ISBN: 1400096197
List Price: $15.95
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Avg Cusomer Rating: 4
Reviews:
Summary: Now we know who to blame
This is an interesting book, the most popular biography of one of the most interesting people of the early part of the last century. Gertrude Bell is largely lost to history, which is a shame. She was an expert on Arab affairs and Middle Eastern politics, a true polymath back when you could be such a thing. She spoke numerous languages, wrote "travel" books (accounts of travels she'd had in exotic places), was an accomplished historian and archaeologist, and worked during World War I as what amounted to an intelligence agent, serving further as an advisor after the war, liasing with the Arabs in Iraq. In addition to all of the above, she mapped out the boundaries of the country that became Iraq, and late in life founded the first museum for antiquities in Baghdad. All this in a man's world, where women weren't supposed to venture.
This is a good book on most of the subject, though Wallach's understanding of the events surrounding Miss Bell is sometimes a bit weak. She also proves tone deaf with regards to British society and its niceties, portraying Bell's relationship with T.E. Lawrence ("of Arabia") as somewhat unlikely because he was from a "lower middle class" family while hers was of a much higher level. In reality, Lawrence was the illegitimate son of an impoverished Irish Baronet (certainly not lower middle class) while her family were newly wealthy (her grandfather and father mined coal and smelted iron and steel) and therefor likely to be looked down upon by those with titles. Despite these faux pas, the book is generally interesting, and conveys a sense of Bell's influence in the aftermath of World War I, when she was considered by some to be the most important woman, and one of the most important people, in the administration of the British Empire. I recommend this book.
Summary: A woman who was a vital player in the modern history of the Middle East
This book was chosen for discussion by a member of our non-fiction book group. Along with other courses intended for continued learning, the group is affiliated with a local college. I would not have been interested in this book otherwise, because I had never heard of Gertrude Bell.
However,I found the book fascinating. Gertude Bell was an unusual woman for her time,educated at Oxford and extremely independent with a forceful personality. She traveled by camel through the deserts, becoming friendly with Arab leaders while exploring, mapping and finding artifacts for a museum she established.
Incorporated into the British administration in the Middle East, she held much power. She influenced Churchill and others when decisions were being made about the way Middle Eastern countries were to be run after World War I. She was instrumental in establishing Faisal I as king of Iraq.
A lot of the book covers her personal life which, on the whole, was unhappy and drove her to seek adventure away from England
This would be a good book for our politicians to read as it covers much of the history of the Middle East and describes the factions and feuds over the centuries that influence conditions to-day.
Summary: A remarkable history perhaps not yet learned
In searching for some background on middle east history, I happened upon this work. The times were so much different than today, at least in the western world.
This work does get a bit bogged down in Miss Bell's personal life, but does a decent job of relating her life and times to the happenings in the yet-to-be-established Iraq.
For a first time study of the region, it's as good a read as any. I too, as others have mentioed, would have liked a bit more solid (meaty) history.
Her approach, learning, through personal interaction, tribe histories and notables, is still very applicable (and perhaps missing) today.
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