By Desert Ways to Baghdad by Louisa Jebb Wilkins is an engaging travel memoir recounting the author’s adventurous journey through the Middle East, particularly across the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), on the way to Baghdad. The book stands out for its vivid descriptions of the landscape and its reflection on the cultural and social dynamics of the region, during a time when few Western women undertook such expeditions.Accompanied by a friend, Wilkins defies societal norms by traveling on horseback, living with Bedouin tribes, and navigating the vast desert wilderness. Her account combines travel narrative with insightful commentary on the local customs, traditions, and lifestyles of the people she encounters. Wilkins’ adventurous spirit and curiosity about the Bedouin way of life drive her exploration of remote villages and ancient ruins, making the journey as much a cultural study as an adventure tale.