but it is believable. I do so love a strong woman.
July 12, 2017
StRts off really well, becomes slower and slower.
September 20, 2018
Despite the absence of reference and documentation, it was a good historical story.
February 23, 2021
This is so poorly written it was a chore to get through. 50 pages in I caught myself skimming, skipping sections, and counting how far it would take me to get to the end.
May 17, 2024
If you have been to or want to visit Egypt
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