Florence Nightingale

It's been said that the three people who did most to alleviate human suffering in the 19th century were the inventors of antiseptics and chloroform--and Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

Nightingale lived to be over 90 yet spent less than two years in the military hospitals at Scutari, where the legend was created. The "ministering angel" was in reality a tough domineering and brilliant administrator, scholar and writer of government reports.

Elspeth Huxley concentrates on the contradictory personality of this woman, by turns a bullying martinet, a loyal and emotional friend, a compassionate nurse, a witty companion, a writer of sermons and masterly manipulator of men, who at 17 turned her back on London society when she heard a call from God to service.