Laurent’s book is an interesting read.

The Folklore Society

This book is a delight. It’s full of many voices, from different eras, from nurses that had worked in a variety of specialties, all sharing personal stories or stories that they had heard on their jobs. Some are emotional, some funny, and I must warn people who are squeamish about illnesses and bodily functions, as there are some anecdotes that might make them cringe. But anybody who enjoys books about nursing, social history, or just a genuine story with plenty of heart, should read this book. And if you know any nurses or anybody interested in the topic don’t forget to recommend it. It’s a great homage to a profession that has always been and remains, a true caring profession.

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Author Translator

The book is a wonderful catalyst for reminiscence and discussion, not only for nurses who trained in the 20th century, but also for nurses practising now, who may gain some insight into how things have progressed since the days of Florence Nightingale. If you had a nurse in your family, or a relative as an inpatient in hospital at some point, this book covers some of the experiences they might have had... well researched with thoughtful insights into this profession, and the book is a good read.

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Lost Cousins

I found the book was excellent, well written and so easy to read. It wasn’t packed with jargon or ‘on the job talk’. It’s a balanced book full of not only funny and amusing stories or anecdotes but it is told from nurses who have done the job throughout the years.



The book isn’t written with you needing to have had nursing training it’s a book that gets over to the everyman. Some of the stories are corkers and some I have heard worse. Just remind to only ever eat my own Malteasers, then we can all be safe. Because of the way the book is written nobody is obviously made fun of, it’s just a friendly laugh of a book. I would recommend this book to anyone to read and the story of hardworking nurses shines through.

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UK Historian

It's exactly one hundred years since SRN1 Ethel Bedford Fenwick was registered as a state registered nurse, and Claire's brilliant book about how nursing has evolved lays bare all the practices that make this profession one of the most undervalued in today's heartless right wing society. I'm a huge fan of Holby City and Casualty (in the UK, of course, but they have followers all over the world, I believe), and they do their bit to try to bring attention to the way our nurses (and doctors) are treated by a self-serving and callous right wing government (at the time of writing, this is still the case). A thoroughly enjoyable look at the nursing profession.

Books Monthly

I love this book so much! The author has such a way with words that I never felt like I didn’t know what was going on. Every chapter was a wonderful mix of humorous stories, life saving moments and examples of the strict rules of nursing! It is such a realistic insight into nursing, written from obviously a slightly biased view point because the author is a nurse, but she covers both the positives and the negatives to give a very honest, well rounded perspective on what it was like.

It was lovely to read a non-fiction book with a bit of personality too! I loved the chatty writing style, how it almost felt you were sitting down and chatting with the author! It definitely made me feel welcome in reading the book, and that I wasn’t putting my nose in an area it doesn’t belong!

This book is definitely very ‘user friendly’ in that I feel it is accessible to anyone that has an interest in nursing. Whether that’s because they are a nurse, what to be a nurse, have family history in nursing or horsefly even just that they have watched Call the Midwife and want some more factual information on the profession in the era!

I couldn’t recommend this book enough, it is probably my favourite Pen and Sword book yet!

I can’t give this any lower the 6/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to be honest! I just adored it!

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Dainty Beth

As featured by

Daily Mail 2/11/19