Florence Nightingale: The Lady of the Lamp

by Basil Miller

Discover the life of the English nurse whose sacrificial service became the foundation of modern nursing. A Women of Faith biography.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

125 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1987

About the author

Basil William Miller was born in Laconia, Indiana, February 26, 1897. He moved with his family to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) in 1905, and nine years later entered a small Christian college in Greenville, Texas, to earn A.B. and B.D. degrees.

After pastoring churches in Oklahoma, he was called to teach at Pasadena College in California. He married Esther Kirk and they had four children. He earned a master’s degree at the University of Southern California and five more graduate degrees—the M.A., S.T.M., Th.M., S.T.D., and Ph.D.—were earned while he was holding pastorates in San Diego, Pittsburgh, New York City, San Antonio, and Pasadena.

In 1939, Dr. Miller was involved in a serious car accident and suffered a severe concussion which kept him bedridden for a year and partially incapacitated for the next four. Then, in 1947, he suffered a heart attack. During his convalescence he began his writing career and, over a period of 35 years, produced 200 books and thousands of articles for Christian publications.

Two wartime biographies caused a publishing sensation. Martin Niemoeller: Hero of the Concentration Camp appeared in 1942 while the German pastor was still confined in Dachau. The other bookk was Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kai-shek. The Chinese leaders were at the height of their popularity and the book generated more prepublication orders than any previous Zondervan title. Some 950,000 Basil Miller books were in print by mid-1951. He had published 136 titles by 1955 and his final count probably tops 150.

Until his death on May 7, 1978, at the age of 81, he was “driven almost beyond endurance with the knowledge that there is so much to do, and so little that I can accomplish.”

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read about Florence Nightingale and I found it interesting. I struggled though with the writing, though I can't specifically put my finger on what.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of an incredible woman. Favorite quotes:
"Women never have a half-hour in all their lives... that they can call their own, without fear of offending or hurting someone... A woman could never get anything but odd moments to herself. Can we fancy Michelangelo running up and putting a touch to his Sistine ceiling in odd moments?"

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by author Basil Miller. The story was marvelous. I enjoyed hearing about Florence’s beautiful passion and her dedication in making things happen. A hardworking and joyous spirit.

[Kiersten · Rating 3 out of 5]

it can make you want to do the same I thought it was itresting that she did not choose to live with ease and elegance and she did it even though her parents did not aprove

[Shannon Pigott · Rating 3 out of 5]

An adoring, occasionally moving, but mostly frustrating account of Florence Nightingale's life and impact. Though it seems mostly credible based on my general knowledge of history and of Florence's importance in developing the profession of nursing, it's not scholarly: there are no citations, whatsoever, for where the author got his more specific biographical information or most of the many quotes he includes. Because Basil is so sickly sweet in his praise for her character throughout, I found it difficult to get through even though it's only 125 pages long. For example: "Florence Nightingale achieved her desire to become the mother of modern nursing. The greatness of her character, her keen mentality, her nobility of spirit--these she poured into the task" (pg. 106). The biography is so full of such exultations over the amazing qualities Florence possessed that I eventually wondered if she could have been a real person at all. It is a starting point for someone interested in learning more about her (as I was), but certainly a biased one that makes you hunt for verification and primary sources for the story he tells rather than giving them directly to the reader.

[Bethany Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Spoilers**



This was a very quick read and went into depth about her entire life. The early pages talk heavily how she’s always felt a calling towards nursing and believed that it was God’s plans for her. It’s apparent in her letters she wrote to others but also her demeanor as a child. Even though she had a longing to pursue nursing, she had her doubts about it, and often asked people outside her family their decisions. It was only then that she declared to her parents that she would be studying nursing. During that time almost any woman could become a nurse, it’s said that in the book people in court were often given the choice of going to prison or going to work in the hospital. Therefore her family was against her choice in profession, and tried everything to get the idea out of her mind. Being a determined woman, she decided to pursue it anyway. At 31 she finally began her nursing career, throwing herself completely into her studies. There she began her work first in Scutari with injured soldiers where she became the lady with the lamp. Nightingale from here became one of the most well known women in nursing and even set up scholarships and funds at hospitals for prospective nurses.

If you’re heavily religious and into nursing, this book is definitely for you.This was much more religion based than anything else, which I was not expecting.. Guess I didn’t pay too much attention to the back cover when buying it. Goes into a very detailed description about her early life and how much she excelled in her personal studies before choosing nursing. Also how she was very compassionate and nurturing nature even towards animals. It was a quick read, but honestly, every chapter made some kind of connection back to how God was guiding her towards her nursing career. I do believe in people being born to do and accomplish certain things, but it doesn’t need to be said ten times a page. Other than that it was a great read, as a prospective nursing student I really enjoyed being able to learn about one of the fore-mothers of nursing. It was incredible what she was able to organize and rearrange for the betterment of the wounded…but also the reforms she was able to present and get passed.

[Justin Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taught me a lot about a person I had only heard of before. The themes and details are randomly scattered which leaves the chronology confusing. On the plus side Miller creates a real interest in Florence Nightingale, but on the negative side she should have used more of her 128 pages to fulfill that interest.

[Camille Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and don't know why it didn't inspire me to make a similar carrer choice but it certainly made me more aware of helping people, empathy, hygeine and a wonderful strong woman. great for young people and adults.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative. I had many misconceptions about her life and her accomplishments. It is a must-read!