October 21

Isabelle Eberhardt was born in Geneva in 1877 and became known for her daring expeditions into the Sahara. Adopting male attire and converting to Islam, she immersed herself in local cultures and wrote vivid travelogues that challenged European stereotypes. Her essays and letters, published posthumously, revealed both her adventurous spirit and reflective literary style. Eberhardt’s life was marked by a search for freedom and identity at a time when female travelers were rare. She died in a flash flood near Aïn Séfra in 1904, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking exploration and writing.