Ever Yours, Florence Nightingale: Selected Letters

For many, Florence Nightingale is the most famous woman of her day, second only perhaps to Queen Victoria. Celebrated and beloved by the public and her friends, considered an irritant by politicians and bureaucrats, the great reformer remains a figure of considerable controversy. In this full 'life in letters' we see her at first hand. Martha Vicinus and Bea Nergaard weave together a narrative account and a selection of her letters in such a way as to create--in Nightingale's own words--a fascinating portrayal of the woman, her career, and her concerns.

As one of the most famous women of the 19th century, Florence Nightingale reflected the changes and continuities of her age and the conflicts and contradictions that beset pioneering women of the era. Hence, this important collection--selected from over 10,000 of her surviving letters--should prove immensely valuable to students and scholars. The letters represent the full range of her interests and reveal her complex nature: her family conflicts, her ambivalence toward feminism, her views on gender relations. The volume's usefulness is enhanced by a general biographical introduction, focused introductions to each chronological section, and selected reference material. Recommended for specialists.
- Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.