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Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,093 listener ratings
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Turning her back on her privileged life in Victorian England, Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), fired by her innate curiosity, journeyed the world and became fascinated with all things Arab. Traveling the length and breadth of the Arab region, armed with a love for its language and its people, she not only produced several enormously popular books based on her experiences but became instrumental to the British foreign office. When World War I erupted, and the British needed the loyalty of the Arab leaders, it was Gertrude Bell's work and connections that helped provided the brain for T. E. Lawrence's military brawn. After the war she participated in both the Paris and Cairo conferences, played a major role in creating the modern Middle East, and was generally considered the most powerful woman in the British Empire. In this incident-packed biography, 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 romantic life. Too long eclipsed by Lawrence's fame, Gertrude Bell emerges in this first major biography as a woman whose accomplishments rank as crucial to world history (especially in light of the continuing geopolitical importance of the Middle East) and whose life was a grand adventure.
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"If you haven't read about this incredible woman, "the mother of Iraq" you must. A highly readable biography on a very complicated subject. Lawrence of Arabia is a midget compared to what she did and yet, why haven't we heard mnore about her? Loved this book."
— Lindaraxa (5 out of 5 stars)
Desert Queen Listener Reviews
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" Very interesting. A book that you are glad you read but hard to read at the time. I feel much more informed about the recent history of the mid east. "
— Jenna, 2/14/2014 -
" Sadly, this belongs on my shelf of books that I "read"... but never actually finished. I remember being very engrossed, and then gradually started skipping pages, and then just didn't finish... Fascinating figure as a premise, though! "
— Valena, 2/11/2014 -
" I read this as a comparison to the other Gertrude Bell novel by Howell. This version might have been a bit more readable but essentially covered the same territory. "
— Liz, 2/10/2014 -
" A page-turner portraying a fascinating woman. Subject of an upcoming movie. "
— Judith, 2/2/2014 -
" Quite an interesting life for a woman in the early 1900's. Basically she went to college which was quite unheard of for the times. She was quite the intellectual with a large amount of money in the family. She never married and thus she traveled a lot. Arabia and the Middle East was her favorite place to visit. She spent a lot of time there. She ends up helping to determine the lines to create the country of Saudia Arabia. I didn't finish the book, it got a little wordy with a lot of names, but you should for sure google her and learn about her life! "
— Melodi, 1/20/2014 -
" still plowing thru it. great to read about the place that's in the news everyday, seems Iraq has always been a pawn... "
— Deb, 1/13/2014 -
" An adventurous woman who was privileged ($$$$$) and could pretty much do what she wanted. Interesting time period. Admired her sense of adventure & courage. "
— Janette, 1/13/2014 -
" rich girl travels the world, supports anti suffragette movement! "
— Janet, 1/12/2014 -
" Bush should have read this book before invading Iraq. "
— Susan, 1/2/2014 -
" Good biography and historic novel. "
— Gayle, 12/11/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book, a fascinating non-comformist woman, and amazing history of the middle east. It's a must read. Sad ending be warned. "
— Molly, 12/10/2013 -
" I couldn't finish this book, I never got into it and was really hoping it would take off, but after reading 1/2 the book I gave up. "
— Ashley, 10/31/2013 -
" While this was a fascinating, full read it was just too slow to really keep my attention. I learned a lot. I am glad I read it but I am glad to be done with it. And, when all is said and done, I still don't really know what to think of her. "
— Janice, 8/25/2013 -
" Gertrude Bell was an amazingly cool woman, seemingly fearless ... she could trek across a desert and go where no woman had gone before, but sadly, like many of us, she was not immune to man troubles and heartbreak. "
— Katie, 7/4/2013 -
" I'm glad I read it some parts got a little boring.What a fascinating life she led, in such fascinating times. "
— Anna, 6/29/2013 -
" I've only finished half the book, but I think Gertrude Bell was a fascinating woman. I knew nothing about her prior to this book being recommended for book club. She had a very interesting life. "
— Cathy, 6/9/2013 -
" I prefer the other book about Gertude Bell "
— Marilyn, 9/16/2012
About Janet Wallach
Janet Wallach is the author of nearly ten books, including Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell and three books on the Middle East (co-authored with her husband). She divides her time between New York City and Connecticut.