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Wow. Worth the wait.

Perhaps I should have read this biography before naming my daughter Freya? No matter. Freya Stark was a truly fascinating and complex person, and Geniesse does her justice in this excellent and well-researched book. Stark was passionate about traveling, educating herself, always learning, and finding beauty, insight, and inspiration everywhere. I've loved her books, and I was really happy to learn more about her life and who she actually was - I was struck by how she constantly pushed to improve herself and change her life for the better, especially in her youth when she was rather trapped by circumstances. It impressed me so much that she had the courage to pursue travel and a new career in her mid-30s, a time when (it seems to me, anyway) many people have accepted their lot in life and settled down. But she went for it, and built an amazing and impressive life for herself. Geniesse paints a complete picture, focusing on Freya's early life, Arabian travels, and activities during WWII. The last 30 years of her life were skimmed over in just a few pages, but then, the woman lived to be around 101, so we can forgive Geniesse for keeping her focus on the juicier bits. In conclusion, I'm glad my daughter carries this name, and I highly recommend this very readable biography.