Florence Nightingale

Drawing on her extensive research into primary materials, and on recently published critical essays, letter collections, and biographical works, Hobbs provides a comprehensive, gracefully written guide to appreciating the scope of Nightingale's achievements. In particular, Hobbs applies feminist theory to view Nightingale's "Cassandra" in the context of her larger work, the spiritual autobiography Suggestions for Thought to the Searchers after Truth Among the Artizans of England. Hobbs's text explores Nightingale's ideological inconsistencies while demonstrating her accomplishments, especially her campaigns to improve health conditions for British soldiers. What emerges is a portrait of a writer whose humor, temper, passion, and ambition merit continued scrutiny. A sophisticated, balanced perspective on a writer of increasing academic attention, Florence Nightingale offers a cogent supplement for general survey courses and for undergraduate and graduate courses in Victorian literature and women's writing.