Thomas F. (hardtack) - , reviewed on 1/3/2019 + 2569 more book reviews

A very interesting biography of a woman who had a major impact in deciding the fate of the Middle East, especially Iraq. Unfortunately, parts of it can be boring, making it difficult to read. Some of it was overdone. For example, I got tired of reading about how much she loved her father.

I found it interesting how many times the author said Bell was short of money, spending beyond her salary. Often asking for money from her father, whose business eventually failed. Her family also had to first close down part of the family home and then lose it completely. Yet, when she died she left 50,000 English pounds to a museum in Iraq. This after constantly entertaining people at her home. I think Bell, while impressive in her work, was somewhat self-absorbed.

If you read between the lines, she was very contemptuous of other women, yet they had what she desperately wanted, a family---husband and children.

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