Lady Duff Gordon's account of her time in Egypt tells the at times heartbreaking, at times exhilerating story of an Englishwoman's immersion into Egyptian culture during the 1860s--the first of its kind, and arguably the last. The impact her Letters had on future travellers and the understanding of Egypt imparted was perhaps, regrettably, not as wide or as deep as one would wish, considering the future of the Europeans in Egypt. Still today, her admirable open-mindedness and perspective is enlightening and humbling. She was a remarkable woman and her Letters are no less than a representation of that loveliness and dignity.

Frank's account of the life of Lady Gordon is an interesting addition to the previous work by Lucie's great-grandson, Gordon Waterfield. Frank brings in elements not touched on by the 1937 bio, although Waterfield's account is equally as interesting. Both books do an admirable job of conveying the story of this remarkable and unconventional Victorian. If they pique your interest, be sure to seek out Lucie's own works. Gordon Waterfield's 1969 reissue of "Letters From Egypt" contains more of Lucie's letters than the original publication did. Lucie's daughter Janet also wrote bios of the family and her own autobiography, "Fourth Generation" is interesting in its self-portrait of Lucie's very odd eldest daughter.

Lucie Duff Gordon was raised unconventionally in an age that placed great premium on convention. As a young woman in Victorian London, she was part of a literary circle that included Dickens, Thackeray, Carlyle, John Stuart Mills, Tennyson and others. Lucie made a living by translating books into English - but her greatest literary work was brought about by the circumstances that lead to her death.

Seeking out a hot dry climate in a search for a cure for her tuberculosis, Lucie traveled to Egypt in the 1860. And there, in a house built on top of one of the ancient temples of Luxor, she made her home. Unlike some colonial British who recreated a piece of England in foreign lands, Lucie embraced the culture and people of Egypt. And she was, in turn, embraced by the people she met. Noor a la Noor - Light of the Light - was the name bestowed upon her by the people whose lives she touched. Her letters home, with their vivid descriptions of the life she found were published to great acclaim. Lucie died in Egypt far from her family but surrounded by her Egyptian friends