Gertrude Bell

Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) was a British writer, traveller, political officer, administrator and archaeologist who played a crucial role in shaping the modern Middle East. One of the most extraordinary women of her era, she travelled extensively through the Ottoman Empire, became an expert on Arab affairs and was instrumental in drawing the borders of modern Iraq. She was the first woman to earn a first-class degree in Modern History from Oxford. Persian Pictures is her account of her travels through Persia in the 1890s, written with the keen observation and literary grace that characterised all her writing. The book captures the landscapes, people and culture of Persia at a moment of transition, offering a vivid and personal portrait of a world that was about to change dramatically. Available as both a book and an audiobook, Persian Pictures offers captivating listening and reading that brings to life the adventures and insights of one of the most remarkable travellers and writers of the early twentieth century.