Passionate Nomad: the Life of Freya Stark Free

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Former New York Times reporter Geniesse offers an excellent, psychologically astute chronicle of the adventurous life of Dame Freya Stark — who became a female Lawrence of Arabia. At age 13, Stark was disfigured in a horrible industrial accident. She began studying Arabic in London and in her mids finally moved to Lebanon. As an Arabist proud of her British heritage, Stark was in the difficult position of justifying British colonialism to the freedom-loving natives. She collaborated with native groups in Egypt and Iraq, drumming up support for the Allied powers. Her early books on Yemen and the ancient cult of the Assassins won her plaudits from the public and the Royal Geographic Society. Despite her growing fame, her personal life remained unfulfilling. After the war, she married a minor colonial official who, after their wedding, admitted he was a homosexual. Although Stark could be amazingly kind to Iraqi Bedouins or Druze tribesmen, she took the smallest slights to her dignity as personal affronts. A worthwhile, stylish, and thoroughly researched biography of a fascinatingly complex, often exasperating woman. Doyle offers another lucid, inspiring chronicle of female empowerment and the Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark of self-awareness and renewal. More life reflections from the bestselling author on themes of societal captivity and the catharsis of personal freedom. In her third book, Doyle Love Warrior, etc. Some stories merely skim the surface of larger issues, but Doyle revisits them in later sections and digs deeper, using friends and familial references to personify their impact on her life, both past and present. An engrossing memoir as Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark as a lively treatise on what extraordinary grace under extraordinary pressure looks like. The former first lady opens up about her early life, her journey to the White House, and the eight history-making years that followed. As the author amply shows, her can-do attitude was daunted at Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark by racism, leaving her wondering if she was good enough. With her characteristic candor and dry wit, she recounts the story of her fateful meeting with her future husband. Throw a presidential campaign into the mix, and even the most assured woman could begin to crack under the pressure. Through it all, Obama remained Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark to serve with grace and help others through initiatives like the White House garden and her campaign to fight childhood obesity. Already have an account? Log in. Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials. Sign Up. Pub Date: Oct. Page Count: Publisher: Random House. No Comments Yet. More by Jane Fletcher Geniesse. New York Times Bestseller. IndieBound Bestseller. Page Count: Publisher: Dial Books. Review Posted Online: Dec. Show comments. More About This Book. Reader Votes Google Rating. Pub Date: Nov. Page Count: Publisher: Crown. Review Posted Online: Nov. Please sign Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark to continue. Almost there! Reader Writer Industry Professional. Send me weekly book recommendations and inside scoop. Keep me logged in. Sign in using your Kirkus account Sign in Keep me logged in. Need Help? Contact us: or email customercare kirkus. Please select an existing bookshelf OR Create a new bookshelf Continue. PASSIONATE NOMAD | Kirkus Reviews

Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Freya Stark—traveler, explorer, Arabist, and woman of letters—began the extraordinary adventures that would glamorize her—and would catapult her into public life for the next sixty years—in And with the publication of The Valley of the Assassins inher legend was launched. Leaving behind a miserable family life, Freya set out, at the age of thirty-four, to explo Freya Stark—traveler, explorer, Arabist, and woman of letters—began the extraordinary adventures that would glamorize her—and would catapult her into public life for the next sixty years—in Leaving behind a miserable family life, Freya set out, at the age of thirty-four, to explore remote and dangerous regions of the Middle East. She was captured in by the French military police after penetrating their cordon around the rebellious Druze. She explored the mountainous territory of the mysterious Assassins of Persia, became the first woman to explore Luristan in western Iran, and followed ancient frankincense routes to locate a lost city. Admired by British officialdom, her knowledge of Middle Eastern languages and culture aided the military and diplomatic corps, for whom she conceived an effective propaganda network during Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark. But Stark's indomitable spirit was forged by contradictions, her high-profile wanderings often masking deep insecurities. A child of privilege, she grew up in near poverty; she longed for love, but consistently focused on the wrong men. This is a brilliant and balanced biography—filled with sheikhs, diplomats, nomad warriors and chieftains, generals, would-be lovers, and luminaries. Author Jane Geniesse digs beneath the mythology to uncover a complex, quixotic, and controversial woman. Get A Copy. Paperbackpages. Published July 24th by Modern Library first published September 28th More Details Original Title. Other Editions Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Passionate Nomadplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Mar 09, Lori Lamothe rated it it was amazing. Thorough and descriptive bio with some interesting background on the Middle East. May 11, Ivy rated it it was amazing Shelves: history-biography-memoirs-nonfictiofive-star-hall-of-fame. As a lover of biographies, I became interested in this book after reading a positive review from Modern Library. What could be more interesting than to read about a woman ahead of her time, fearless, captivating, smart and daring? Dame Freya Stark was all of these things, as well as a little "difficult". Drowning in the despair of a dead-end future and smarting after a broken engagement, Freya decides to embark on a journey to the Middle East and from that moment establishes the course of an adve As a lover of biographies, I became interested in this book after reading a positive review from Modern Library. Drowning in the despair of a dead-end future and smarting after a broken engagement, Freya decides to embark on a journey to the Middle East and from that moment establishes the course of an adventurous and remarkable life. Having studied Arabic and arming herself with as much knowledge as possible about the people she is going to visit, Freya sets out to explore the mysteries of an often misunderstood people. Often with little else than a donkey and one guide, Freya would visit the remotest, most dangerous places of countries like Yemen and Iraq in search of lost civilizations and ancient ruins. Braving illnesses and occassional mishaps, her attempts prove fruitful as she is able to test the accuracy of British maps; and in proving herself a talented writer of her experiences, she is honored by the Royal Geographic Society. In time her successes win her the respect of both East and West and she becomes a Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark celebrity in her native Great Britain. Leading a colorful life while making and breaking friendships, Freya is eventually given work with the British Foreign Service during World War II and manages to establish a successful pro-British propoganda organization in the Middle East. Having proven herself an invaluable asset to her country, Ms. Stark is eventually knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Author Jane Fletcher Geniesse writes an honest account of this great traveler, neither glorifying or demonizing her. We are allowed to see Dame Freya as she truly is: a remarkable woman with all the quirks that make her human. Reading this book was an absolute pleasure and how wonderful to learn about such a courageous woman who did whatever the hell she pleased! To borrow from reviewer Jim Lehrer, "Passionate Nomad is a work of nonfiction that reads and sings with the drama and life of a fine novel". View all 6 Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark. Jan 11, Sharon rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. The fascinating biography of Freya Stark, who traveled throughout Arabia and Persia between the two world wars. Her personal life was a mess, but she was an intrepid traveler, who demonstrated a strong respect for the Arab way of Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark. She learned several languages as an adult, used classical texts e. Herodotus as travel manuals, and discovered several valuable archeological sites. She published eleven books on Arabia, several others on Turkey, and her personal letters filled eight volumes The fascinating biography of Freya Stark, who traveled throughout Arabia and Persia between the two world wars. She published eleven books on Arabia, several others on Turkey, and her personal letters filled eight volumes when they were published! The author's style is concise and engaging. She really brings a startling personality back to life. May 10, Ann added it. This is a biography of one of the Twentieth Century's most inveterate female travelers and experts on the Middle East. Freya Stark was a mesmerising personality, and Geniesse's comprehensive biography captures that quality. It was interesting to note that while Stark had the perspicacity to see some of the problems created by British colonialism, she, herself, was ardent British loyalist with a sometimes imperialistic attitude. She also seemed completely obtuse when it came to her private, romanti This is a biography of Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark of the Twentieth Century's most inveterate female travelers and experts on the Middle East. She also seemed completely obtuse when it came to her private, romantic life. I was completely drawn in by the subject, in large part due to how well it was handled by the author. Aug 11, Caroline rated it really liked it Shelves: biographybritish-history. Freya Stark lived a truly remarkable life. Freya was largely self-taught, learning Arabic and Persian for fun, always fascinated by the Orient. And what travels! She would travel on foot, by donkey or camel into some of the most inaccessible regions of the Middle East, places that scarcely saw Westerners, let alone single Western women. She would infiltrate mosques and harems, climb mountains, uncover ruined cities, live amongst the simple people of the deserts, sleeping under the stars or in Bedouin tents. She wrote numerous travel books, becoming one of the foremost experts on Islamic history and peoples. During WW2 she worked for the British Ministry of Information in Egypt and Iraq as a propaganda Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark, lending her knowledge of the region to support the British war effort. This Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark is no hagiography, exposing Freya warts and all - her bravery, independence, sense of adventure and fun is all laid out alongside her tendency to imperiousness, her habit of using people who could be helpful to her, her neediness and desperate longing to be loved. She comes across as a fascinating person, a woman who never let convention stand in the way of what she wanted, a Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark traveller keenly interested in everyone she came across, but somehow a woman who, whilst comfortable in any kind of surrounding, was never truly comfortable in herself. Nov 29, Becky rated it really liked it. Fascinating woman about whom I had absolutely no prior knowledge. Freya Stark was a traveler and writer basically, but she was also an explorer Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark map-maker and diplomat and possibly a spy. She started traveling at the age of 22 and didn't quit until she was in her 90s. Her personal life was a mess though, in spite of her charm and intelligence which worked so well elsewhere. She was spoiled, selfish, Fascinating woman about whom I had absolutely no prior knowledge. She was spoiled, selfish, ambitious, jealous, flirtatious and very, very proud. The book itself is a bit dry and I wish there had been more about Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark actual explorations - but I suppose I should read Stark's work to learn the details of that. The quotes in the book are teasers. I think I'd like to start with "The Valley of the Assassins. Apr 15, Kate Lawrence rated it really liked it Shelves: biographywomen-s-issues. What an amazing life! Freya Stark was an explorer of the Middle East in the s and 30s when it was a risky undertaking, something women and most men wouldn't think of doing. She ultimately became so knowledgeable about the region, and fluent in local languages, that her advice was sought by government policy-making officials, especially during WWII, and she found herself invited to hobnob with the rich and famous. She overcame a very difficult childhood and many "close calls"--both in traveli What an amazing life! Passionate Nomad : The Life of Freya Stark - -

She wrote more than two dozen books on her travels in the Middle East and Afghanistan as well as several autobiographical works and essays. She was one of the first non-Arabs to travel through the southern Arabian Desert. Stark was born on 31 January in Paris, [1] where her parents were studying art. Her maternal grandmother lived in Genoa. Her parents' marriage was unhappy from the outset, and they separated early in Stark's childhood. No corroboration of this account, even from Stark herself, is known; she did not make any reference to it in any of her Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark, including her autobiography. She was often ill while young and confined to the house, so she found an outlet in reading. She delighted in reading French, in particular Dumasand taught herself Latin. When she was thirteen, in an accident in a factory in Italy, her hair was caught in a machine, tearing her scalp and ripping her right ear off. When she was thirty years old, Stark chose to study languages in university. She hoped to escape her difficult life as a flower farmer in northern Italy. Her professor suggested Icelandic, [5] but she chose to study Arabic and later Persian. One can only really travel if one lets oneself go and takes what every place brings without trying to turn it into a healthy private pattern of one's own and I suppose that is the difference between travel and tourism. InVera died after a miscarriage. In her writings, Stark explained that Vera was not able to live life on her own terms, and she Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark not do the same. Shortly afterward, she began her travels. In Novembershe visited Asolo for the first time in years. Later that month she boarded a ship for Beirut, where her travels in the East began. She kept the journey secret as Syria and Lebanon were under French control, also known as Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon. This was a Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark government system that did not allow travel within the region. The group travelled by night and took remote, countryside routes. However, French Army officers still caught them, thought the women to be spies, but released them three days later. After her trip, Stark wrote about the repressive French regime and the abuse inflicted on the Syrian people in an English magazine. Byshe had completed three dangerous treks into the wilderness of western Iranparts of which no Westerner had ever visited, and had located the long-fabled Valleys of the Assassins Hashshashins. InStark sailed down the Red Sea to Aden to begin a new adventure. She hoped to trace the frankincense route of the Hadhramautthe hinterland of southern Arabia. However, she fell seriously ill on the trip. After contracting measles from a child in a harem, as well as dysentery, she had to be airlifted Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark a British hospital in Aden. Stark also returned to the region for additional trips. During these journeys, she encountered slaverywhich caused a "moral predicament", according to a New Yorker profile. Stark reasoned that slavery seemed to decline in societies that were less religious, and thus she felt that slavery would decline in Arabia as it evolved. InStark went on an official tour of British Mandate of Palestine. She gave speeches that called for quotas on Jewish migration to Palestine, which angered the global Jewish community. However, Stark felt that she was not at all anti-Jewish; she simply felt that Arab consent should be considered before mass migration took place. These speeches are thought to be her most controversial work during WWII. What can we do? It is the ruthless last penny that they squeeze out of you that does it Inat the age of 54, she married Stewart Perownea British administrator, Arabist, and historian. Their marriage had many troubles, and Stark did not adjust well to being the wife of a civil servant. During these years she wrote nothing on travel and exploration, but published a volume of miscellaneous essays, Perseus in the Wind and three volumes of autobiography, Traveller's PreludeBeyond Euphrates. Autobiography — and The Coast of Incense. Autobiography — Perowne died in Stark's first extensive travels after the war were in Turkey, which were Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark basis of her books Ionia a QuestThe Lycian ShoreAlexander's Path and Riding to the Tigris After this she continued her memoirs with Dust in the Lion's Paw. Autobiography —and published a history of Rome on the Euphrates: The Story of a Frontier and another collection of essays, The Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark Arch The last expedition was to Afghanistan inwhen Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark was 75 years old. She travelled to visit the 12th century Minaret of Jam. In her retirement at Asolo, apart from a short survey, Turkey: A Sketch of Turkish Historyshe busied herself by putting together a new collection of essays, A Peak in Darienand preparing selections of her Letters 8 volumes, —82; one volume, Over the rim of the world: selected lettersand of her travel writings, The Journey's Echo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. British explorer and writer. ParisFrance. Perseus in the Wind. Beyond Euphrates: Autobiography — Ionia, A Quest. Autobiography — The Independent. Retrieved 31 March The New Yorker. Retrieved 18 May National Geographic Adventure. History's Greatest Explorers. Archived from the original on 26 August London: Modern Library. Royal Geographical Society. Archived from the original PDF on 27 September Retrieved 24 August Unconquerable Minds", Palgrave Macmillan,p. The New York Times. Retrieved 24 May Israel Affairs. New York Times. Retrieved 27 October The London Gazette Retrieved 29 December Freya Madeline, Mrs. Perownewriter and traveller. Geniesse, Jane Fletcher Random House Publishing Group. Oxford University Press M. Moorehead, Freya Stark Namespaces Article Talk. Views Read Edit View history. Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file. Download as PDF Printable version. Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote. Wikiquote has quotations related to: Freya Stark.