A highly engaging biography about a fascinating English woman who was most unusual for her time. An adventurous traveler who fell completely in love with the Middle Eastern desert and its various peoples, Bell’s talents included writing, archaeological research, and diplomacy. She was uniquely skilled and socially connected to act as an irreplaceable political officer for the British Mandate in the Mesopotamian region. Her skilled guidance and interventions were instrumental in bringing the nation of Iraq into being as well as installing its first elected king. (Summary by Lynette Caulkins)