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Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars

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Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars
AuthorJames Phinney Munroe
LanguageEnglish
GenreHistory
PublisherLittle, Brown & Company
Publication date
February 2, 1904 (1904-02-02)
Publication placeUnited States
Pages378

Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars is a book edited by James Phinney Munroe and published in 1904 by Little, Brown and Company.[1] It is in part an epistolary book in which the narrative is based on the letters and diary entries of Mary Phinney von Olnhausen, who is the protagonist of the book.

It covers the two wars in which Mary Phinney von Olnhausen worked as an army nurse, the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865 and the Franco-Prussian War in 1870.[2][3][4]

Critical reception

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In a review of the book for the American Journal of Nursing, M. E. Cameron wished Munroe had included more dates but was ultimately "deeply grateful for what he has given, and most particularly for allowing the letters and diary to convey their own impression and retain the individuality of the writer."[5] A review in The Washington Star similarly noted that Munroe tries his best to maintain Phinney's viewpoint, concluding that the book "reflects vividly the scenes and incidents of two great wars as seen by the army nurse."[6] A review for the Brooklyn Eagle felt that the significance of the book lies in the fact that it offers a woman's perspective of the wars, compared to the numerous books about the subject written by men.[7] A review in the Detroit Free Press found the book to be a compelling account that provides a "graphic and deeply interesting" peek into the lives of army nurses.[8]

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Mercy Street, a PBS fictional TV series relates the life the Mansion House Hospital where Phinney was stationed. It relays Phinney's diaries. A character based on Phinney, and named after Phinney, is played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and is the series' lead character.[9] The series was canceled after two seasons.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars". The Journal of Civil War Medicine. 20 (4): 216. 2014. ISSN 1545-4975.
  2. ^ "Nursing in the Civil War | Behind the Lens: A History in Pictures | Essays and Photos Courtesy of The Burns Archive | Mercy Street | PBS". Nursing in the Civil War | Behind the Lens: A History in Pictures | Essays and Photos Courtesy of The Burns Archive | Mercy Street | PBS. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. ^ Smith, Mark A.; Sokolosky, Wade (2015-10-19). ÒTo Prepare for ShermanÕs ComingÓ: The Battle of WiseÕs Forks, March 1865. Savas Beatie. ISBN 978-1-61121-266-2.
  4. ^ Arlene W. Keeling; John C. Kirchgessner; Michelle C. Hehman (2017-08-28). History of Professional Nursing in the United States: Toward a Culture of Health. Springer Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8261-3313-7.
  5. ^ Cameron, M. E. (April 1904). "Book Reviews: Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars". American Journal of Nursing. 4 (7): 532–533. ISSN 1538-7488.
  6. ^ "Adventures of an Army Nurse in Two Wars". The Washington Star. October 31, 1903. p. 33.
  7. ^ "An Army Nurse's Story". Brooklyn Eagle. January 2, 1904. p. 12.
  8. ^ "Adventures of an Army Nurse". Detroit Free Press. October 17, 1903. p. 11.
  9. ^ "PBS Announces New American Drama Series Set in Virginia During the Civil War, The New Drama (Title TBD) Will Offer Unique Blend of Hospital Drama and Family Saga" (Press release). PBS. January 19, 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-01 – via The Futon Critic.
  10. ^ de Morales, Lisa (March 9, 2017). "'Mercy Street' Wraps After Two Seasons On PBS". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
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