The Desert and the Sown: Travels in Palestine and Syria

Great book, inspiring to read.

This unique and deeply perceptive snap shot of the people's and landscape of the Levant on the cusp of the incredible changes that would eventually tear these communities apart and plunge then into a state of war. Getrude Bell's linguistic skills and her huge empathy with the people of the region produce a wonderful rich mosaic of writing. An eye witness account by this intriguing woman who towered over the men in her era.

Gertrude bell is a great writer, bear in mind it was written a long time ago, but if you have an interest in the region she is your go to writer

Bought for a friend. No complaints received

This is her own story of her journey by donkey or on horseback through Syria and Palastine before The Great War 1914-1918 changed the old world forever. At this present time of upheavals throughout the Middle East it is hard to imagine that such a thing could have been done by a woman with just a guide and a few servants travelling with tents. She was interested in people - the Arabs and their followers - as well as the archaeological sites. In this book she writes with candour about the places and the people she meets.

Ahead of her time, Gertrude Bell’s narrative of her experiences in Syria and the Lebanon in 1905 is as interesting and refreshing in its approach as any narrative I’ve read. I suspect little has changed in terms of culture amongst the various tribes/states of the Middle Eastand this has helped my understanding and appreciation of current developments in the region, 113 years later... Little appears to have changed.

Having the ability to read into the mind of Gertrude Bell is truly fascinating and a book I will cherish. It shows you how incredible she was and for a women of the time how much respect she was shown and the power she obtained.

I had heard of, but knew little of Gertrude Bell. Kind of a female TE Lawrence. An account of her travels in Jordan and Syria in 1905. A simple book about times past. I will definitely read more

Le voyage envoûtant d' une anglaise extraordinaire dans la Syrie de 1905 , ethnologie, géopolitique, aventure. C'est découvrir absolument. Superbe

This is essentially a travelogue written in 1907 by an English woman, traveling through what is now Israel, Jordan, Lebanon Syria and Turkey but was then all part of the Ottoman Empire. She traveled "alone" in the sense that she had no English friends/colleagues traveling with her. She only had her local Arab and/or Bedouin guides. Think of this book as an extended National Geographic issue of that region. The photographs alone are worth buying the book. But the most important part of the book is its relevance to today's situation in the Middle East, in terms of getting a better understanding of the tribal customs and relationships, and the fact that these countries do not have a centuries-old tradition of nationhood. There is no "plot" to the book... again, it is a travelogue, but a fascinating one, especially when taking into account the courage of Gertrude Bell, who was 39 when she did these travels... on her own, and very successfully. Her experience and contacts became crucial to the British government at the end of World War I in creating the countries of Syria and Iraq. So as you read this book, you understand a little more about the situation there today.

A very readable profile of one of the leading architects in the creation of the modern Arab world.

I loved Queen of the Desert more than this book

They are small most, quite dark. But it's Gertrude Bell so read the book! If you want to get a look at her photography - and what fan of hers doesn't - google her Archive. Drawings and diary entries are there too. Not everything, but enough keep you busy for hours and hours and hours and hours.........