Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands Paperback – June 15, 2022

An unsung hero. V interesting

While this is a tiny little book, it is a gem. Very well bound and a pleasure to read. Mary Seacole was an extraordinary person, making this a treasured addition to my library. Highly recommended.

“Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands” is a very enjoyable memoir with humorous candor and a unique perspective on historical events. The author, a Creole who expressed pride in having “good Scotch blood coursing in my veins” from her father grew up the daughter of a Jamaican doctress and learned many of her mother’s medical skills. The author’s last name came from a marriage to a man whose first name is not revealed. Per Wikipedia, the marriage lasted 8 years until Mr. Seacole died. The book only devotes four sentences to the marriage, and the author shows her personality and subtle sense of humor when she writes, “I do not mind confessing to my reader, in a friendly confidential way, that one of the hardest struggles of my life in Kingston was to resist the pressing candidates for the late Mr. Seacole’s shoes.”Although she is somewhat vague on dates, Mrs. Seacole seems to have a great memory for detail. She refers to many of the soldiers and other people she encounters by their full names, but some just by initials, such as “Captain H-----” and “Colonel B----.” Readers may wonder if she forgot their names or if there were reasons to protect their confidentiality.Mary Seacole spent most of her life in Jamaica, Panama, and England; but the most memorable portions of the book - and 19 of the 29 chapters - describe her year and a half experience during the Crimean War. With a partner, she established the British Hotel at Spring Hill near Sebastopol and was there from early 1855 through mid-1856. The British Hotel was primarily a British officers’ club, and managing it had many challenges including losing inventory to local thieves and determining appropriate levels of inventory. At the end of the war when the British soldiers departed, she was overstocked with wine and cheese, which the remaining Russians offered to purchase for a small fraction of the cost. Out of frustration, she used a hammer to smash case after case of wine, so that the cheap Russians would not be able to enjoy it.But the main takeaway from this book is what Mrs. Seacole is primarily remembered for: tirelessly sharing her Jamaican doctress skills and home cures and helping to ease the suffering of many wounded and sick soldiers, both at the British Hotel and on the battlefield.

Much love and appreciation for Mary Seacole☀️

I read this autobographical book by Mary Seacole after reading a historical novel and it was referenced in the author's notes. My interest was,well peaked and luckily found it free on Amazon. What an amazing life this woman had!!! She was a self-described doctress of medicine in the mid-1800's in South America where she was born. She was mixed race woman, describing herself as "the yellow woman." The colorful language she uses is endearing and sometimes comical as she relates her experiences tending to the sick of many nationalities as she travels from Panama, Haiti, Cuba, England and most markedly works alongside the famous Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War, rubbing shoulders and tending to English, French, Turkish, Greek and Russian soldiers, to name a few, using her own brand of TLC and good cooking and herbal remedies. I had never heard of this woman before....what an education! She describes, in detail, relations between cultures and races and the eye-witness accounts of the battlefields and hospitals of the times. Most interesting were her anecdotes and views on various national cultures where she describes US Americans as highly racially prejudiced and rude. Her insightful commentary is well worth the read. She was apparently highly regarded by the soldiers and officers, English, French, Greek, Turkish, Scots, Irish, Welsh and American as well as her native countrymen. It's a delightful book.....a gold find! Highly recommended to women, history buffs and historical medical readers.

What an inspiring story - who knew this was even possible for a woman of that era - she was a totally amazing woman, thanbks so much for this story ~!

Wonderful book! I love reading the insights of Caribbean people and what it was like living as a mixed race person of that time. I have it easy compared to her.

This book gives a great insight into the world of a very hardy and enterprising mixed race woman at the time prior to and during the Crimean War. She was a hotelier to the British, and allied, officers and provided free nursing to all. Her early days were spent in Panama providing food, lodging and supplies to those venturing back and forth across the Panamanian Isthmus before the canal. A fascinating point of view on both of these historic times!

I found this a great read and thoroughly enjoyed Mrs Seacole’s narrative. She writes warmly and humorously. It has made me ashamed that I did not learn about her when I was at school.

Fantastic book!I only wish I'd found it sooner!

Have not yet read the book, so this review is not on the content, but only on the presentation. Font is way too small - never seen anything like it.

Mary Seacole tells the story of her preparation for giving aid in Crimea and the what she did there in a simple and matter-of-fact way. Behind lies the tale of a true pioneer of nursing whose story has men ignored in the beatification bestowed on Florence Nightingale. Whether this because of issues of class, or race or because Miss Nightingale was an amateur while Mrs Seacole was an entrepreneur, I will leave to each reader to form their own conclusion.

I’ve loved reading this book but the font is sooooo small. Honestly get your glasses out, but it is well worth the read.