So when I was considering when to post my review for Florence Nightingale by Catherine Reef, I thought, what better day to do it then on People in Uniform Day.
Florence was a lady who “pushed hard against her family objections – and society’s rigid rules – to create the life she felt called to live”. Florence lived in the 19th century when a man could walk around freely and choose his path to live, but women were expected to keep the home and stay within it. Florence “wanted the world to move forward. She thought that in nursing, as in every human activity, “constant progress is the law of life.”” (pp4-6)
This book leads us carefully through Florence’s life, her family, the obstacles she faced, and her tenacity to do what she fervently believed she was meant to do. Through her, the face of nursing was changed.
Florence’s faith in God was based in action. God calls us forth to work and do. She questioned much about the bible, but considered God and his work an important part of her life.
This was a fascinating book to go through, I learned so much! :)
Her motto is a good one, Keep learning, keep questioning, and keep moving forward. Think about God first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Raincoast books generously provided me with this book to read. It's called Florence Nightingale: the Courageous life of the legendary Nurse and it is written by Catherine Reef. A Houghton Mifflin Harcourt book, meant for an audience 12 years and up. 192 pages. |
Most people know Florence Nightingale was a compassionate and legendary nurse, but they don't know her full story. This riveting biography explores the exceptional life of a woman who defied the stifling conventions of Victorian society to pursue what was considered an undesirable vocation. She is best known for her work during the Crimean War, when she vastly improved gruesome and deadly conditions and made nightly rounds to visit patients, becoming known around the world as the Lady withthe Lamp. Her tireless and inspiring work continued after the war, and her modern methods in nursing became the defining standards still used today. Includes notes, bibliography, and index .