A Woman in Arabia : The Writings of the Queen of the Desert

A Woman in Arabia : The Writings of the Queen of the Desert
ISBN: 9780143107378
Publication Date: 27 May 2015

In the last century, few people lived more astounding - or influential - lives than Gertrude Bell. During World War I, she worked her way up from spy to army major to become one of the most powerful woman in the British Empire. After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, she was instrumental in drawing the borders that define the region today, including creating an independent Iraq.

This is the epic story of Bell's life, told through her letters, military dispatches, diary entries, and other writings. It offers a unique and intimate look behind the public mask of a woman who shaped nations.

About the Author

Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) was born to an aristocratic family and became a renowned archaeologist, Arabist, linguist, writer, poet, and mountaineer. During WWI she served as a spy, army major, and then advisor for the British armed forces. In the aftermath of the war, her statesmanship helped to lay the framework for the modern Middle East. Georgina Howell is the author of the acclaimed biography Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations.