A Noble Woman The Life-Story of Edith Cavell

by Ernest Protheroe

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

75 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2010

About the author

A prolific British children's author who wrote stories for boys under his own name, and stories for girls under the pseudonyms Alys Chatwyn, Phyllis Hanley, P. Nester, and Marjorie Wynne.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published 1916, and Edith Cavell having been executed on October 12, 1915, this book is valuable in that it is contemporary to the event. Unfortunately I found this book a rather choppily written narrative; it oscillates between simple sentences and heavily verbose prose, which I found a bit off-putting. Cavell’s childhood is skimmed over within a matter of pages, and the author paints a very fleeting sketch of her home life, and creates a somewhat cold feel between Edith and her father’s strict evangelical rearing. Even most of her career as a nurse and experiences prior to becoming directrice are glossed over, no real specific anecdotes are included of her personal relationships as in the children’s chapter book, “The Story of Edith Cavell” by Iris Vinton. Much more attention is paid to the legal hoops and deceptions between Cavell’s friends and Allied countries and the German government with mentions that Edith waited with little information or expectation of anything other than a death sentence. The writer’s own thoughts/biases seep through throughout the book, very much full of English pride, viewing Edith through a lens of serene, devout heroine (he’s not wrong there, but there’s not a lot in his account to fully support or inspire the reader to feel similarly—I particularly am comparing it to Edith’s Signature biography ((title/author detailed above)), where the reader comes to know and understand Edith and it feels like a sucker punch to the gut to read of her death, like the death of a friend.) The author also describes Germans with a broad stroke of hate-filled traits. Ex: inhuman, savage, venomous, calculated trickery, clumsy, impudent, puerile, lacking a spark of compassion, cruel...that’s only in the span of a page or so. The news articles mentioned at the end of this review are full of similar and more vitriolic descriptions, assertions and metaphors. There are very interesting letter excerpts included between international officials outraged and demanding explanation from the German officials, a chapter is dedicated to more of these towards the end of the book. The German response to critiques of its alleged course of justice is very interesting in light of current societal attempts to erase the differences between men and women and how they are treated. The Germans asserted they were legally within their rights to put an affirming, self-proclaimed traitor to death, as Edith herself detailed during her trial. The Germans asserted she should not be and was not treated any differently than a man in this respect. Following these thoughts is a chapter the author devotes to ‘Justice and Savagery Contrasted’ in rebuttal to the assertions made by the German government. The last chapters are full of diplomatic expressions of grief and indignation directed to Edith’s mother, as well as news articles from many countries and they are the most striking testimonies about Edith—her righteousness, her bravery to a fault, her sense of duty, her extraordinary heroism born from a life of ordinariness and steadfast faith, her calling to treat and help even the enemy soldiers on many occasions without prejudice. All the articles express the essence of her character in varying facets but these qualities resurface repeatedly. Her impact upon her country as well as the world theater of politics and government was remarkable. Several very excellent quotes within the articles before the author reiterates obvious conclusions and includes an added on section at the end after three years had passed. The description of the service given in Edith’s honor when her body was reinterred in England made me cry. Ok book for biographical sketching of Edith’s life, but the real value is the inclusion of the letters and articles written contemporary to the event of her execution. For those, this book is a not to miss gem.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story, eye opening.

[Audiobook Heaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I listened to the audiobook version on YouTube. I will leave the link below so that everyone can enjoy it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiDoB...

[Nancy Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Have known Edith Cavell's name (namesake for a glacier in western Canada!), but didn't know her story of helping Allied soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium in WWI. A British nurse there, she reportedly cared for soldiers of both sides indiscriminately, yet she was executed by the Kaiser's army for assisting Allies. The book was written in 1916 -- mid-war and before her body was returned to England for burial -- and it consists of contemporary newspaper and documented accounts with a haggiographic burnish that's more apparent 100 years later.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. It was written in 1916 and is filled with anti-German sentiment. Not the most objective of reports! Yet it was well-researched. It would be interesting to read a more modern account. Edith Cavell was a brave and principled woman whose story deserves to be remembered.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and different. It's a good book to read because it shines some light on a woman most people probably haven't heard of.

[Snicholson524 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting enough but I expected it to have more information about Edith Cavell. Less than half the book was information about her and the rest of the book were newspaper or magazine articles written about her death. While it was interesting to read, I would have liked to hear more about her life and not just her death.