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Article: Gertrude of Arabia; Gertrude Bell.(Book review)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- September 9, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An intimate 1922 picnic: Gertrude Bell with Iraq's King Faisal (second right) and others
THIS excellent biography of Gertrude Bell, the woman behind the creation of modern Iraq, goes far towards making her a true heroine, a Gertrude of Arabia to match her friend, T.E. Lawrence. Indeed, there are moments when Georgina Howell seems a little starstruck: by her subject's brains, linguistic brilliance, administrative genius, not to mention her green eyes and auburn hair. And yet who wouldn't be starstruck? By all accounts Gertrude Bell was a phenomenon. Plus she wore beautiful clothes.
There's something to be said for being a woman in a man's world if you ...