Macmillan Collector’s Library: Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands

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Mary Seacole was born in Kingston in 1805 to a Scottish father and free Jamaican mother. She learnt West African herbal medicine from her mother who ran a boarding house. She travelled extensively honing her medical knowledge and she set up a number of businesses. When the Crimean War broke out she applied for nursing work but was denied multiple times. She decided to travel to Crimea herself and opened a very successful hotel providing food and respite to soldiers. She returned to England in poor health and deep in debt. However her supporters organised fundraising events in her honour which revived her fortunes and she published her memoirs in 1857. She died in 1881.

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands is a wonderfully entertaining autobiography by Mary Seacole - nurse, entrepreneur and intrepid traveller. Soon to be a major motion picture starring GuGu Mbatha-Raw. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. Mary Seacole left her native Jamaica to travel through the Caribbean, The Bahamas, Central America and to England. Keen to offer her services to English troops in the Crimea War, she was at first refused official support. Undaunted she went anyway and set up her famous hotel catering for British soldiers. She supplied food, drink and welcome respite from the front line. She also tended to wounded soldiers and dispensed medicine in the teeth of battle. Despite her invaluable contribution, she returned to England penniless and in ill health. Thankfully her astonishing achievements were acknowledged and she became the toast of London society.

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