In the autumn of 1939, Freya Stark offered her services to the British Ministry of Information, capitalizing on her extensive prior experience in the Middle East. Her remarkable journey in this phase of her life began when she was assigned to Yemen with the mission of disseminating propaganda in support of the British cause. A notable aspect of her duties included the showing of films, a task fraught with challenge given the strict Islamic beliefs of Yemen’s rulers, who vehemently opposed any representations of humans and wildlife. After a two-month stint in Yemen and Aden, Stark’s talents were redirected to Cairo, where her responsibilities doubled her salary to £1,200. Throughout her adventures, Stark also found time to document her experiences and insights into Middle Eastern cultures and landscapes in her books, contributing significantly to Western understanding of these regions and earning her a distinguished place among travel writers of her era.
Cairo’s Intellectual Salon: Stark’s Advocacy for the British Cause
Upon her arrival in Cairo in June 1940, Stark established an intimate salon that quickly became a hub for passionate advocacy of the British cause. Over tea, four times a week, she engaged in spirited discussions that spanned the spectrum of wartime dynamics. Her salon also evolved into a unique platform, where she hosted curious Egyptian students seeking insights into Britain’s role in the conflict. Christopher Scaife, teaching English at King Fuad I University, played a pivotal role by sending students her way. Stark’s eloquence and conviction compelled her to encourage students to bring their friends, broadening the discussions to encompass not only the war but also its implications for Egypt. These gatherings would eventually form the nucleus of the Ikhwan al Hurriya (Brotherhood of Freedom) propaganda network.
The Ikhwan al Hurriya: Persuading Arabs to Support the Allies
The Brotherhood, an assembly of individuals from all strata of society, rapidly grew, eventually numbering tens of thousands of devoted members. Stark’s role demanded extensive travel throughout Egypt, often involving discussions lasting up to ten hours a day. Her experiences during this pivotal period were meticulously chronicled in her works, notably “Letters from Syria” (1942) and “East is West” (1945).
Extending Influence to Iraq: Stark’s Contribution to British Propaganda
Following a harrowing visit to Iraq in April 1941, during which she found herself trapped in the besieged British Embassy during an attempted coup d’état, British Ambassador Sir Kinahan Cornwallis invited Stark to undertake a new endeavor: the establishment of an Ikhwan al Hurriya branch in Iraq. Stark, never one to shy away from a challenge, accepted the task and dedicated the next two years to the dissemination of British propaganda in the region.
Controversial Statements and a Visit to India
In February 1943, Stark’s journey took her to India, where she visited Archibald Wavell and his wife. To facilitate her return journey, Wavell arranged for her to have a car. After driving the vehicle from Delhi to Tehran, she decided to sell it. However, her decision to dispose of government property during wartime raised eyebrows among officials in Cairo and Aden.
Controversial Stances on Jewish Migration: Stark’s Impact in British Mandate of Palestine
In 1943, Stark embarked on an official tour of the British Mandate of Palestine. During this visit, her speeches called for quotas on Jewish migration to Palestine, a stance that provoked anger and controversy within the global Jewish community. Stark, however, clarified that her position was not anti-Jewish; rather, she believed that Arab consent should be a paramount consideration before mass migration transpired. Her remarks during this period, particularly a statement advocating intermittent “massacres,” remain highly contentious.
Post-War Exploration and Literary Pursuits
Following her marriage in 1947 and a period of relative literary inactivity, Stark resumed her travels. Turkey became the focal point of her post-war explorations, forming the basis for several books that chronicled her experiences. Subsequently, she continued to document her journeys in memoirs and published historical works, leaving an indelible mark on the world of exploration and travel literature.
Exploring Afghanistan at Age 75: Stark’s Enduring Spirit
In a remarkable testament to her enduring spirit, Stark embarked on an expedition to Afghanistan in 1968, when she was 75 years old. Her primary objective was to visit the twelfth-century Minaret of Jam, and her journey resulted in the publication of “The Minaret of Djam: An Excursion into Afghanistan” in 1970.
Retirement and Literary Legacy
During her retirement in Asolo, Stark remained active in literary pursuits, publishing essays, memoirs, and collections of her letters and travel writings. Her life’s work and enduring legacy solidify her status as an influential figure in the realms of exploration, academia, and literary achievement.