By Desert Ways to Baghdad and Damascus

By Desert Ways to Baghdad and Damascus, published in 1909, records Louisa Jebb’s travels across parts of Mesopotamia and the Levant in the early 20th century. The narrative follows routes through desert regions, towns, and tribal territories, documenting transport conditions, encounters with local communities, and logistical aspects of travel in areas that were then little visited by Western travelers. Jebb offers concise observations on landscape, social structures, and regional politics, presenting a direct account of overland journeys undertaken under often demanding conditions. The book reflects both the constraints and possibilities of independent travel in the Middle East at the time.