Safar Nameh: Persian Pictures: A Book of Travel

by Gertrude Bell

This book of 'Persian Pictures' is the first published work of Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), the celebrated traveller, archaeologist, Orientalist and supporter of Arab independence. She first visited Persia in 1892, when a relative by marriage was British minister there, and published her impressions in a series of essays in 1894. Her subjects range from Roman ruins to Ottoman graves to shopping in the bazaars, and from the bustling life of cities to the isolation of the desert. Having studied the Persian language in preparation for her journey, she was able to enter into the life of the country, and especially of its women, more deeply than a casual visitor, and indeed her second publication was a free-verse translation of the fourteenth-century poet Hafiz. Bell captures a sense of delight at a mysterious land still marked by the traces of many of the great civilisations of the past.

Genres: Travel

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1894

About the author

Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist.

Reviews

[Nawel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pas très compliqué à lire. On tombe souvent dans les clichés Orientalistes. Pas fan des récits de voyage de manière générale.

[Zara Bahrami · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting travel journey written by a British lady. I liked the poetic descriptive language she employs in transcribing the life of Persians and their national characteristics :)

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paternalistic (maternalistic? since Gertrude is a woman) and includes the usual tropes, but the writing and imagery is great.

[F S · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable travel book from the 19th century