Physical description

Illustrated book, front and back cover have coloured illustrations of Crimean War conflicts on a pale grey background. The front cover also has a coloured illustration of a woman in quasi military dress. This last illustration also appears at the top of the spine. The book's title is printed in dark and light brown ink at the top of the front cover and the author's name is printed in light brown ink at the bottom of the front cover. The spine has a light brown background, with title printed in white and light blue, author's name printed in black, and publishers name printed in white. The back cover also has a summary of the book

Publication type

non-fiction

Inscriptions & markings

At the bottom right of the first page is a printed black and white donation sticker: black Maltese cross in circle, "This book was donated to Alfred Archival Association Nursing Division by" AHNL (handwritten in black ink) Also previous catalogue number handwritten in black ink on this label

Summary

The pioneering work of Florence Nightingale has become legendary, but in this book the author also champions the contribution of the women whose stories have largely gone untold-the nurses, cantinieres and army wives who played a vital, but often overlooked role in the theatre of war. Mary Seacole's establishment of "The British Hotel' near Balaclava supplied fatigued soldiers with much needed comfort and medical attention, earning her the respect of many men, but no official recognition