Gertrude Lowthian Bell (1868–1926)

This collection of letters, edited by Bell's half-sister, details the developments of Gertrude from an inquisitve and assertive child in the adult adventurer of distant lands. In spite of her great love for her family in England, she is always drawn back to her much loved Middle East.

Most of this short book is made up of actul dispatches sent by Gertrude Bell to the British Govt. They're mainly dry lists of names - who was fighting who etc - and are rather dull, though there are a few lively vignettes interspersed. The last quarter is excerpts from 2 other books about the region, not by Bell. It's a quick read, but only mildly engaging, and only if one is interested in that period of British-Arab relations.

Syria > Description and travel/Syria > Social life and customs/Lebanon > Description and travel/Lebanon > Social life and customs/Palestine > Description and travel/Palestine > Social life and customs/Bell, Gertrude Lowthian, 1868-1926 > Journeys --/Middle East