In Helen Rappaport’s latest book “In Search of Mary Seacole: Making of a cultural icon”, we are told how Mary’s significance has only truly come to light and been properly recognised in the last 50 years. The book makes 9 points you might want to share with your children-most of which you probably already cover, so this will make you feel better!!
- 1. The book dispels the myth that Mary nursed alongside Florence in the Crimea. She did no such thing.
- 2. Mary was a formidable single-minded entrepreneur who sailed to the Crimea on her own on a commercial ship after countless rebuttals of her offers to be taken on as a nurse
- 3. Florence Nightingale couldn’t stand her and was deeply suspicious of her activities in her ‘hotel’.
- 4. The reason why Queen Victoria didn’t immediately thank Mary after the war was over was because Florence had whispered poison
