Life in the Sick Room - Essays

by Harriet Martineau

This volume is from 1844 and draws from the author's personal
health experiences.

Here is a summary from the book's Introduction:

INTRODUCTION
TO THE AMERICAN EDITION
Although this work, which cannot fail to be a blessing to
humanity, had no name attached to it, yet every line of it
so proclaimed its author, that the effort to be lost in her
subject was vain.

Such was Harriet Martineau's earnest desire to do what
she could for her fellow-sufferers, by giving them the results
of her painful but precious experience through a hopeless
illness of five years, that she was irresistibly impelled to
utter herself to the world once more; but her reluctance
to the self-exposure, was so great, that she threw what
veil she could over her words by withholding her name:
not even her nearest and dearest friends knew that she
had written such a book, "till the grateful public declared
that no one but her, could have written, "Life in the Sick
Room". I cannot but think that it will form a new era in
the history of every invalid that reads it and enters into
its wise counsels, its inspiring views.

As it is no longer a secret who is its author, some of her
friends in this country have consented that her name
should be attached to the book, trusting that she will
forgive them for the liberty they take. She will doubt-
less be astonished to find it so soon republished here;
but I feel assured that when she hears of it, she will
be rejoiced. The wider and farther her words of
"lofty cheer" to the sick can be heard, so much the
happier will she be: therefore, without consulting her,
yet with entire trust in her joyful acquiescence, I
dedicate, in her name, this reprint of "Life in the Sick
Room", to all the prisoners to disease in America, -- the
land that she truly loves.

E. L. Follen
April, 1844

Genres: Essays, Disability, Nonfiction

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1844

About the author

Harriet Martineau (1802 - 1876) was an English writer and philosopher, renowned in her day as a controversial journalist, political economist, abolitionist and life-long feminist. Martineau has also been called the first female sociologist and the first female journalist in England.

Comprehensive list of her works with links to digitized versions here.

Reviews

[Marnie Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You languish -- you are sick at heart. But put your sickness from your heart, and your pains under your feet. You have known before that there is a divine joy in endurance. Prove it now. Lift up your head amidst your lot, and wait the issue -- not submissively, but heroically. Live out your season, not wistfully looking out for hope, or shrinking from fear: but serenely and immoveably...ENDURE"

[Anjanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

You probably won’t like this book—it’s boring and rambling. I can hear you now: “So much navel gazing, this!”

I liked it, though. 🤷‍♀️

[Ru · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this collection for my dissertation but I didn’t realise I would relate to it on such a deep level! It felt like Martineau was articulating my own experiences with pain and suffering - not a 19th century woman’s. It was great and would def recommend!

[Lorri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Martineau shares the lessons she’s learned about life, the power of ideas and intellectual pursuits, morality, the soul’s immortality, and more from her perspective and position as a sufferer of chronic illness.

[Katherine]

For class

[Caroline]

I didn’t get past the first few pages. I appreciate this book, but was looking for something different. I may try again later.