A Woman in Arabia

June 1, 2015
This tantalizing collection of excerpts from letters, diaries, and other assorted publications provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of Gertrude Lowthian Bell (1868–1926), one of England’s most famous adventurers. Biographer Howell (Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations) grounds the selections with a family chronology and a narrative introduction of Bell’s unconventional Victorian life. Bell’s own words, especially when presented in
generously sized selections, showcase a personality and intellect that glittered like the sun-drenched Arabian sands. An Arabist and linguist, she developed a facility for six languages, including Arabic and Persian—skills that allowed her to write fine translations of Persian poetry. But mostly Bell was an adventurer, and readers will accompany her on some of her most daring exploits: climbing the Swiss Alps, journeying through the Syrian desert, and digging for archeological treasure in Iraq. She documented and mapped her travels for the British Foreign Office—information that became crucial with the outbreak of WWI in 1914—and worked at the Arab Intelligence Bureau in Cairo with T.E. Lawrence, aiming to rebuild the Arab world with repercussions that would reach far into the next century. This is a nifty little volume that illuminates a remarkable life. Maps.

June 1, 2015
Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) shattered gender stereotypes while influencing British policy in the Middle East, particularly in the areas in and around present-day Iraq. Editor Howell (Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, 2007) brings the "female Lawrence of Arabia" to life through judicious selections from Bell's massive public writings and personal papers. Howell has arranged the text of her anthology by subject, ranging from Bell's talents as a poet and a linguist to her skills as a nation builder and kingmaker. Moving away from the realms of the arts and of policy, Howell also provides insights into Bell's love life, mostly through her subject's own words. The overall effect is a biography of sorts, but it's told from a vastly different perspective than traditional biographies of Bell by Howell and by Janet Wallach (Desert Queen, 1996). The truism that the past is prologue comes alive through Bell's adventures, especially her observation that trying to create a cohesive nation from the shards that became Iraq made no sense. Bell considered herself a citizen diplomat rather than a politician. She was suspicious of politicians, wondering if they ever abandoned self-interest. In Howell's biography of Bell, and even more so in this anthology, Bell comes across as a compassionate, erudite quasi-diplomat worthy of great admiration. Unlike so many of the rigid diplomats and politicians making decisions in England on the basis of a colonial mindset, Bell spoke the languages of those she wanted to help, all the better to gain reliable intelligence and establish trust. In addition to an introduction, Howell also includes a helpful chronology of her subject's life. An impressive anthology by a scholar who knows how to separate the wheat from the chaff within the massive amount of primary source material Bell left behind at her death.

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Starred review from June 15, 2015

A true Renaissance woman, Bell (1868-1926) was as involved in the formation of Iraq as T.E. Lawrence (Seven Pillars of Wisdom) but is surprisingly lesser known. The selected excerpts featured here are taken from Bell's more than 16,000 letters and eight books, providing a fascinating glimpse at her larger-than-life personality. Editor Howell (Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations) divides the work into segments, each illustrating a particular field that Bell not only dabbled in but mastered. The chapters include letters and writings regarding her intrepid mountain climbing experiences ("The Mountaineer"), her mastery of multiple languages ("The Linguist"), and her various travels into the heart of Arabia ("The Desert Traveler"). The genius of this collection is letting Bell tell her story in her own words--just as her fiercely independent spirit would have wanted. Impossible to put down, the book reads a bit like a travelog, part humorous wit and part educational lecture, allowing the reader an in-depth look at the life of a true heroine and the time period she inhabited and conquered. VERDICT In light of the 2015 film Queen of the Desert based on Bell's life, this timely and timeless compilation is a must-have for every library.--Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA

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