Latest news with #FlorenceNightingale
Economist
6 days ago
- Health
- Economist
Harley Street resists a facelift
Harley Street, a famous medical district in London, is an unusual place. It is highly successful, accounting for 40% of the capital's private-health-care market by revenue—and 10% of Britain's. It is almost entirely owned by aristocrats: the Howard de Walden estate controls around 850 properties in Marylebone, one of the poshest parts of the capital. Go for a consultation and you may find yourself entering a Georgian town house with a plaque outside honouring a former occupant. 'Florence Nightingale left her hospital on this site for the Crimea' is carved into the brickwork of one dental clinic. Leave with a swollen mouth and a sense of history.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nightingale by Laura Elvery review – Florence Nightingale inspires a luminous historical novel
The year is 1850, the eve of the Crimean war, and Florence Nightingale is watching a group of boys at play. From a distance, she composes the scene, preparing to describe it in a letter to her aunt. 'How did she want this part to sound?' she wonders – less concerned with what is happening than how it might be narrated. When she realises the boys are not kicking a ball but tormenting a baby owl, she doesn't recoil. The horror of the image lands alongside another realisation: the story 'might be better' now, though she is left considering how best to reframe the violence for her aunt: 'Knowing she would narrate it later back in the house … Florence would have to tell the story a different way'. That instinct – to reshape the unbearable into something legible – sits at the core of Nightingale, Laura Elvery's rich and exacting novel about violence, care and memory. In 1910, a young English soldier, Silas Bradley, appears on Florence's doorstep, claiming they met during the Crimean war half a century before. He's confused, searching for answers about lives that looped briefly and painfully around his own; his appearance also forces Florence to confront ghosts in her own past. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Though the novel bears Florence's name, the story belongs not just to her but also to Silas, as well as Jean Frawley, a young nurse stationed at Scutari under Nightingale's charge. As the novel sifts through voices and memories, we see versions of Florence throughout her life, in 1850, 1854, 1861 and 1910: as a young woman determined to forge a path in a world that resents her ambition; becoming a public figure blamed for the chaos she tried to manage; and, in the final year of her life, disabled and in declining health. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion Rather than placing Florence at the centre of the narrative, Elvery lets her hover at the edges. It is through Jean that we see Florence most closely during the war, in which she became known as the famous 'lady with the lamp'. The nurses in Scutari quickly come to know her as 'Miss N': a tidy, disciplined presence who watches over them like a schoolmistress, observing surgeries, airing hospital rooms, and maintaining the order and hygiene of her ward with matronly authority. She is feared, respected, and often inscrutable. But a portrait still emerges of a woman burdened with duty. 'At night I prayed to God,' Florence reflects, 'and I contemplated my evidence and my questions about a war that killed twenty thousand British soldiers.' The physical world of Nightingale is rendered in extraordinary detail. It returns again and again to the physicality of care, to the 'women's work' of 'holding up bodies': the 'sourness of damp clothes', 'scraps of dirty butter and sometimes-fresh meat', the 'tongue-pink, bacon-pink, brick-red, yellow' of a man's exposed ribs. Elvery's prose is both sensual and brutal, lingering on textures, smells and colours that refuse abstraction. These visceral scenes contrast with sunlit images of 'clean sheets like white petals,' the 'powerful brown bodies' of horses, 'a gentle, wheaty voice'. It's this duality that defines Nightingale: the tension between order and chaos, between what can be managed and what must be borne. War is stripped of sentimentality: there are no grand speeches and battlefield heroics, just the repetitive, accumulating devastation of young men dying far from home, 'felled like trees while the sun turned overhead'. The war in Nightingale is not cinematic. It is slow, exhausting, relentless. What matters is not whether it is won, but how it is endured – and who cleans up the mess. Florence herself is only 36 years old when she leaves Scutari. She has 'vaulted over the tyranny of idleness' expected of women of her class, but her leadership is tolerated only so long as it conforms to a certain moral cleanliness. She is blamed for the consequences of combat by the very men whose wars she tried to make survivable. 'That those men should blame me,' Florence says, 'as though I had been the one to build a hospital over a cesspool.' Ghosts – of memory, of war, of lives unlived – haunt the novel's edges. Florence, in her old age, reflects 'the thoughts of my life are like an enormous knotted scarf, each knot a prayer'. Time, accordingly, slips and loops. The plot is oblique, passing in a series of scenes and images – like the flashes of memory. This gives Nightingale a slippery, dreamlike quality which may not appeal to every reader. Its fragmentary structure occasionally risks the narrative feeling remote, its emotional resonance dulled. But if the characters feel a little one-dimensional at times, it's balanced by the richness of the world they inhabit. Nightingale is a luminous, fragmentary exploration of what war takes from those who are not asked to fight. Circling rather than marching, it invites us to look not at the battles, but at what comes after; and not at the heroes, but at the women who held them up. Nightingale by Laura Elvery is out through UQP, $32.99
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Mini-Book Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Florence Nightingale: 'The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity' Now Available
The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale book cover Dr. Tracey Jones interviews author Candace Campbell CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Award-winning actor, author, speaker, and nurse historian Candace Campbell, DNP, RN, CNL, CVP, FNAP, is proud to announce the release of her latest mini-book, , published by Tremendous Leadership. This compact and compelling biography offers readers a powerful introduction to the trials, triumphs, and enduring influence of one of history's most extraordinary women of faith. Florence Nightingale is widely recognized as the founder of modern nursing, but her life encompassed far more than her work during the Crimean War. With vivid storytelling and historical insight, Campbell highlights Nightingale's leadership, scientific innovation, and social reform efforts—all driven by a deep spiritual calling and unshakable integrity. 'This book is a perfect introduction for readers who want to understand Florence Nightingale's impact without committing to a full-length biography,' says Campbell. 'It fits in your pocket or purse, making it ideal for inspiration on the go.' This is Dr. Campbell's second book exploring Nightingale's legacy. Her previous work, Channeling Florence Nightingale: Integrity, Insight, Innovation, offers a deeper reflection on how Nightingale's values can inform today's healthcare challenges and leadership needs. Through writing, speaking, and performance, Campbell continues to illuminate the timeless relevance of Nightingale's life and work. Dr. Tracey Jones of Tremendous Leadership interviewed Campbell here: About the Author Candace Campbell, DNP, RN, CNL, CVP, FNAP, is an award-winning author, nurse, and performer. She is known for her solo theatrical portrayal of Florence Nightingale and her contributions to healthcare leadership and professional development. Her unique blend of art and science brings historical figures to life in ways that educate, inspire, and transform. The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant CelebrityAvailable now through inspiring gift for healthcare professionals, students, and lifelong learners. Contact:Dr. Candy Campbell395555@ 202-519-1311 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at A video accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
New Mini-Book Celebrates the Life and Legacy of Florence Nightingale: 'The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity' Now Available
CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md., May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Award-winning actor, author, speaker, and nurse historian Candace Campbell, DNP, RN, CNL, CVP, FNAP, is proud to announce the release of her latest mini-book, The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity, published by Tremendous Leadership. This compact and compelling biography offers readers a powerful introduction to the trials, triumphs, and enduring influence of one of history's most extraordinary women of faith. Florence Nightingale is widely recognized as the founder of modern nursing, but her life encompassed far more than her work during the Crimean War. With vivid storytelling and historical insight, Campbell highlights Nightingale's leadership, scientific innovation, and social reform efforts—all driven by a deep spiritual calling and unshakable integrity. 'This book is a perfect introduction for readers who want to understand Florence Nightingale's impact without committing to a full-length biography,' says Campbell. 'It fits in your pocket or purse, making it ideal for inspiration on the go.' This is Dr. Campbell's second book exploring Nightingale's legacy. Her previous work, Channeling Florence Nightingale: Integrity, Insight, Innovation, offers a deeper reflection on how Nightingale's values can inform today's healthcare challenges and leadership needs. Through writing, speaking, and performance, Campbell continues to illuminate the timeless relevance of Nightingale's life and work. Dr. Tracey Jones of Tremendous Leadership interviewed Campbell here: About the Author Candace Campbell, DNP, RN, CNL, CVP, FNAP, is an award-winning author, nurse, and performer. She is known for her solo theatrical portrayal of Florence Nightingale and her contributions to healthcare leadership and professional development. Her unique blend of art and science brings historical figures to life in ways that educate, inspire, and transform. The Amazing Life of Florence Nightingale: The Reluctant Celebrity Available now through An inspiring gift for healthcare professionals, students, and lifelong learners. Contact: Dr. Candy Campbell [email protected] 202-519-1311 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at A video accompanying this announcement is available at
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Crompton Hospital celebrates nurses
LIFE Crompton Hospital celebrated International Nurses' Day by treating its staff with a special lunch on Friday. International Nurses' Day is celebrated annually on May 12, the anniversary of the founder of modern day nursing, Florence Nightingale's birthday. The theme for International Nurses' Day 2025 is 'Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for nurses strengthens economies'. Nurse manager Viloshnee Ponnan said the hospital always recognises their dedicated nurses on this day. Also read: Dedication and hard work celebrated on Nurses Day 'We do not only celebrate them for their clinical skills but also for their emotional labour, critical thinking, and their unwavering commitment to excellence. 'We celebrate the late-night shifts, the long hours, and the countless moments of kindness and compassion that they show to our patients and their loved ones. Nurses are truly the backbone of Life The Crompton hospital,' said Ponnan, adding that the management team are honoured to work alongside them. Aligned to May 12 is Life Healthcare's Great 100 Nurses initiative, recognising nurses who have been chosen by their peers for epitomising quality and compassion in their daily work. Receiving this title were registered nurses, Karan George and Mbali Shezi. Also read: Donations needed for six abandoned babies at Addington Hospital George, who has been in the nursing profession for 24 years, said she feels honoured and privileged for the recognition. The wife and mother of two daughters said she chose a career in nursing to help people, serve humanity and to preserve life. 'Being a nurse is so rewarding and fulfilling, I feel so complete at the end of each day,' she said. George also thanked the management for its support, team work, leadership, guidance and the warmth they portray. 'It is amazing,' said the nurse with a smile. For more from the Highway Mail, follow us on Facebook , X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
