Life of Miss Nightingale.
ONLY ONE COPY RECORDED
(Nightingale, Florence, subject) The Life of Miss Nightingale. The Heroine of European
Philanthropy. A Faithful Biography of her Charitable and Humane Life in England.
[London]: Coulson, W Dever, [1856].
8vo.; 16 pp.; disbound.
First edition of this scarce chapbook life of Florence Nightingale published around the
time of her most famous nursing work in the Crimean War at Scutari. With the ownership
signature of author and ceramicist Llewellynn Jewitt, at the top of the title page with the
number ‘7’ adjacent to the signature.
“What she has done was not the sudden act of a heroine, who, on a fit of inspiration, does
what other women might have done had they pleased; for it required a combination of
high qualities - an affectionate nature, dignified manners, good position, a special
aptitude, and very large experience. It was a service not once for all, for it was an obvious
beginning of things, and an example that commanded imitation. It was, in a time of great
need, a contribution to the national strength and the mitigation of a national scandal. The
most literal value of it extended from England to a noble cause, and from that cause to the
interests of humanity. Not a soldier, not a statesman, has done so great and such
undeniable service, and the lady now stands deservedly honoured.” (p. 15)
Though the text is cheaply printed, with misprints and errors throughout, this constitutes
one of the earliest, if not the earliest, biographies of Nightingale, bearing testament to her
popularity, and the high esteem in which she was held both during and after her time in
the Crimea. OCLC locates only one copy: at The British Library.
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