A Fine Brother: The Life of Captain Flora Sandes

by Louise Miller

The only woman to serve as a soldier in the First World War, the Englishwoman Flora Sandes became a hero and media sensation when she fought for the Serbian Army and pursued a distinguished career in its ranks as officer.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Womens, Audiobook

400 pages, Hardcover

First published June 21, 2012

Reviews

[Ana Atanasković · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odlična knjiga. Ono što volim već godinama - non-fiction. I ono što volim decenijama - Britanci. Priča o Flori Sends i drugim britanskim i američkim bolničarkama, lekarkama i ratnicama na našim prostorima, na kojima su tokom Prvog svetskog rata ostavljale dušu, znoj i živote. Realna priča bez idealizacija i isto takav prikaz mentaliteta (i dobrih i loših strana). Posebno mi se dopada što je život Flore Sends ispraćen do kraja, u svim njenim avanturama i posle WWI.

Excellent book. Non-fiction is my great love as well as the British. It is a story about Flora Sands and other British and American nurses, doctors and warriors in our region, where they left their souls, sweat and lives during the First World War. A realistic story without idealization and a true portrayal of mentality (both good and bad sides). I especially like that the life of Flora Sands is followed until the end, in all her adventures and after WWI

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of the remarkable Flora Sands and some of the other brave women who risked everything to serve in WW1.
Its says "Lest We Forget" on the memorials, but for these women, not only have we forgotten, but in most cases we never knew. At least here in the countries of their birth we have, they haven't in the places were they served.
In this time of remembering the events of 1914-1919, I hope many, many people will read this amazing account of courage and service and sacrifice.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This biography is a skillfull combination of excellent writing and meticulous research. While highlighting the life of Flora Sandes, obviously, it also brings to light the life and work of her fascinating sometime-associate Emily Simmonds (of whom there is currently little written).

It's definitely a page-turner.

[Sandra Ferrer Valero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro precioso que nos acerca a una mujer con una biografía excepcional. Muy recomendable para los amantes de la historia, de la Primera Guerra Mundial y de la historia en femenino

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Miller's biography provides fascinating insights into the life of a truly remarkable woman, one who used the advent of war to break free from the usual restrictions placed on women to seek, and 'legitimise', the life of excitement and adventure she craved. In fact her wish to take this to what some might consider extremes dated back to childhood and her reading of a famous poem, as demonstrated by a diary entry in which she reflected that she had “longed to be in battle ever since she had read and re-read the Charge of the Light Brigade.”! By the time I reached the end of this detailed account of her life I found myself full of admiration for her bravery, her resilience and her determination not to be defined and 'shackled' by societal norms and expectations.

[Adam Windsor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flora Sandes was the only Englishwoman to (openly) enlist as a soldier in WWI - with the Serbian army. That unique claim is why she gets books written about her, and an interesting tale it is, but I am very glad that this work doesn't stint in its attention to her earlier career as a nurse, or to her fund-raising efforts away from the battlefield. These stories are just as interesting and also allow the author to introduce us to many other women who made huge contributions in these latter two fields.

Highly recommended.

[Slobodan Trivić · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous memoir and a touching story. The style is very straightforward and immersive. A great read for anyone who is interested in the WWI events.

[Yarub Khayat · Rating 3 out of 5]

صدر هذا الكتاب في شهر يونيو 2012، مكونا من 400 صفحة، وذلك لتناول سيرة امرأة يقال بأنها كانت المرأة البريطانية الوحيدة التي شاركت في الحرب العالمية الأولى، حيث حاربت إلى جانب الجيش الصربي!

يتناول الكتاب ظروف نشأتها، ورغبتها منذ طفولتها في تحقيق التفوق والخدمة العسكرية، وتطوعها أبان اندلاع الحرب العالمية الأولى للعمل مع الصليب الأحمر كممرضة في صربيا، ولكن عدم حصولها على مؤهل علمي أدى لعدم تمكنها من مباشرة العمل هناك، فتحولت عام1915 لخدمة الجيش الصربي لتبلي بلاء حسنا وتحصل على سبعة ميداليات، وكيف خرجت من الخدمة العسكرية بعد إصابتها عام 1916في معركة تمت وجها لوجه.

كما يستعرض الكتاب نجوميتها بعد انتهاء الحرب وتجولها في أوروبا وكندا وأستراليا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، لإلقاء المحاضرات عن تجربتها الحربية، ويتطرق الكتاب إلى زواجها وحياتها مع زوجها لفترة قصيرة في باريس، ثم انتقالهما إلى صربيا ثم تطوعهما للخدمة العسكرية هناك أبان الحرب العالمية الثانية وسجنهما من قبل "الجستابو" قبل قيامهما بأي نشاط عسكري.

قد تقتصر فائدة الكتاب بالنسبة للقارئ العربي على حثه لمراجعة تاريخ وطنه وإبراز البطولات النسائية التي تراكم عليها الغبار أو أنه طواها النسيان!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have read (and loved) Kerry Greenwoods Phryne Fisher books thinking them very tongue in cheek. I now take back those thoughts. There were a number of women from that era who just got stuck in, in whatever capacity was available to them.

Whilst the prose may not have been perfect and sometimes I wondered where Rosa had got to! In the end it didn't matter, it was an uplifting story of women who lived lives of meaning and purpose.

[Fran Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across Flora Sandes in an old WW1 encyclopedia and found her a fascinating character. I was very pleased to find this well written book that gives an excellent account of her interesting life as the daughter of a clergyman, a nurse and then a soldier in the Serbian army fighting the Bulgarians. Louise Miller is an academic who has the added talent of writing in a style that flows, informs and entertains. Well done.

[Jadranka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Наш брат - биографија која нас враћа у време WWI, доба кад је све било могуће.