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The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel: A Biography of the Explorer of Tibet and Its Forbidden Practices

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It is my great pleasure to let Amazon readers know about the exploits of Alexandra David-Neel, the explorer of Tibet, which the Fosters chronicle so vividly in the biography, THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL. This bio reads more like a novel or adventure tale due to the wonderfully-detailed scenes with such authentic touches I felt as if I were truly there, and often worried about David-Neel's ability to survive. Obviously the Fosters have done their research incredibly well and write graceful,lucid prose; I was captivated from the first sentence and actually resented having to put down the book to take care of chores. This is is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The story cries out to be told visually on the big screen.

An accomplished and exhaustively researched account of the life of Alexandra David-Neel, explorer, scholar, mystic and heroine to generations. The Fosters' meticulous research and obvious affinity for their subject results in a highly readable work that is part historical detective work, part travelog, and part cultural study. This book of broad based appeal will captivate students of history, armchair travellers, and anyone interested in Tibet and its people. There is no other comparable work available on this fascinating and timely subject.

Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason

Alexandra David-Neel is reputed to be the first Western woman to reach the forbidden city of Lhasa, Tibet. She did so in 1924, a small woman in her mid-50s, disguised as a beggar and accompanied only by her adopted Tibetan son. This was the highlight of a life that lasted until 1969 when she died at age 100.

As the authors point out, however, practically nothing can be said with surety about Mme. David-Neel. One biographer has even claimed that she fabricated the whole story of visiting Lhasa. Probably not -- although she fabricated a lot and was hardly of unimpeachable character. As a matter of fact, although the authors are very respectful of her, she seems a thoroughly selfish, self-centered and repellent person.

David-Neel was a serious student of Buddhism and wrote many books on the subject. One of the juiciest parts of the book concerns the question of whether she participated in group Tantric sex rituals. The authors conclude she probably did.
David-Neel's religion had nothing to do with morality, and it seems unlikely that she ever found inner peace from her Buddhist rituals as she suffered from an endless variety of mental and physical ills. Still, living to be 100 is quite an accomplishment...

Alexandra David-Neel was an opera singer, a hardy and determined traveler, a student of religion, a writer, and a public figure of some note. Some of her papers are still unreleased so the final word about her character and achievements is still to be said. In the meantime this is an entertaining and well-researched biography.

Smallchief

I feel compelled to let people know about a book my best friend gave me for my birthday, The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel. This biography is a riveting read about a woman who did the impossible. A rare bird, she combined intellectual acuteness with a spirit of adventure that took her on a wonderful journey to Lhasa. The Foster's tell her exciting life with verve and in a very readable style. The bio also gave me a worthwhile introduction to buddhism.

Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason

David-Neel herself is a truly inspiring example of a woman following her own path to be all she could be in an life that spans the end of last century and the first half of this one.

This book is a well-written biography that reads very easily and story-like without being novel-ized. Authors are clearly pained about having limited access to some of her personal documents, but have worked hard to document and put together a cohesive picture of her life. They admit to having "read between the lines" in some cases. They also do a great job of conveying enthusiasm (almost envy ;-)for David-Neel's achievements and research into tibetan lore and buddhism.

I first found a photocopy of THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL in a book stall in Dharamsala, India. It was well-thumbed, obviously someone's guide to an adventurous life. I read it over and over as I trekked in the Himalayas, while imagining that I could see the nomads in tents, pilgrim Buddhists who crossed the countryside on foot, monks in red robes, bandits on horseback, grimy mystics meditating in caves, bears, huge curly-haired mastiff dogs, and all the beautiful brown, almond-eyed Tibetans that the French woman explorer saw in that vast landscape of mountains and incredibly blue sky. THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL is a guide to a land of mist and mystery that we will never see again. The explorer arrived in Lhassa in 1924, disguised as a beggar--a women who traveled with a wash cloth, bath tub, a pot to cook in, and dried cereal to eat. Eventually, she traveled with only what she could carry, without porters, guides or friends, except for her devoted adopted son, an enlightened boy monk who sought adventure. People wonder why she traveled alone to the Land of the Snows. I marvel that she did it at all. Highly recommended for world and arm chair travelers!

A restaurant owner, familiar with India-Pakistan-Tibet, first introduced me to Alexandra David-Neel. Shortly thereafter, I was in Sikkim at one of the monasteries that housed her during her studies. And I keep running into her. In any age, she would have been extraordinary and certainly, in an earlier time where woman were kept close to home, she was an anomaly. She is unique, even compared with Bell and Stark. And this is an well told story of the woman and her career and evaluation of her beliefs, without being sensationalized. It's a well written and enjoyable book to read: recommended for all.

The best chapters of 'The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel:'
owe much to Alexandra's own account of her journey to Lhasa. Her own books are wonderful to read, all of them , but in particular her 'My Journey to Lhasa' Beacon Press republished it as a paperback in 1993, ISBN 0-8070-5903-X
I can guarantee you will have a most enjoyable read.