Voiced and executive produced by tilda swinton, the film chronicles bells journey into the uncharted arabian desert and allmale halls of colonial power with neverseenbefore archival footage. Having zoned out through much of it, i will now read wikipedias article on gertrude bell to round out my knowledge of her life. Gertrude is born in washington hall, county durham, england, on july 14, 1868, to extremely wealthy parents, hugh and mary bell. The first woman to receive highest honors in modern history at oxford. The book examines gertrude bells role in shaping british policy in the middle east in the first part of the 20th century, her views of the cultures and peoples of the region, and her unusual position as a woman occupying.
Apr 19, 2017 gertrude bell, a woman of enormous heart and whirling head, of the book said, approved. Gertrude bell 18681926 gertrude margaret lowthian bell was born into a wealthy family at washington new hall in what was then county durham. Restless, uneasy with the debutantes role, bell, a brilliant, rebellious student, craved a mission in life and found solace in climbing mountains, studying. Bbc news middle east iraq presents a lesson from history. The writings of the queen of the desert, and more on. She was appointed commander of the order of the british. Initially homeschooled she later attended school in london, eventually gaining a firstclass pass in modern history degree. Gertrude bell in visiting archaeological excavations in babylon. A few years later oil is discovered in mesopotamia. She shaped the modern middle east after world war i in ways that still reverberate today. Gertrude bell, a woman of enormous heart and whirling head, of the book said, approved.
Gertrude bells most popular book is a woman in arabia. Now theres a campaign to save gertrude bells vandalised home. Gertrude bell scaled the alps, mapped arabia, and midwifed the modern middle east. Gertrude bell 18581926 was an english explorer who traveled through the middle east. The bell family lived in northern england and employed 40,000 workers in their coal and iron works. Unfortunately, this is the second boring book ive read about gertrude bell. Gertrude bell left a huge archive of books, pictures and letters that are now part of gertrude bell s collection at newcastle university. University library, newcastle university, newcastle upon tyne, ne1 7ru, united kingdom email. What gertrude bells letters remind us about the founding of iraq. Died 12 july 1926 baghdad, british mandate of mesopotamia present day iraq gertrude bell was an english writer, archeologist, political officer and spy who is known for her role in founding modern iraq. The archive comprises gertrude s personal correspondence, diaries, pictures and miscellaneous items that can be found transcribed on the gertrude bell archive website. Lawrence is at least acquainted with the name gertrude bell. A ferociously independentminded young woman leaves oxford and experiences the desert for the first time.
Gertrude lowthian bell, sometimes called the female lawrence of arabia was a british adventurer, archaeologist and political powerhouse, who helped shape the modern middle east after world war i. The remarkable life of gertrude bell offers invaluable lessons on the state of iraq today, says rachel aspden rachel aspden. Gertrude bell was born in 1868 at the height of the british empire, when the british navy ruled the seas and british merchants supplied food and clothing to half the worlds population. Adventurer, adviser to kings, ally of lawrence of arabiaeen by janet wallach turning her back on her privileged life in victorian england, gertrude bell 18681926, fired by her innate curiosity, journeyed the world and became fascinated with all things arab. Gertrude margaret lowthian bell cbe 14 july 1868 12 july 1926 was a british writer, traveller, political analyst, administrator in arabia, and an archaeologist who mapped and identified anatolian and mesopotamian ruins.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading gertrude bell. Sep 02, 2006 the remarkable life of gertrude bell offers invaluable lessons on the state of iraq today, says rachel aspden rachel aspden. Theres extra power in knowing that it was a real woman who achieved this at a time when even more obstacles were in her way than women today face. The archive comprises gertrudes personal correspondence, diaries, pictures and miscellaneous items that can be found transcribed on the gertrude bell archive website. How she might have felt about the forthcoming book is difficult to gauge. Gertrude bell s brilliant career at oxford, where she took a first in history in 1887, was followed by some time spent in tehran, where her gertrude bell, english traveler, administrator in arabia, and writer who played a principal part in the establishment in baghdad of the hashimite dynasty. Gertrude bell s achievements were considerable at a time when a womans role was deemed to be limited to the home and the family. Now theres a campaign to save gertrude bell s vandalised home. What gertrude bells letters remind us about the founding of. Gertrude bell was one of a select group of western arabists who helped create the modern middle east. Bell was interested in learning about the people and history of the region.
I finished the book only because she was such an important figure in an era that im very interested in. Her mother died early on, and gertrude grew up largely under the watchful eye of her enlightened french stepmother, florence. The precocious daughter of a wealthy industrialist family from northern england, her life was a series of firsts. Gertrude bell fun facts about gertrude bell dk find out.
The syrian adventures of the female lawrence of arabia, and a woman in arabia. Queen of the desert, shaper of nations kindle edition by howell, georgina. The book on gertrude bell is a fascinating history of the dynamics of europe, the decline of the ottoman empire, and the evolving countries in the mideast during world war 1. The queen of the desert born today in 1868, british explorer, diplomat and accomplished archaeologist gertrude bell has been described as the female lawrence of arabia. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Gertrude margaret lowthian bell, cbe 14 july 1868 12 july 1926 was an english writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to british imperial policymaking due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in greater syria, mesopotamia, asia minor, and arabia. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Gertrude bells achievements were considerable at a time when a womans role was deemed to be limited to the home and the family. Short biography gertrude bell 1868 1926 born in county durham on july 14th 1868 to a family of great prosperity, gertrude bell was the daughter of the great industrialist, isaac lowthian bell. The death of gertrude bell eleanor scott archaeology. On the cover of this book is an arresting photograph taken in front of the sphinx in. The queen of the desert born today in 1868, british explorer, diplomat and accomplished archaeologist gertrude bell has been described as. First crop by bell, gertrude and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
She traveled around mesopotamia, crossed the syrian desert and went up and down the euphrates and tigris rivers. Britishborn gertrude bell, also referred to as the female lawrence of arabia, was an adventurer, spy, archaeologist and powerful political force who travelled into the uncharted arabian desert and was recruited by british military intelligence to help reshape the middle east after world war i. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Queen of the desert unites some undeniably talented professionals, but its difficult to discern what drew them together or understand how its compelling reallife story became such a muddled mess. Queen of the desert, shaper of nations by georgina howell. Jun 14, 2017 what gertrude bells letters remind us about the founding of iraq. Letters from baghdad tells the extraordinary and dramatic story of gertrude bell, the most powerful woman in the british empire in her day. Gertrude bell books list of books by author gertrude bell. Bell, gertrude lowthian 18681926 worldcat identities. Apr 26, 2017 theres extra power in knowing that it was a real woman who achieved this at a time when even more obstacles were in her way than women today face. Bell 18681926, one of the most famous british women of her generation. Adventurer, adviser to kings, ally of lawrence of arabia is the life story of noted englishwoman, gertrude bell. Restless, uneasy with the debutantes role, bell, a brilliant, rebellious student, craved a mission in life and found solace in climbing mountains, studying archaeology and learning languages.
This wealth was later used to finance gertrudes later travels around the world. Kish mar 1926 gertrude bell and other europeans including lionel smith dividing archaeological finds after excavations. Gertrude margaret lowthian bell cbe 14 july 1868 12 july 1926 was a british writer, traveler, political officer, administrator in arabia, and an archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly important to british imperial policymaking due to her extensive travels in greater syria, syria, mesopotamia, asia minor, and arabia. Bells is a tremendously significant story, and its a shame that queen of the desert wont be seen by more people. Gertrude bell, vividly told and impeccably researched by georgina howell, is a richly compelling portrait of a woman who transcended the restrictions of her class and times, and in so doing, created a remarkable and enduring legacy. In this hefty, thoroughly enjoyable biography of gertrude bell 18681926, english journalist howell describes her subject as not only the most famous british traveler of her day, male. The last few years of her life she had returned to her original love of archaeology setting up a museum that still stands after falling out of favour in the colonial administration. She was arguably the single most influential individual in iraq when the british attempted in the aftermath of world war i to create a nation out of regions that had.
What gertrude bells letters remind us about the founding. Gertrude bell died in the iraqi capital in 1926 after taking an overdose of sleeping tablets. Explore books by gertrude bell with our selection at. Aug 12, 2015 close overlay buy featured book title a woman in arabia subtitle the writings of the queen of the desert author gertrude bell and georgina howell. Gertrude bell, queen of the desert amazing women in history. Please provide me with your latest book news, views and details of waterstones special offers. The extraordinary life of gertrude bell main market by georgina howell isbn. Gertrude bell left a huge archive of books, pictures and letters that are now part of gertrude bells collection at newcastle university. See all books authored by gertrude bell, including the desert and the sown. With nicole kidman, james franco, robert pattinson, damian lewis. Queen of the desert is a 2015 american epic biographical drama film written and directed by werner herzog and is based on the life of british traveller, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer and political officer gertrude bell. They are absolutely fascinating in that not only is her interior life and feelings revealed, but a good deal of information about the political and social conditions in the empire at that time. Gertrude bell, in full gertrude margaret lowthian bell, born july 14, 1868, washington hall, durham, eng. Gertrude bell has 69 books on goodreads with 6330 ratings.
The story of gertrude bell and her crucial role in the foundation of the state of iraq. The directors tell the story of gertrude bell s time in mesopotamia or modern day iraq through her many letters. Gertrude bell 18681926 was part proper victorian and part modern woman. She was arguably the single most influential individual in iraq when the british attempted in the aftermath of world war i to create a nation out of regions that had long been different provinces of the ottoman empire. This is a major reevaluation of the life and legacy of gertrude lowthian bell 18681926, the renowned scholar, explorer, writer, archaeologist, and british civil servant. Gertrude bell english politician and writer britannica.
628 992 539 1314 526 1036 324 296 1121 761 1172 152 60 823 1430 1314 711 941 1461 121 335 1073 1296 331 1094 892 887 83 864 1225 410