Elizabeth Grey (2)

Friend Within the Gates by Elizabeth Grey.

I'm almost ashamed of how quickly I tore through this unassuming biography of a martyred nurse, when I really should have been doing other things.

It is the true story of Edith Cavell, a highly principled, London-trained nurse who went to Brussels to found Belgium's first lay (as in, not made up of nuns) nursing school and clinic which became the Belgian Nursing Service.

Unfortunately, WWI came, and Cavell found herself using the clinic buildings to hide English, French, and Belgian soldiers, as well as other "enemies" of the occupying Germans. This eventually led to her arrest, conviction, and execution by German authorities. The October 1915 execution, along with the sinking of the Lusitania earlier that year, fired up world opinion against Germany and eventually helped lead to Germany's defeat in WWI.

The writing was not spectacular. There were some places where a theme was introduced and dropped with, in my mind, insufficient clarification. However, for the most part, the author did tell Cavell's story (and provide some necessary background) in a relatively straghtforward way, which is really all I wanted from this book.

I am haunted by Cavell's words to a clergyman, shortly after the verdict and death sentence were announced: "This I would say -- standing as I do in view of God and Eternity: I realize that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness toward anyone." (She was executed the next day.)

Words to ponder . . .… (altro)