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Summary:
A biography of the woman who, indirectly, was the catalyst for many of the troubles in the Middle East, including the Gulf War. In 1918, Gertrude Bell drew the region's proposed boundaries on a piece of tracing paper. Her qualifications for doing so were her extensive travel, her fluency in both Persian and Arabic, and her relationships with sheiks and tribal and religious leaders. She also possessed an ability to understand the subtle and indirect politeness of the culture, something many of her colonialist comrades were oblivious to. As a self-made statesman her sex was an asset, enabling her to bypass the ladder of protocol and dive into the business of building an Empire.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Why Didn't I Read This Sooner?
Customer Rating:
Janet Wallach knows how to write a biography and - at least as important - how to pick a subject. Gertrude Bell may be the most fascinating historical figure you never heard of; she helped craft the political organization of the Middle East that has riveted our nation's attention for the last several years. Wallach did a masterful job of creating a portrait of Bell's personality as she told the story of Bell's contributions to history. It's a riveting read that lends understanding of the problems we see in today's headlines.
A Paradoxical Account
Customer Rating:
My book club split evenly on to whether to give this book three stars or four. The same thing that makes it extraordinary is also its biggest failing, that is the use Wallach makes of the huge trove of diaries, letters and pictures at the University of Newcastle. She can write about Bell's day-to-day experience with a detail and authority others would die for, but tends to take Bell at her own valuation and shortchange those who did not share her vision of a large Iraq under Sunni dominance.
Response to Paul Donovan
Customer Rating:
In response to your comments on Janet Wallach's writing in "Desert Queen": Her wriing made a colorful biography and her sources fill pages at the back of the book. You noted there were no footnotes: Who wants to read footnote after footnote like in a textbook? This is a story of a very vibrant woman and why not have the author envision what Gertrude Bell might have been thinking or seeing at different times e.g., "...his dark eyes were flashing..." You could not understand why she was against women's sufferage: She was a traditionalist; she might also have thought women were not well informed enough to vote or because she thought more like a man and was so involved with men she might not have given women much weight in her world. Must everything have to be explained and analyzed in a book? Exercise your mind. This discussion from my good friend Jane Kosut, Atlantic Beach, FL> Harvard '77
exceptional woman
Customer Rating:
I enjoyed learning about the fascinating life and accomplishments of Gertrude Bell and the delicate and complex Arab culture and political history. I sadly realize that the knowledge and lessons that the history provided for us so abundantly are not being applied by our current government. Should we make presidential candidates take mandatory history tests in order to qualify for their candidacy? I am not much of a history reader, but this book certainly inspired me to learn more. Also it is a shame that a person as influential as Gertrude Bell has not been well known to us as much as she deserves. The writing of this book was complex but coherent, very easy to follow and enjoyable.
good concept but hard going
Customer Rating:
This was my book group's pick and I could hardly wait to get it and read it; it sounded timely and fascinating. Unfortunately, it was like reading a textbook, interesting but WAY too dry. No one in our group finished it and even the brilliant woman who loves a book best if no one else understands it, didn't want to read it. I only stuck with it to page 50. Maybe it gets better as you get the author's rhythm, like Dickens. As much as I would like, I can't recommend it.
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