FromNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorHelenRappaportcomesasuperbandrevealingbiographyofMarySeacolethatistestamenttoherremarkableachievementsandcorrectivetothemythsthathavegrownaroundher.RaisedinJamaica,MarySeacolefirstcametoEnglandinthe1850safterworkinginPanama.ShewantedtovolunteerasanurseandaideduringtheCrimeanWar.Whenherserviceswererejected,shefinancedherownexpeditiontoBalaclava,whereherreputationforhernursing--andforhercompassion--becamealmostlegendary.Popularlyknownas’MotherSeacole’,shewasthemostfamousBlackcelebrityofhergeneration--anextraordinaryachievementinVictorianBritain.Sheregularlymixedwithillustriousroyalandmilitarypatronsandthey,alongwithgratefulwarveterans,helpedherrecoverfinanciallywhenshefacedbankruptcy.However,afterherdeathin1881,shewaslargelyforgotten.Morerecently,herprofilehasbeenrevivedandherreputationlionized,withastatueofherstandingoutsideStThomas’sHospitalinLondonandherportrait--rediscoveredbytheauthor--nowondisplayintheNationalPortraitGallery.InSearchofMarySeacoleisthefruitofalmosttwentyyearsofresearchandrevealsthetruthaboutSeacole’spersonallife,her“rivalry“withFlorenceNightingale,andothermisconceptions.Vividandmoving,InSearchofMarySeacoleshowsthatrealityisoftenmoreremarkableandmoredramaticthanthelegend.
