The Author of Her Travels
As mentioned previously, one of the reasons we know so much about Bell’s inspiring life is because she wrote about her travels and experience in several books. Some of her most famous books were written between 1894 and 1910. These books include but are not limited to: Mountains of the Servants of God, Poems from the Divan of Hafiz, Safar Nameh, and Thousand and One Churches. However, these books have done more than record her travels for future generations. They also let her British audience know just how big the globe was, especially their empire. These books cover her travels in Syria, Palestine, Europe, and Asia.
Bell’s writings did not end with her passing in 1926. In fact, it was not too long after her death that her vast collection of letters to and from people all over the world were published. Her stepmother released this two-volume set in 1927 as a way to honor the legacy of her stepdaughter. On top of this, there is a number of books which has been written about Gertrude Bell, many of which use pieces from her own writings from her travels and letters. A couple of these books are A Woman in Arabia: The Writings of the Queen of the Desert (2015) and Desert Queen: The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell: Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia (2005).
The Many Ways Bell Continued to Inspire
Early in her vast career, Bell became an archaeologist and quickly formed not only positive relationships in the field but lasting friendships. One of these relationships was with Sir William Ramsey, who was an archaeologist and scholar of Ancient Turkey. In fact, if it was not for Sir William Ramsey, Bell might not have become so brilliant in the archaeological field. Prior to Ramsey, Bell has taught herself what she knew about the field. However, once she became acquainted with Ramsey, he started showing her about the field and helped her excel in the area of study.
After World War I, her influence in the British Empire did anything but melt away. Instead, Bell continued to push boundaries in a male-dominated world and receive high honors, most of which had never been acquired by a woman before. Because of her work during World War I, she was one of the first people honored as an Order of the British Empire by King George V. Bell was also a Royal Geographical Society gold medal winner.
Whether Bell was wearing the hat of a Red Cross volunteer, writer, archaeologist, mountaineer, linguist, or officer, she was breaking glass ceilings for future women. While Gertrude Bell is often considered a forgotten part of history in a few areas of the world, her legacy continues to live on, especially in Iraq. However, as more people learn about a Victorian Age woman called Gertrude Bell, her work continues to inspire women across the globe.
Where did we find this stuff? Here are our sources:
“Adventures of a Desert Queen.” Betsey Means and Eileen Vorbach, WomanLore.
“Miss Bell’s Lines in the Sand.” James Buchan, The Guardian. March 2003.