Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands cover art

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands

Penguin Classics

Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

This Penguin Classic is performed by Yasmin Mwanza. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Sarah Salih.

Written in 1857, this is the autobiography of a Jamaican woman whose fame rivalled Florence Nightingale's during the Crimean War. Seacole's offer to volunteer as a nurse in the war met with racism and refusal. Undaunted, Seacole set out independently to the Crimea where she acted as doctor and 'mother' to wounded soldiers while running her business, the 'British Hotel'. A witness to key battles, she gives vivid accounts of how she coped with disease, bombardment and other hardships at the Crimean battlefront.
"In her introduction to the very welcome Penguin edition, Sara Salih expertly analyses the rhetorical complexities of Seacole's book to explore the richness of her story. Traveller, entrepreneur, healer and woman of colour, Mary Seacole is a singular and fascinating figure, overstepping all conventional boundaries." Jan Marsh, Independent

"It's hard to believe that this amazing adventure story is the true-life experience of a Jamaican woman - it would make a great film." Andrea Levy, Sunday Times

(P) Penguin Audio 2020

19th Century Cultural & Regional Historical Medical Modern Professionals & Academics Women War Wonderful Adventures
All stars
Most relevant
This is a fascinating account of a remarkable life. It's a really interesting insight into the attitudes of the time, both in how Mary Seacole was treated and in her own prejudices (she freely admits to disliking Americans, and I don't know why her description of someone as 'A BAD FRENCH WOMAN' made me laugh so much). It also paints a vivid picture of both the horror and the camaraderie of war.

Fascinating historical insight

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.