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A review by erine
Mary Seacole: Bound for the Battlefield by Susan Goldman Rubin
4.0
When I think of the development of nursing, Florence Nightingale comes to mind almost immediately, and Clara Barton is not too far behind. But like many instances of progress, things didn’t move forward due to just one person or even two. Many people pushed for progress and worked hard to make change happen.
Mary Seacole was considered an annoyance by Florence Nightingale, but by this account she was just another hard-working nurse trying to provide comfort and healing during a time when medical knowledge was pretty spotty. Seacole used her own money and time to improve conditions for the sick and dying, especially during wartime. Her care and compassion were widely appreciated.
My only real complaint about this biography, especially at the beginning, is the uneven pacing. Mary’s siblings are introduced in fits and spurts; her husband comes and goes in a paragraph. I was also a little puzzled by the idea of slavery existing in Jamaica, but as a free Creole child Mary apparently never experienced prejudice until she was in London as a teen.
Overall, though, I found Mary Seacole to be an interesting person, and her life well worth knowing about. The illustrations have a strong old-fashioned vibe, but are warmly and brightly colored and very inviting.
Note: Mary Seacole was Jamaican.
Mary Seacole was considered an annoyance by Florence Nightingale, but by this account she was just another hard-working nurse trying to provide comfort and healing during a time when medical knowledge was pretty spotty. Seacole used her own money and time to improve conditions for the sick and dying, especially during wartime. Her care and compassion were widely appreciated.
My only real complaint about this biography, especially at the beginning, is the uneven pacing. Mary’s siblings are introduced in fits and spurts; her husband comes and goes in a paragraph. I was also a little puzzled by the idea of slavery existing in Jamaica, but as a free Creole child Mary apparently never experienced prejudice until she was in London as a teen.
Overall, though, I found Mary Seacole to be an interesting person, and her life well worth knowing about. The illustrations have a strong old-fashioned vibe, but are warmly and brightly colored and very inviting.
Note: Mary Seacole was Jamaican.