Michael Zwerdling

A large, hardcover picture book that covers the history of nursing around the world. Chapters are divided thematically by subjects such as "advertising," "Portraits," and "War!." Each chapter contains a wide variety of postcards from all eras and countries that pertain to the chapter theme. Although much of the material of interest to us is collected within "War!" postcards pertaining to U.S. Army nurses appear earlier in the book as well. For example on page 52 a photograph printed in 1920 entitled "Army Nurse Girl," is new and interesting. The cards also demonstrate a considerable amount of sexual innuendo, from the WWI forward. This concern actually plagued the reputation of nurses from the Civil War forward. The endnotes are well done, scholarly and informative.… (mehr)