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Modern Library (2001), Edition: Modern Library pbk. ed, 410 pages
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A New York Times Notable Book * Finalist for the PEN/Martha Albrand Award for First Nonfiction "Highly readable biography . . . The woman who emerges from these pages is a complex figure--heroic, driven . . . and entirely human."--Richard Bernstein, The New York Times Passionate Nomad captures the momentous life and times of Freya Stark with precision, compassion, and marvelous detail. Hailed by The Times of London as "the last of the Romantic Travellers" upon her death in 1993, Freya Stark combined unflappable bravery, formidable charm, fearsome intellect, and ferocious ambition to become the twentieth century's best-known woman traveler. Digging beneath the mythology, Geniesse uncovers a complex, controversial, and quixotic woman whose indomitable spirit was forged by contradictions: a child of privilege, Stark grew up in near poverty; yearning for formal education, she was largely self-taught; longing for love, she consistently focused on the wrong men. Despite these hardships, Stark's astonishing career spanned more than sixty years, during which she produced twenty-two books that sealed her reputation as a consummate woman of letters. This edition includes a new Epilogue by the author that, citing newly discovered evidence, calls into question the circumstances of Stark's birth and adds new insight into this adventurous and lively personality. Praise for Passionate Nomad "Passionate Nomad is a work of nonfiction that reads and sings with the drama and lilt of a fine novel. The story of Freya Stark is stunning, inspiring, sad, funny, unique, and moving. Jane Fletcher Geniesse tells it straight, but with a care for delicious detail and a sympathy for the characters that make this a truly special book."--Jim Lehrer "Passionate Nomad supplies a fascinating individual thread in the tapestry of twentiethcentury Middle Eastern history. . . . [Geniesse] has achieved, in the end, an admirable focus, at once critical and sympathetic. . . . For all Stark's unresolved contradictions, . . . her distinction as a latter-day woman of letters survives."--The New York Times Book Review "Compulsively readable . . . [Geniesse] has done a thorough job re-creating the life of a woman many consider to be the last of the great romantic travelers."--The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LynnB
This biography deals with Freya Stark, who became an expert Arabist before and during World War II. She was an intrepid traveller, often travelling in remote areas by donkey and relying on the kindness of locals to lodge her. She was a member of the Royal Geographical Society and contributed to
And, she was an accomplished writer. Examples in the book of Freya's own writing prompted me to order a book written by her. She speaks eloquently of perseverance: "...it is not so oftern realized that another quality must accompany it to make it of any value -- and that is elasticity; perseverance in only one direction very often fails..." And of indifference: "it is a remarkable thing, when one comes to consider it, that indifference should be so generally considered a sign of superiority the world over..."
The biography itself is a balanced look at Freya's life. The first two chapters are not written in chronological order, which can be confusing, but the book flows better after that.
The author places too much importance on Freya's appearance. While Freya herself lamented her lack of beauty, the author picks up this theme with a little too much zeal for someone writing in 1999 of a woman who accomplished so much.
Given the current conflicts in the Middle East and between western society and Islam, this book is a timely read. The history of Arabic societies, including broken promises by imperial countries, deepened my understanding of issues we are hearing about on the daily news.
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accurate mapping of the middle east. She worked for the British Foreign Office during the War to build support for the Allies. And, she was an accomplished writer. Examples in the book of Freya's own writing prompted me to order a book written by her. She speaks eloquently of perseverance: "...it is not so oftern realized that another quality must accompany it to make it of any value -- and that is elasticity; perseverance in only one direction very often fails..." And of indifference: "it is a remarkable thing, when one comes to consider it, that indifference should be so generally considered a sign of superiority the world over..."
The biography itself is a balanced look at Freya's life. The first two chapters are not written in chronological order, which can be confusing, but the book flows better after that.
The author places too much importance on Freya's appearance. While Freya herself lamented her lack of beauty, the author picks up this theme with a little too much zeal for someone writing in 1999 of a woman who accomplished so much.
Given the current conflicts in the Middle East and between western society and Islam, this book is a timely read. The history of Arabic societies, including broken promises by imperial countries, deepened my understanding of issues we are hearing about on the daily news.
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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace
Freya Stark was an amazing woman. Not because she explored uncharted territories. Not because she dared to go where even the bravest of men hadn't. Not because she had no regard for her own well being. Not even because she was an expert Arabist. She was an amazing woman because she dared, period.
Geniesse weaves a convincing autobiography of Freya Stark using letters to and from Freya, journals, interviews, but mostly from Freya's own library of books written about her experiences. Freya was a prolific writer and so Geniesse had plenty of material to draw from. The final product is a fascinating account of one woman's rise to recognition through exploration and encourage, especially during one of the most volatile times of our history - World War II.
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We hear about the glass ceiling and what women even today are tolerating. Freya faced all that and more.Geniesse weaves a convincing autobiography of Freya Stark using letters to and from Freya, journals, interviews, but mostly from Freya's own library of books written about her experiences. Freya was a prolific writer and so Geniesse had plenty of material to draw from. The final product is a fascinating account of one woman's rise to recognition through exploration and encourage, especially during one of the most volatile times of our history - World War II.
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LibraryThing member bookwoman247
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
I was completely drawn in by the subject, in large part due to how well it was handled by the author.
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
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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, romantic life.I was completely drawn in by the subject, in large part due to how well it was handled by the author.
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LibraryThing member beabatllori
I don't usually read biographies, but my dad gifted this to my mom - she thought it looked boring. Perfect book stealing opportunity!
LibraryThing member maryreinert
This book is for anyone who loves adventure, different cultures, exciting and interesting characters, and history. I had never even heard of Freya Stark before stumbling upon a recommendation for this book. I started it with some uncertainty, but soon I couldn't put it down. The author has done a
I loved the writing syle, the pictures, and the use of quotes from Stark's writing as chapter headers (several I have copied to keep on file). This book is definitely readable, informative, entertaining, and has lead me to explore Stark's own writings as well as information about the many individuals who appear in the book (such as Gertrude Bell).
The only annoying element of this book was the author's focus on Stark's appearance. Apparently, however, this was a huge concern for Stark herself, but by looking at her pictures, she certainly was not that unattractive. And her smile is delightful.
I thank the Amazon reader who lead me to this book. I highly recommend it as well.
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wonderful job of presenting the life of this fascinating woman in the context of the times. I learned so much about the history of the Middle East and have a little bit better understanding of the many complexities facing that area today.I loved the writing syle, the pictures, and the use of quotes from Stark's writing as chapter headers (several I have copied to keep on file). This book is definitely readable, informative, entertaining, and has lead me to explore Stark's own writings as well as information about the many individuals who appear in the book (such as Gertrude Bell).
The only annoying element of this book was the author's focus on Stark's appearance. Apparently, however, this was a huge concern for Stark herself, but by looking at her pictures, she certainly was not that unattractive. And her smile is delightful.
I thank the Amazon reader who lead me to this book. I highly recommend it as well.
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LibraryThing member setnahkt
Freya Stark: tough but hypochondriac; sophisticated but naïve; intelligent but uneducated; friendly but demanding of her friends. Biographer Jane Fletcher Geniesse is even-handed, showing Ms. Stark warts and all. Freya Stark was the daughter of an unhappy marriage between Robert Stark, artist, and
Life in Italy was extremely hard for the Starks; Flora was very demanding of her children, treating them like maids, and seems to have allowed her probable lover Mario to make advances to both sisters (he eventually married Vera). Although Freya had some romances – notably with an older doctor – none prospered, and she eventually escaped her mother and home by traveling. Her first trip was to Lebanon, where she boarded with a native family while learning Arabic; she and a friend eventually tried to enter the forbidden Druse territory but were arrested by French authorities before getting too far. This set the pattern for her later adventures; she traveled “rough”, either sleeping on the ground or finding a room with local families. She was aided by her quick grasp of language and empathy for Middle Eastern women. Her breakthrough trip was a journey to Yemen, where her mapping won her acclaim from the Royal Geographic Society. This led to a further but less successful trip, the “Wakefield Expedition” (named after the British lord who financed it). Freya teamed up with archaeologist Gertrude Caton-Thompson and anthropologist Elinor Gardner to further explore the Yemen. Unfortunately the ladies did not hit it off; in particular Freya thought Caton-Thompson and Gardner treated the natives poorly while the other ladies complained of Stark’s disorganization and poor planning. Behind their backs the local British authorities referred to them as the “Foolish Virgins”. Stark wrote a extremely catty book about the expedition, but her publisher persuaded her to tone it down.
Other expeditions followed; to Turkey, Tran and Iraq. Freya was in Iraq, holed up in the British embassy during the “Golden Square” pro-Axis revolt; then she was recruited by the Foreign Office to use her language abilities and contact to set up a pro-Allied organization in Egypt. She knew everybody; Virginia Wolff, Lawrence Durrell, Ian Fleming, Alice Roosevelt-Longworth, Vita Sackville-West, General Wavell, and the Queen Mother (her relationship with General Wavell seems to have been helped by the fact that Wavell apparently had a fetish for women’s hats and Freya had them in abundance). After the war, she had a brief marriage with another diplomat, and then continued travelling well into her eighties. She died a few weeks after her 100th birthday.
In addition to her diplomatic work, she had a successful career as an author. Rather than keeping a journal of her travels, she sent numerous letters to friends and family while on the road, asking them to keep them; her travel books came from harvesting these letters. I haven’t read any of her books, but they generally received favorable reviews. Geniesse prefaces each chapter with a paragraph from one of Freya Stark’s books, and all seem well written.
It wasn’t all seamless glory; Stark had a number of character flaws that Geniesse is not reluctant to point out. She tended to be dismissive of inconvenient laws and regulations, starting with her venture into forbidden Druse territory in Lebanon and continuing through numerous petty smuggling adventures (she had false bottom suitcases built to facilitate this). A particularly notorious episode involved a car purchased in India during the war; since cars were rationed, she had to have government permission to buy one – which she got, presumably on the strength of her reputation. She drove through Afghanistan and Iran, then sold the car in Iran for about five times what she paid for it. The press jumped on her, claiming she had sold a “government” car – which wasn’t the case, but that was the myth that stuck. She also took advantage of her government connections on other occasions, getting picked up by the RAF after she became ill on one of her Yemen expeditions and getting a ride from Baghdad to Cairo on a Blenheim on another trip. Most disturbing was her treatment of friends and acquaintances, who she expected to run errands for her, make purchases, and sometimes engage in some of her smuggling adventures; some friendships broke up over this.
Stark’s romantic life was unfortunately less successful than her career as a traveler and author. Many of her letters express despondency over her appearance; she thought of herself as ugly and regretted not being a “beauty”. Photographs of her show the younger Freya might best be described as “winsome”; at 5’1” she was small (she always wore high heels, even in the desert, a fact commented on by astonished Arabs), had slightly crooked teeth, and, of course, always wore large hats to disguise her scars. She seems to have been attracted to married and gay men, but was breathtakingly naïve about homosexuality, especially considering the diplomatic milieu she had lived in for years. It’s not clear if she had any lovers; her letters hint at fending off a couple of passes and yearning after unavailable or unwilling men. In her fifties, she accepted a marriage proposal from Stewart Perowne, a diplomat eight years younger and a homosexual. Her astonished friends tried to hint that Perowne was “queer” - Stark took that to mean “unusual” and said there was nothing wrong with it; they were even more aghast when Freya turned girlish and bought an assortment of peek-a-boo lingerie for her trousseau. To be fair, Perowne might have thought Freya was a lesbian, as many of her female friends were single women; he may have anticipated a companiable relationship (similar to their mutual friends Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West). Instead it was a dramatic failure; Freya didn’t adapt at all to the role of diplomatic wife (especially since Perowne was posted to the Caribbean, far away from her Middle East haunts) and was dismayed to discover what “queer” actually meant. She pushed heavily to get Perowne transferred to a more important post than Barbados, which was resented by Perowne and by the friends who she pressured. They eventually parted more or less amicably.
Geniesse is readable and mostly straightforward; if there’s a flaw it’s that she tends to psychoanalyze too much, attributing Stark’s talents or blaming her flaws on her father’s “desertion”, her mother’s “indifference”, or similar influences. Perhaps so; I tend to believe people are responsible for their own character but that’s just as unprovable as blaming their family life. There’s an appropriate selection of photographs from various stages in Freya Stark’s career, and an extensive bibliography. Footnotes and endnotes are unobtrusive. Sketch maps are frequent, but it would help if they showed the paths Stark took on her travels rather than just the general area. I’m most definitely inspired to read Freya Stark’s own books.
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Flora Stark (his cousin; hence with the same family name). Flora was tall, beautiful, and flighty; her initial attraction to Robert seems to have paled fairly quickly, and Geniesse came across documentation that he was not really Freya’s father shortly after finishing her book; it had to be included as an appendix. The Starks moved to Italy, and Flora left Robert to become (probably) the mistress and assistant of an Italian factory owner; Robert left Italy to move to Canada and become a fruit farmer. Freya and her sister Vera visited the factory as children; Freya’s long hair was caught in rotating machinery and the scalp on the right side of her head was torn off – including her right ear. The disfigurement left her very self-conscious about her appearance; although she had plastic surgery later in life she always affected large hats and a hairstyle that covered most of the scarring.Life in Italy was extremely hard for the Starks; Flora was very demanding of her children, treating them like maids, and seems to have allowed her probable lover Mario to make advances to both sisters (he eventually married Vera). Although Freya had some romances – notably with an older doctor – none prospered, and she eventually escaped her mother and home by traveling. Her first trip was to Lebanon, where she boarded with a native family while learning Arabic; she and a friend eventually tried to enter the forbidden Druse territory but were arrested by French authorities before getting too far. This set the pattern for her later adventures; she traveled “rough”, either sleeping on the ground or finding a room with local families. She was aided by her quick grasp of language and empathy for Middle Eastern women. Her breakthrough trip was a journey to Yemen, where her mapping won her acclaim from the Royal Geographic Society. This led to a further but less successful trip, the “Wakefield Expedition” (named after the British lord who financed it). Freya teamed up with archaeologist Gertrude Caton-Thompson and anthropologist Elinor Gardner to further explore the Yemen. Unfortunately the ladies did not hit it off; in particular Freya thought Caton-Thompson and Gardner treated the natives poorly while the other ladies complained of Stark’s disorganization and poor planning. Behind their backs the local British authorities referred to them as the “Foolish Virgins”. Stark wrote a extremely catty book about the expedition, but her publisher persuaded her to tone it down.
Other expeditions followed; to Turkey, Tran and Iraq. Freya was in Iraq, holed up in the British embassy during the “Golden Square” pro-Axis revolt; then she was recruited by the Foreign Office to use her language abilities and contact to set up a pro-Allied organization in Egypt. She knew everybody; Virginia Wolff, Lawrence Durrell, Ian Fleming, Alice Roosevelt-Longworth, Vita Sackville-West, General Wavell, and the Queen Mother (her relationship with General Wavell seems to have been helped by the fact that Wavell apparently had a fetish for women’s hats and Freya had them in abundance). After the war, she had a brief marriage with another diplomat, and then continued travelling well into her eighties. She died a few weeks after her 100th birthday.
In addition to her diplomatic work, she had a successful career as an author. Rather than keeping a journal of her travels, she sent numerous letters to friends and family while on the road, asking them to keep them; her travel books came from harvesting these letters. I haven’t read any of her books, but they generally received favorable reviews. Geniesse prefaces each chapter with a paragraph from one of Freya Stark’s books, and all seem well written.
It wasn’t all seamless glory; Stark had a number of character flaws that Geniesse is not reluctant to point out. She tended to be dismissive of inconvenient laws and regulations, starting with her venture into forbidden Druse territory in Lebanon and continuing through numerous petty smuggling adventures (she had false bottom suitcases built to facilitate this). A particularly notorious episode involved a car purchased in India during the war; since cars were rationed, she had to have government permission to buy one – which she got, presumably on the strength of her reputation. She drove through Afghanistan and Iran, then sold the car in Iran for about five times what she paid for it. The press jumped on her, claiming she had sold a “government” car – which wasn’t the case, but that was the myth that stuck. She also took advantage of her government connections on other occasions, getting picked up by the RAF after she became ill on one of her Yemen expeditions and getting a ride from Baghdad to Cairo on a Blenheim on another trip. Most disturbing was her treatment of friends and acquaintances, who she expected to run errands for her, make purchases, and sometimes engage in some of her smuggling adventures; some friendships broke up over this.
Stark’s romantic life was unfortunately less successful than her career as a traveler and author. Many of her letters express despondency over her appearance; she thought of herself as ugly and regretted not being a “beauty”. Photographs of her show the younger Freya might best be described as “winsome”; at 5’1” she was small (she always wore high heels, even in the desert, a fact commented on by astonished Arabs), had slightly crooked teeth, and, of course, always wore large hats to disguise her scars. She seems to have been attracted to married and gay men, but was breathtakingly naïve about homosexuality, especially considering the diplomatic milieu she had lived in for years. It’s not clear if she had any lovers; her letters hint at fending off a couple of passes and yearning after unavailable or unwilling men. In her fifties, she accepted a marriage proposal from Stewart Perowne, a diplomat eight years younger and a homosexual. Her astonished friends tried to hint that Perowne was “queer” - Stark took that to mean “unusual” and said there was nothing wrong with it; they were even more aghast when Freya turned girlish and bought an assortment of peek-a-boo lingerie for her trousseau. To be fair, Perowne might have thought Freya was a lesbian, as many of her female friends were single women; he may have anticipated a companiable relationship (similar to their mutual friends Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West). Instead it was a dramatic failure; Freya didn’t adapt at all to the role of diplomatic wife (especially since Perowne was posted to the Caribbean, far away from her Middle East haunts) and was dismayed to discover what “queer” actually meant. She pushed heavily to get Perowne transferred to a more important post than Barbados, which was resented by Perowne and by the friends who she pressured. They eventually parted more or less amicably.
Geniesse is readable and mostly straightforward; if there’s a flaw it’s that she tends to psychoanalyze too much, attributing Stark’s talents or blaming her flaws on her father’s “desertion”, her mother’s “indifference”, or similar influences. Perhaps so; I tend to believe people are responsible for their own character but that’s just as unprovable as blaming their family life. There’s an appropriate selection of photographs from various stages in Freya Stark’s career, and an extensive bibliography. Footnotes and endnotes are unobtrusive. Sketch maps are frequent, but it would help if they showed the paths Stark took on her travels rather than just the general area. I’m most definitely inspired to read Freya Stark’s own books.
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LibraryThing member briandrewz
This was a wonderfully written account of the life of legendary explorer, archaeologist, and adventurer Freya Stark. The book simply absorbs you as you begin with Freya's early life and troubled childhood. The trials she faced as a child spilled over into her adulthood. She was longing for love,
Highly recommended.
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longing for freedom, longing for adventure. She found that in the Arab world. Blazing a trail where Gertrude Bell left off, Freya's work became invaluable to the British Government. This "Passionate Nomad" wandered all over from Egypt to India, and it's all here for us in this wonderfully poetic look at her life.Highly recommended.
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Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0375757465 / 9780375757464
Physical description
410 p.; 5.2 inches
Pages
410