A Quest in the Middle East : Gertrude Bell and the Making of Modern Iraq

"Revered or reviled, Gertrude Bell was a commanding figure: scholar, linguist, archeologist, traveller and "orientalist". Belonging to the tradition of the great British Middle East enthusiasts of the early 20th century, she explored the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I and was hugely instrumental in the post-war reconfiguration of the Arab states in the Middle East. She was a prime mover in drawing up Iraq's boundaries and establishing a constitutional monarchy there with a parliament, civil service and legal system; she was influential in creating a state which had all the trappings of independence while remaining a virtual British colony. This book offers a contribution to the study of Bell's colourful life - exploring the personal passions, desires and relationships that drove her - as well as to an understanding of the creation of a country so central to the instability of today's Middle East. Using various sources, including Bell's own diaries and letters, Liora Lukitz provides a portrait of this influential character and the tragedy, vulnerability and frustrations that were key to her quest for both a British-dominated Middle East, and relief from the torture of her romantic failures."--Bloomsbury publishing Revered Or Reviled, Gertrude Bell Was A Commanding Figure: Scholar, Linguist, Archeologist, Traveller And 'orientalist'. A Remarkable Woman In Male-dominated Edwardian Society, She Shunned Convention By Eschewing Marriage And Family For An Academic Career And The Extensive Travelling That Would Lead To Her Major Role In Middle Eastern Diplomacy. But Her Private Life Was Marred By The Tragedy, Vulnerability And Frustration That Were Key To Her Quest Both For A British Dominated Middle East And Relief From The Torture Of Her Romantic Failures. Through Her Vivid Writings, She Brought The Arab World Alive For Countless Britons As She Travelled To Some Of The Region's Most Inhospitable Places. She Explored The Ottoman Empire During And After World War I When Her Travels Throughout The Region And Her Knowledge Of Arabic Made Her Indispensable To British Intelligence. Alongside T.e.^ Lawrence, She Was Hugely Instrumental In The Post-war Reconfiguration Of The Arab States In The Middle East. In Iraq, In Particular, She Became A Friend And Confidante Of The New King Faisal, And A Prime Mover In Drawing Up The Country's Boundaries And Establishing A Constitutional Monarchy There, With Its Parliament, Civil Service And Legal System. She Was Influential In Creating The State Which Had All The Trappings Of Independence While Remaining A Virtual British Colony. The Legacy Of Her Work Is Still Being Played Out In The Conflicts Of Today. Yet Behind Gertrude Bell's Public Success Was A Backdrop Of Personal Passions, Desires And The Relationships That Drove This Extraordinary Woman. Embroiled In An Unsuccessful Love Affair With Charles Doughty-wylie, A Married Man, She Found Peace In The Solitude Of The Desert. But The Seemingly Intractable Problems Of The Newly Independent Iraq Led Her To Write Of The 'weariness Of It All'.^ Shortly Afterward She Took Her Own Life With A Lethal Dose Of Sleeping Pills. Using Previous Unseen Sources, Including Gertrude Bell's Own Diaries And Letters, Liora Lukitz Provides A Deeper Political And Personal Biography Of This Influential Character. A Quest In The Middle East Is A Lyrical And Illuminating Portrait Of A Woman Born Ahead Of Her Time, Grappling With Issues That Would Shape The Future Of The Middle East.--jacket. Part I The Journey -- 1 'light Of Mine Eyes And Harvest Of My Heart' 23 -- 2 'she Had Known Ruptures, She Had Known The Whole' 31 -- 3 'the Shadow Of A Stone' 56 -- 4 'i Will Dedicate This Year To You' 77 -- Part Ii Arrival -- 5 'on The Edge Of Important Things' 107 -- 6 'father, Think!' 125 -- 7 'to Make Kings, To Invent Kingdoms' 143 -- 8 'a Tower Of Strength And Wisdom' 174 -- 9 'we Had Awakened And Become A Nation' 202 -- Part Iii Departures -- 10 'dust ... ' 211 -- 11 'flood ... ' 224. Liora Lukitz. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [293]-301) And Index. Revered or reviled, Gertrude Bell was a commanding figure: scholar, linguist, archaeologist, traveller and'orientalist'. A remarkable woman in male-dominated Edwardian society, she shunned convention by eschewing marriage and family for an academic career and the extensive travelling that would lead to her major role in Middle Eastern diplomacy. But her private life war marred by the tragedy, vulnerability and frustration that were key to her quest both for a British dominated Middle East and relief from the torture of her romantic failures.Through her vivid writings, she brought the Arab world alive for countless Britons as she travelled to some of the region's most inhospitable places. She explored the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I when her travels throughout the region and her knowledge of Arabic made her indispensable to British Intelligence. Alongside T.E. Lawrence, she was hugely instrumental in the post-war reconfiguration of the Arab states in the Middle East. In Iraq, in particular, she became a friend and confidant of the new King Faisal, and a prime mover in drawing up the country's boundaries and establishing a constitutional monarchy there, with its parliament, civil service and legal system. She was influential in creating the state which had all the trappings of independence while remaining a virtual British colony. The legacy of her work is still being played out in the conflicts of today. Yet behind Gertrude Bell's public success was a backdrop of personal passions, desires and the relationships that drove this extraordinary woman. Embroiled in an unsuccessful love affair with Charles Doughty-Wylie, a married man, she found peace in the solitude of the desert. But the seemingly intractable problems of the newly independent Iraq led her to write of the'weariness of it all'. Shortly afterwards she took her own life with a lethal dose of sleeping pills. Using previously unseen sources, including Gertude Bell's own diaries and letters, Liora Lukitz provides a deeper political and personal biography of this influential character. A Quest in the Middle East is a lyrical and illuminating portrait of a woman born ahead of her time, grappling with issues that would shape the future of the Middle East. Revered or reviled, Gertrude Bell was a commanding figure: scholar, linguist, archaeologist, traveler and ""Orientalist"". Belonging to the tradition of the great British Middle East enthusiasts of the early twentieth century, she explored the Ottoman Empire during and after World War I and was (alongside T.E. Lawrence) hugely instrumental in the post-war reconfiguration of the Arab states in the Middle East. Using previously unseen sources, including Gertrude Bell's own diaries and letters, Liora Lukitz provides a deeper political and personal biography of this influential character and the tragedy, vulnerability and frustration that were key to her quest both for a British-dominated Middle East and relief from her troubled romantic life. Cover 1 Contents 6 List of Illustrations 7 Acknowledgements 8 Preface 14 Prologue 23 Part I: The Journey 34 1. 'Light of Mine Eyes and Harvest of My Heart' 36 2. 'She Had Known Ruptures, She Had Known in the Whole?'' 44 3. 'The Shadow of a Stone' 69 4. 'I Will Dedicate This Year to You' 90 Part II: Arrival 118 5. 'On the Edge of Important Things' 120 6.'Father, Think!' 138 7. 'To Make Kings, to Invent Kingdoms' 156 8. 'A Tower of Strength and Wisdom' 187 9. 'We Had Awakened and Become a Nation' 215 Part III: Departures 222 10. 'Dust...' 224 11. 'Flood...' 237 Epilogue 258 Afterword 264 Notes 270 Selected Bibliography 306 Index 316 Biography of Gertrude Bell (1868-1926), scholar, linguist, archaeologist, traveler and 'Orientalist The caravan left Damascus on 16 December 1913, heading for Ha'il in Central Arabia.