Current events in the Middle East have revived interest in the extraordinary life and accomplishments of Gertrude Bell, "the female Lawrence of Arabia." A skilled archeologist, historian, and linguist, Bell wrote captivating, perceptive accounts of her Eastern travels. This intriguing narrative — accompanied by 160 photos — traces her 1905 sojourn in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Reprint of the E. P. Dutton and Company, New York, 1907 edition.
Here's a sample of other books in this Dover category
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella L. Bird Eloquent descriptions by a middle-aged Englishwoman — traveling alone in the Colorado Rockies during 1873 — of flora and fauna, isolated settlers, vigilance committees, lynchings, and other fascinating subjects.
Magic and Mystery in Tibet by Madame Alexandra David-Neel A practicing Buddhist and Oriental linguist recounts supernatural events she witnessed in Tibet during the 1920s. Intelligent and witty, she describes the fantastic effects of meditation and shamanic magic — levitation, telepathy, more. 32 photographs.
Memoirs of an Arabian Princess from Zanzibar by Emily Ruete, Sayyida Prin. of Zanzibar This 19th-century autobiography offers a rare inside look at the society surrounding a sultan's palace. A real-life princess in exile recalls her vanished world of harems, slave trading, and court intrigues.