Florence Nightingale

Short History Of...

Noiser

History

4.8 • 4.1K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

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Summary

Revered as a heroine, and mythologised as ‘the Lady with the Lamp’, Florence Nightingale has gone down in history as the founder of modern nursing. She battled ill-health and the prejudices of her age to leave an indelible mark on the world, and yet her memory is laden with misconception and half-truths. So, how did Florence Nightingale, the superintendent of a hellish incubator of disease in the Crimean War, become synonymous with kindness and compassion? Why was she one of the most celebrated figures of her age? And what did she achieve after illness cut short her nursing career? This is a Short History Of Florence Nightingale. A Noiser Production, hosted by John Hopkins. With thanks to Hannah Amos, the Collections Manager at the Florence Nightingale Museum in London. Written by Edward White | Produced by Kate Simants | Assistant Producer: Nicole Edmunds | Production Assistant: Chris McDonald | Exec produced by Katrina Hughes | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design by Oliver Sanders | Assembly edit by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cody Reynolds-Shaw | Fact check by Sean Coleman Get every episode of Short History Of... a week early with Noiser+. You’ll also get ad-free listening, bonus material and early access to shows across the Noiser podcast network. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed to get started. Or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've ruled out uni because I want to live at home.
0:02.0	I've ruled out uni because I want to earn money.
0:05.0	I've ruled out uni because of my grades.
0:10.0	Study with the Open University and there's no need to rule out anything.
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0:23.6	future with the degree you didn't think was possible. The Open University. The future is open.
0:31.2	It's early evening on the 9th of November 1854. West of the Bosphorus in what is now Istanbul, a mule trudges its way down an undulating path.
0:45.6	Strapped to its back is a young man.
0:48.3	His face is pale and drawn.
0:50.7	His clothes flecked with blood.
0:52.8	His head hanging limply chin on his chest.
0:55.0	He barely has the strength to breathe.
0:57.0	He is not travelling alone.
1:00.0	Behind him are dozens of others, bobbing listlessly on wagons and pack animals.
1:07.0	This caravan of the wounded are all British casualties of the battle. animals.
1:11.1	This caravan of the wounded are all British casualties of the Battle of Inkerman, a victory
1:16.8	over Russian forces in the Crimean War, but one that has come at a cost.
1:22.4	For the past three days, injured soldiers have made this agonizing journey in desperate
1:27.3	search of life-saving care.
1:30.3	At long last, their destination is in sight, an army barracks that has been converted into a hospital.
1:37.3	Theoretically, this is their place of refuge.
	...

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