In Search of Mary Seacole: The Making of a Cultural Icon

In Search of Mary Seacole is a superb and revealing biography that explores her remarkable achievements and unique status as an icon of the 19th century, but also corrects some of the myths that have grown around her life and career. Raised in Jamaica and worked in Panama, Seacole volunteered to help during the Crimean War but was turned down. She financed her own expedition to Balaclava and earned her reputation as a nurse and for her compassion. She was the most famous Black celebrity of her generation in Victorian Britain, regularly mixing with illustrious royal and military patrons. However, after her death in 1881, she was largely forgotten for many years. Recently, her profile has been revived and her reputation lionised, with a statue of her standing outside St Thomas's Hospital in London and her portrait now on display in the National Portrait Gallery.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 16 February 2023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd

An astonishingly rich story, wonderfully informative, The Times. Rappaport does a terrific job of bringing respectful rigour to her account of Seacole's extraordinary life.

"In Search of Mary Seacole" is a superb and revealing biography that explores her remarkable achievements and unique status as an icon of the 19th century, but also corrects some of the myths that have grown around her life and career.

Having been raised in Jamaica and worked in Panama, Mary Seacole came to England in the 1850s and volunteered to help out during the Crimean War. When her services were turned down, she financed her own expedition to Balaclava, where she earned her reputation as a nurse and for her compassion. Popularly known as "Mother Seacole," she was the most famous Black celebrity of her generation – an extraordinary achievement in Victorian Britain. She regularly mixed with illustrious royal and military patrons, and they, along with grateful war veterans, helped her recover financially when she faced bankruptcy. However, after her death in 1881, she was largely forgotten for many years.

More recently, her profile has been revived and her reputation lionised, with a statue of her standing outside St Thomas's Hospital in London and her portrait – rediscovered by the author – is now on display in the National Portrait Gallery.

In Search of Mary Seacole is the fruit of almost twenty years of research by Helen Rappaport into her story. The book reveals the truth about Seacole's personal life and her rivalry with Florence Nightingale, along with much more besides. Often the reality proves to be even more remarkable and dramatic than the legend.

Weight: 304g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781398504455