A few days ago we watched 'Queen of the Desert' a romanticised version of the life of Gertrude Bell. Nicole Kidman, rather too glamorous I think, played the lead role, it was directed by Werner Herzog.
The film's main points were about her failed love affairs and being incredibly brave by wandering round the desert visiting the stronghold of sheiks, she was also, one is led to believe, an undercover spy for the British.
Whatever, Gertrude was a brave lady, starting out with her trusty servants, sailing across the difficult terrain and recording what she saw. Well look at her photographs, click on them and study the pictures there must be well over a hundred, and now look at the mess we have made of the Arab world. Forget wearing face covering in this country which very few Muslim women do, this is just a red herring floated across the airways by an idiotic politician.
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| Beyrout (Beirut) |
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| West Bank - Jerusalem |
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| A village - Jericho |
She was very brave to wander alone with a band of trusted servants, but she recorded everything she saw and that surely was her legacy to the world. We can view the world from her day and then contrast today, there has just been an 'incident' at the House of Parliament, a car going into the barrier, terrorist probably, a clash of culture.
Thanks must go to Newcastle University for the photographs.
Thanks must go to Newcastle University for the photographs.
I had heard of this film and know that I will like it. Nicole Kidman is a very good actress and the story, based on fact, sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to ignore most male politicians. They just get more stupid by the day.
Think you would enjoy the film, we have it on Netflix, and Nicole kidman is very good.
DeleteI used to read a lot about Gertrude Bell at one time Thelma - she was a real hero of mine. What would she think of the mess we have made of the Arab world now.
ReplyDeleteThink she would give up in despair Pat....
DeleteInteresting to see that she was political adviser to St John Philby in 1915 in Baghdad who was the father of Kim Philby who was later one of the Cambridge spies spying for the Russians and eventually defected. I wonder what she would have made of that. St John Philby was a strange man, and became a Muslim whilst Kim Philby was at Cambridge I believe, and Kim was left to his own devices from a very young age and encouraged in most things strange by his father.
ReplyDeleteWell obviously 'freedom of expression' went slightly amiss as a parental guide;). Looking back at this period of unrest, the breakdown of colonial power and the rise of socialism rests on the backs of people with very different ideas.
ReplyDeleteI was entranced by Gertrude Bell after watching "Letters from Baghdad recently. Everyone knows "Lawrence of Arabia" yet she seemed to have so much more knowledge and influence amongst the Arab population. I found her achievements amazing.
ReplyDeleteTo think that all through history, women have not been recorded in a similar fashion to men. She was amazing in her need to see and record the world she found herself in.
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