Dusty for Days

The Story of Gertrude Bell

Born in Durham, England, 1868 Died in Baghdad, Iraq, 1926

British government official known as the "Uncrowned Queen of Iraq"

Like other privileged girls, young Gertrude Bell required a chaperone to accompany her on the street, parental approval to read books or visit people, and constant grooming for her anticipated wedding.

Despite several close calls, no wedding took place. Instead, Bell became one of the first women at Oxford University, earning a degree in modern history, and then venturing further and further from home. She fell in love with sand: To her, the Middle East was paradise, its desolation broken by groves of date palms, glowing wildflowers, two-foot-long lizards, and the corpses of travelers who hadn't survived the harsh desert sun.

When exploring remote archaeological sites, she could cross the desert with just two tents and a month's supplies. She could also travel in a caravan of twenty camels and trunks filled with crystal goblets, volumes of Shakespeare, a tea service, and a canvas bathtub for hot soaks at night. To fool officials who might search her possessions, she buried revolvers in a trunk of frilly underwear. Once, a dozen thieves surrounded Bell's group, shrieking and brandishing swords before making off with weapons and coats. Another time she was kidnapped by a desert warrior and held prisoner for two weeks.

Questions:

Where was Gertrude Bell born?
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