Across Arabia: Three Weeks in 1937

In March 1937, Geraldine Rendel became the first Western woman to travel openly across Saudi Arabia as a non-Muslim, receive public reception by King Abd al-Aziz, and attend a dinner in the royal palace in Riyadh. Her husband, George, head of the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, had been responsible for Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia since 1930. Their journey was documented in a diary, which is now published for the first time, offering a unique perspective on Saudi Arabia on the verge of modernization.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2021
Publisher: Medina Publishing Ltd

In March 1937, Geraldine Rendel achieved a remarkable trio of distinctions. As the first Western woman to travel openly across Saudi Arabia as a non-Muslim, the first to be received in public by King Abd al-Aziz, and the first to be received at dinner in the royal palace in Riyadh, she joined a select group of pioneering British woman travelers in Arabia. Until the 1930s, a journey by any foreigner, male or female, across Arabia was a rare occurrence. However, with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, an influx of diplomats and oil company representatives began to make their way to its remote desert capital, Riyadh, aided by the arrival of the motorcar. The Rendels, both keen photographers, captured some of the finest images from that period. Geraldine's husband, George, who headed the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office, had been responsible for Britain's relations with Saudi Arabia since 1930. When King Abd al-Aziz invited them to the Kingdom for a visit combining diplomacy with travel, George accepted with enthusiasm. The couple kept a detailed diary, on which Geraldine drew to write a lively account that she intended for publication. In contrast to her husband, who had serious political business to conduct, she treated their journey as a holiday. Despite her vivid social encounters, humor, and insights into the women's side of life, her narrative failed to appear in print. Fortunately, it is published here for the first time, coupled with the couple's striking images, providing a unique picture of Saudi Arabia on the verge of modernization. William Facey's biographical introduction interweaves the story of Geraldine's adventurous life with the evolution of Anglo-Saudi relations, adding depth and context to this captivating account.

Weight: 1098g
Dimension: 208 x 264 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780992980856