Thanks for another excellent rec. I'll definitely have to give this one a look as well.

Heather

The book came Saturday and I am already about 30% through. An absolutely intriguing woman with character, strength, fervor, ambition, ideals and smart too! (from Oxford this lady emerged) Definately not one of those vapid, vaporour, Victorian virgins.

Again, thanks Athena for not steering me wrong. The is an excellent read.

Marie

Marie wrote: An absolutely intriguing woman.

That she most certainly was. There were others like her, indomitable adventurers and/or explorers: Janet Digby and Alexandra David-Néel, to name just two. The latter managed to reach Lhasa when it was closed to foreigners, a goal that many men failed to attain. Her journeys are described in The Alluring Target by Kenneth Wimmel (another great read, about the 19th and 20th century explorers of the Silk Road).

Postscript: Amazingly, none of these remarkable lifestories has ever been made into film. Just like Alexander's life, that of Gertrude Bell or Alexandra David-Néel could become epics brimming with exotic locations, marvelous cultures and derring-do, none of it made up! I could easily see Judy Davis, Cate Blanchett or Tilda Swinton in the role of Gertrude Bell.

I can easily envision either the life of Gertrude Bell or Alexandra David-Neel being made into gripping epic films. Also, the actresses named would be excellent choices.

Heather