Desert Queen

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Turning away from privileged Victorian Britain, Gertrude Bell explored, mapped and excavated the world of the Arabs, winning the trust of Arab sheiks and chieftains along the way. When the First World War erupted and the British needed the loyalty of Arab leaders, Gertrude Bell provided the intelligence for T.E. Lawrence's military activities. After the war, she played a major role in creating the modern Middle East, and was generally considered the most powerful woman in the British Empire. In this major reassessment of Bell's life, Janet Wallach reveals a woman whose achievements and independent spirit were especially remarkable for her times, and who brought the same passion and intensity to her explorations as she did to her rich and romantic life.

Author Bio

Janet Wallach's own interest and expertise in Arab politics and history led her to the life of Gertrude Bell. A contributor to the Washington Post and other publications, Janet Wallach is the co-author, with her husband John, of two books about the Middle East: Still Small Voices and Arafat: In the Eye of the Beholder. She lives in New York City.