Reviews with content warning for War - Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands

Reviews tagging 'War'

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Seacole

9 reviews

oliviabrcka's review

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adventurous informative medium-paced

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utopiaandmelancholy's review

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adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

The introduction to this book provides some fantastic context to a figure now prominent in the pantheon of black British history, and invites the reader not to necessarily take everything the author says at face-value (though the notes at the back also help you to decide on this). I found the discussion of self-identity in the introduction particularly thought-provoking, as the world then was quite different to today's!
Regardless of the level of personal myth-making, this memoir provides an account of one experience of the Crimean War, and paints a self-portrait of an extremely determined and altruistic woman, who, despite personal slights, financial difficulties, and unfortunate circumstances, worked hard to do her part for her country. She does not claim to have a perfect memory looking back on these events, but nevertheless the collected anecdotes show a very human warmth even in the dark space of war.

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ctherine_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional informative inspiring fast-paced

2.75

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strrygo's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

2.25

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pineapple_queen's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny informative slow-paced

3.0

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multilingual_s's review against another edition

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funny informative lighthearted fast-paced

4.0

The most important part of the book for me was the introduction and the footnotes contextualising this historic document! It is fascinating how the author defies the categories of nationality and race that seem obvious to us today, but that were defined differently at the time of writing. Her contrasting racist white Americans with, in her view, the non-racist British Empire feels very odd, especially because she also describes her own experience of racist discrimination from the British authorities, all the while stating that she is not black but merely 'of dark complexion' and using racist terminology and clishees in the description of other people of colour. Through all of this dissonance (that might be in place to suit her British audience, the hand of her white editors or her genuine perspective) shines her character and her narrative voice that paints her as a clever and shrewd traveller and business woman who knows how to turn racial and gender clishees to her favour when it suits her and how to dodge them when it doesnt. Overall it is a fascinating portrait of the Victorian era from a perspective that is hardly seen in other writing from that time.

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unfeathered's review

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skimmed through a whole lot of this; it's not the most interesting in terms of narrative, but then it is just some of the life of one person who clearly didn't want to appear unhumble. her spirit shines through... a bright woman with a difficult life who was proud of all she was able to do for the people she helped. wonderfully unique historical document

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josie24601's review against another edition

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informative reflective medium-paced

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emily_pemily's review

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adventurous funny informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

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