The Black Nightingale is
Mary Seacole, a true heroine of the Crimean
War and British History. Author Julia Buss has captured her
remarkable spirit, her determination, and her amazing courage in the face of
adversity that threatened to keep her from her life’s mission; that of saving
lives. This story walked me right onto the battlefields during the mid-18th
century along with Mary. Julia Buss’s
writing enabled me to visualize and feel the unconditional love, the deep
compassion and the devotion this black Jamaican nurse had for humanity; especially
the wounded and dying soldiers. As Mary
Seacole often risked her own life to save the men engaged in this war, her
courageous character became truly inspirational.
Mary Seacole was a proud, compassionate and accomplished
Jamaican woman. When following the news
of the Crimean War and the illnesses
plaguing the soldiers, she traveled from Jamaica to London’s War Office to offer
her medical expertise and nursing services. There she waited patiently, to serve as a member of the war nursing
team, alongside Florence Nightingale who was going to the Crimean, a Ukrainian
peninsula between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Rejected for service by the War Office and by
Florence Nightingale herself, Mary was not deterred from finding a way to serve
the sick, wounded and dying men. She,
along with a dear friend, Thomas Day, independently traveled to the town of Balaklava, a mere two miles from the
siege. Mary chose her location
carefully, because she knew many wounded would never survive the long trip to
Nightingale’s military hospital. There,
Mary and Thomas set up hospital beds and a clinic in the British Hotel. When the men
could not come to her, Mary courageously went to them; even in the mist of
battle.
In Black Nightingale,
Julia Buss has mastered a great historical piece of literature. Written in a third-person narrative format,
she brought to life the harsh realities of the world’s first war whose
tragedies were openly reported to the public. To a greater degree, this novel is perfectly
timed nowadays to support the ongoing efforts in London and the United Kingdom
to bring recognition to one of London’s most courageous, remarkable, and
deserving black citizens; Mary Seacole. London is currently raising funds for a War
Memorial Statue to honor Mrs. Seacole and to preserve in history the many
contributions she made to health care and to the military field services. The
memorial statue, along with this wonderful story of Mary Seacole, will bring a
long overdue tribute to honor this great lady; acknowledging her fighting
spirit and the selfless service she, so freely, gave to the British forces whom
had rejected her. As a nurse herself,
Julia Buss created her novel, Black
Nightingale, to justly join the efforts to preserve Mary Seacole’s memory in
our society today, as well as in history for generations to come.
