Black Nightingale by Julia Buss

Black Nightingale by Julia Buss is an inspiring Historical novel about Mary Seacole. During the Crimean War, Mary Seacole was a very compassionate nurse who served on the British side. Britain, France and Russia were involved in this war. The British and French fought against Russia.

Mary Seacole never took sides. If a soldier was injured, near death, she helped that soldier. Whether he was British, French or Russian didn't matter to her. She only saw the pain, the ugly wounds or the Scurvy the soldier was suffering with at the time. Not only does the Historical novel portray a fantastic picture of a great woman it also shows the horrors of war. I don't think my mind comprehended what men saw during that time of war. Julia Buss describes in great detail the men who lost limbs, dead bodies piled up unburied, a doctor who didn't wash his hands, mud and blood mixed together, etc.


Throughout the novel, one of Mary Seacole's patients is named over and over again. His name is Fred Morrison. Fred Morrison becomes Seacole's patient after he has been shot in the head. Although she gives him the best of care, his mind is never the same again. His commanding officer sends him back to the front to fight. Seacole fought to save him from going back into battle knowing his mind was gone.Fred goes back into battle, at the front, with a silly smile on his face. Seacole never forgets this patient. She looks for him throughout the war hoping she can save him before he loses his life.

When Mary first gets to Turkey, she meets Florence Nightingale. Florence Nightingale does not accept Mary Seacole's service. I did not understand Florence Nightingale's motivation. Was this a snub against Mary Seacole? I felt the author glossed this part of the novel over and did not fully tell why Florence Nightingale acted in such a way. I fear Julia Buss did not want to write anything that might appear negative about Florence Nightingale's behavior. This part of the novel left me feeling confused and with questions and no answers dallying in the back of my mind. Otherwise, this is a Historical novel about The Black Nightingale which should not be missed.   bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/famouspeople/mary_seacole/ I would love to read another Historical novel written by Julia Buss.

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