It’s hard to sum up Gertrude Bell (1868-1926) succinctly other than as a polymath or perhaps a female Lawrence of Arabia. She was an archaeologist, spy, Arabist, explorer, linguist, author, poet, photographer, mountaineer and nation builder, playing a major role in the formation of Iraq after the First World War. She was raised in Redcar and her family has many other associations with places in Yorkshire, not least East Rounton near Northallerton and Mt Grace Priory where her grandfather and father lived.

Launched in the centenary of her death, my two-part talk visits these places and describes Gertrude's achievements.