Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations Paperback – Illustrated, April 29, 2008

I was so sorry to come to the end of this book. Every page was fascinating, written and thoroughly researched by Georgina Howell who gives us a fascinating account of a remarkable life. Gertrude Bell, born of a wealthy Victorian family, educated at Oxford, spent most of her life traveling through the Middle East, in style and on horse or camelback, and becoming very involved in its development during the early twentieth century. She had a major role in the founding of Iraq and the democratic election of its first King, Faisal, and was present as the victorious Allied powers reshaped the Arab world after World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman empire. Consulted and trusted by many powerful men from Churchill to King Faisal, her knowledge of Arabic and the ways of the Arabs- and the West- made her an invaluable resource to the British and Arabs alike.What this book taught me was how little most of us know about this era in history, about the Arab world, its customs and dramas, its personalities and clashes with the Western world which continue to this day. I was profoundly moved when I read at the end of the book that the Iraq Museum for which Gertrude had spent her last days painstakingly collecting artifacts (she became an archaeologist in order to do so) was looted of some ten thousand items and closed in 2003.I can't recommend this book strongly enough. I had previously read Freya Stark's biography, "Passionate Nomad" about another brave British woman who traveled through the mideast, and I plan to read "A Prince of Our Disorder: The Life of T.E. Lawrence" (Lawrence of Arabia). This triumvirate had a profound influence on the Arab world which is well worth understanding.

This book does this heroine justice by using Gertrude's own words to tell the story. It is ashame she has been lost to history she is a woman worthy of notoriety.

“When Aunt Mary invited her to join the Lascelleses again, this time in Persia, she was ecstatic. It would be her first encounter with the East.”Biographies aren't my thing *shrugs* but I'm so glad I took a chance on this one!Never heard of Gertrude Bell? Don't worry, neither had I, until I saw the movie trailer. After reading this book, it's a real shame we don't know more about this gal but I'm hoping the film will bring much needed attention to who she is and the impact she made on the 20th Century.I've seen Lawrence of Arabia a number of times and I don't recall her ever being mentioned in the film. *gasp* I will have to re-watch it just to be 100% certain. You could say that Gertrude Bell was completely overshadowed by T.E. Lawrence or quite possibly forgotten because she's a woman.Since I had zero expectations, this book gives details about all the different stages of her life and I thought it would be more about what she did in the Middle East, specifically with Iraq. I'm not sure that I needed to know all the details of her life but I was completely captivated with everything she did upon arriving to the Middle East. Quite honestly, it's fascinating. She's fascinating.While she lived a life of privilege and could do so many of the things that her status afforded her, she was way ahead of her time on so many different levels. She did things that women simply did not even think of doing back then. Not only was she incredibly smart but she was also an amazing diplomat and was King Faisal's confidante. I can't help but wonder if the borders she helped create (and she didn't do it alone) and how the government of Iraq should be operated, if that contributed to all the unrest happening in present-day Iraq.Regardless, she's still amazing.If I could only go back in time to meet her and maybe have some tea...

I am a native of Baghdad, Iraq. I had heard about Gertrude Bell and her role in the birth of post-WWI Iraq. This book introduced me to Gertrude Bell who is a most fascinating woman. When she sets her mind to something she always gives it her all and does an excellent job. This includes climbing the Swiss Alps, tracking wounded, dead, and missing British soldiers during WWI, and of course traveling across the Middle Eastern deserts. Bell showed the courage and wit of a thousand man! The book shared a lot of details about Gertrude, her family, her romantic life, and her adventures through the letter she wrote. While she worked for British Imperialism, and yes stood against creating a Pan-Arab state in the Fertile Crescent, she worked based on a personal connection with the Arabs of the region. She understood the dynamics of the Middle East in general and of Iraq in particular. This knowledge helped her assist the new Iraq stand on its feet after the Ottoman Turks left their three vialets (Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul) in shambles during their retreat. Bell's efforts averted a total ensuing chaos in modern Iraq after the retreat of the Turks. Bell has truly earned the title of Iraq's mother. She gave counsel to King Faisal I, the first king of Iraq--a task that was not always easy. She did earn the king's respect as well as the respect of many prominent Iraqis of the era. After reading this wonderful book about the most fascinating Gertrude Bell, my question was, "Where can I find a time machine to go back in the past and meet this special lady?" Ironically Bell and myself experienced different eras of Baghdad. I would pay very dearly to see the Baghdad she saw. She passed away when my parents were a year old. I hope that Hollywood would honor Gertrude Bell by making a movie that tells her story! I highly recommend this very informative book.