Gertrude of Arabia: The Amazing Gertrude Bell

Famous Women T. E. Lawrence, historian, archaeologist, diplomat and supporter of Arab independence, also known as "Lawrence of Arabia" (and portrayed in a superb film), is an iconic figure. Gertrude Bell, historian, archaeologist, traveler, supporter of Arab independence, friend of T. E. Lawrence (and portrayed in an atrociously bad film), is almost forgotten. This extraordinary woman still awaits adequate recognition, and in this course we shall try to do her and her accomplishments justice. Gertrude Bell made seven independent desert expeditions, spoke better Arabic than T. E. Lawrence with whom she worked at the Arab Bureau in Cairo, served as intelligence expert, army officer, adviser for the British forces in the Middle East and contributed to the defeat of the Ottoman empire. After the war she became Oriental Secretary in Mesopotamia (the only woman in such a high-ranking civil role), lived in Baghdad and helped establish the modern state of Iraq – which is often called her greatest and, with the benefit of hindsight, "most troubled" legacy. In this course we shall have a closer look at the vast panorama of Gertrude Bell's fascinating life and legacy. Level C1.