Desert Queen

The author does a great job of presenting the life of Gertrude Bell. She draws heavily on letters written by and to Miss Bell and doesn't overly present a personal opinion on the story being presented.

This would be a book I present to someone looking for a role model. Granted she had family money and influence to draw on to get her into an area of the world most Europeans didn't appear to have visited much, and it allowed her to do things she wanted to do [rather than have to do to put bread on the table] but she also stood her ground in environments hostile to women [sadly amongst her own countrymen], took risks, and faced dangerous situations.

Her life also gives insights into the struggles of someone who wanted a partner to share her life and experiences with but the stars never would align to make it happen.