INTRODUCTION_NN1 The_AT idealistic_JJ ,_, thirty-one-year-old_JJ Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 whom_PNQO Elizabeth_NP1 Gaskell_NP1 describes_VVZ in_II her_APPGE letter_NN1 of_IO October_NPM1 of_IO 1854_MC had_VHD not_XX yet_RR been_VBN put_VVN through_II the_AT fire_NN1 of_IO directing_VVG hospital_NN1 nursing_VVG in_II Scutari_NP1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 had_VHD yet_RR to_TO learn_VVI the_AT ins_NN2 and_CC outs_NN2 of_IO attempting_VVG to_TO produce_VVI reforms_NN2 from_II within_II enormous_JJ government_NN1 bureaucracies_NN2 ,_, and_CC she_PPHS1 could_VM not_XX have_VHI know_VV0 how_RGQ much_RR influence_VV0 her_APPGE own_DA story_NN1 would_VM have_VHI on_II the_AT societies_NN2 in_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 lived_VVD and_CC the_AT people_NN in_II whose_DDQGE lives_NN2 she_PPHS1 took_VVD an_AT1 interest_NN1 ._. 
While_CS the_AT young_JJ woman_NN1 Gaskell_NP1 depicts_VVZ was_VBDZ almost_RR certainly_RR less_RGR politically_RR savvy_JJ than_CSN she_PPHS1 would_VM be_VBI after_II the_AT decades_NNT2 she_PPHS1 spent_VVD working_VVG largely_RR behind_II the_AT scenes_NN2 to_TO enact_VVI health_NN1 ,_, economic_JJ ,_, and_CC other_JJ social_JJ reforms_NN2 ;_; nonetheless_RR ,_, the_AT spiritual_JJ ,_, scientific_JJ ,_, and_CC philosophical_JJ beliefs_NN2 that_CST grounded_VVD Nightingale_NP1 's_GE activism_NN1 throughout_II her_APPGE life_NN1 were_VBDR already_RR in_II place_NN1 ._. 
As_II the_AT chapters_NN2 that_CST follow_VV0 illustrate_VV0 ,_, the_AT root_NN1 of_IO Nightingale_NP1 's_GE beliefs_NN2 was_VBDZ her_APPGE faith_NN1 in_II the_AT existence_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 benevolent_JJ God_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE gift_NN1 to_II humanity_NN1 was_VBDZ the_AT laws_NN2 of_IO nature_NN1 and_CC society_NN1 that_CST He_PPHS1 established_VVD ._. 
In_II her_PPHO1 hardly_RR orthodox_JJ view_NN1 it_PPH1 was_VBDZ a_AT1 principal_JJ part_NN1 of_IO God_NP1 's_GE plan_NN1 that_CST humankind_NN1 should_VM discover_VVI the_AT laws_NN2 of_IO society_NN1 the_AT same_DA way_NN1 they_PPHS2 did_VDD natural_JJ laws_NN2 ,_, by_II the_AT detailed_JJ observation_NN1 of_IO phenomena_NN2 in_II the_AT world_NN1 (_( the_AT numbers_NN2 of_IO suicides_NN2 ,_, of_IO crime_NN1 ,_, of_IO deaths_NN2 by_II famine_NN1 ,_, etc._RA )_) ._. after_II the_AT relevant_JJ facts_NN2 had_VHD been_VBN gathered_VVN throught_JJ observation_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 claimed_VVD ,_, the_AT science_NN1 of_IO statistics_NN offered_VVD the_AT most_RGT efficient_JJ way_NN1 to_TO use_VVI those_DD2 observations_NN2 to_TO uncover_VVI the_AT laws_NN2 that_CST govern_VV0 the_AT particular_JJ phenomena_NN2 observed_VVD ._. 
Despite_II challenges_NN2 of_IO all_DB sorts_NN2 and_CC from_II various_JJ sources_NN2 throughout_II her_APPGE long_JJ career_NN1 ,_, her_APPGE belief_NN1 in_II God_NP1 's_GE benevolence_NN1 and_CC His_APPGE willingness_NN1 to_TO reveal_VVI His_APPGE laws_NN2 to_II those_DD2 willing_JJ to_TO look_VVI for_IF them_PPHO2 is_VBZ steadfast_JJ throughout_II her_APPGE work_NN1 on_II sanitation_NN1 ,_, Poor_JJ Law_NN1 reform_NN1 ,_, and_CC economic_JJ and_CC health_NN1 reforms_NN2 in_II India_NP1 ._. 
Once_RR these_DD2 laws_NN2 of_IO nature_NN1 and_CC society_NN1 were_VBDR discovered_VVN ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ confident_JJ that_CST humanity_NN1 could_VM use_VVI its_APPGE knowledge_NN1 of_IO these_DD2 laws_NN2 to_TO govern_VVI society_NN1 according_II21 to_II22 ideals_NN2 of_IO health_NN1 ,_, community_NN1 ,_, and_CC sympathy_NN1 ._. 
While_CS she_PPHS1 clearly_RR expected_VVN that_CST observations_NN2 of_IO phenomena_NN2 in_II the_AT world_NN1 would_VM bear_VVI out_RP her_APPGE ideals_NN2 ,_, she_PPHS1 appears_VVZ to_TO have_VHI arrived_VVN at_II many_DA2 of_IO these_DD2 ideals_NN2 from_II her_APPGE extensive_JJ reading_NN1 ,_, as_CSA a_AT1 young_JJ person_NN1 and_CC throughout_II her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, in_II philosophy_NN1 (_( particularly_RR Plato_NP1 )_) ,_, religion_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT classics_NN2 ,_, as_RG well_RR as_CSA in_II the_AT literature_NN1 ,_, science_NN1 ,_, medicine_NN1 ,_, and_CC social_JJ science_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE day_NNT1 ._. 
This_DD1 social_JJ science_NN1 ,_, particular_JJ the_AT burgeoning_JJ interest_NN1 in_II sanitary_JJ statistics_NN ,_, led_VVD her_PPHO1 to_II a_AT1 rather_RG surprising_JJ blending_NN1 of_IO the_AT empiricism_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Comtian_JJ positivism_NN1 with_IW what_DDQ she_PPHS1 herself_PPX1 thought_VVN of_IO as_CSA the_AT essence_NN1 of_IO Christian_JJ theism_NN1 :_: laws_NN2 of_IO nature_NN1 ascertainable_JJ by_II mankind_NN1 ._. 
A_AT1 good_JJ example_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE allegiance_NN1 to_II the_AT natural_JJ and_CC social_JJ science_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE day_NNT1 can_VM be_VBI seen_VVN in_II the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST ,_, instead_II21 of_II22 believing_VVG in_II the_AT efficacy_NN1 of_IO miracles_NN2 ,_, or_CC angels_NN2 and_CC devils_NN2 ,_, she_PPHS1 became_VVD in_II her_APPGE public_JJ writings_NN2 a_AT1 long-time_JJ dogmatic_JJ opponent_NN1 of_IO contagionism_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT view_NN1 that_CST diseases_NN2 were_VBDR caused_VVN by_II invisible_JJ particles_NN2 called_VVN germs_NN2 ,_, rather_II21 than_II22 observable_JJ features_NN2 of_IO the_AT environment_NN1 --_NN1 indeed_RR holding_VVG belief_NN1 in_II germs_NN2 to_TO be_VBI a_AT1 form_NN1 of_IO superstition_NN1 akin_JJ to_II belief_NN1 in_II angels_NN2 and_CC devils_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 stress_VV0 the_AT spiritual_JJ ,_, philosophical_JJ ,_, and_CC literary_JJ foundations_NN2 of_IO Nightingale_NP1 's_GE views_NN2 here_RL for_IF important_JJ reasons_NN2 ._. 
Despite_II the_AT frequent_JJ emphasis_NN1 this_DD1 book_NN1 places_NN2 on_II Nightingale_NP1 's_GE social_JJ and_CC political_JJ savvy_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE willingness_NN1 to_TO adopt_VVI in_II her_APPGE public_JJ writings_NN2 the_AT narrative_NN1 and_CC rhetorical_JJ strategies_NN2 developed_VVN and/or_CC made_VVD popular_JJ in_II fiction_NN1 ,_, Nightingale_NP1 always_RR viewed_VVD her_APPGE arguments_NN2 about_II politics_NN1 ,_, philanthropy_NN1 ,_, reform_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT like_JJ ,_, whether_CSW in_RR21 public_RR22 or_CC private_JJ writings_NN2 ,_, as_CSA entirely_RR consistent_JJ with_IW her_APPGE philosophical_JJ and_CC religious_JJ views_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 ground_VVD her_APPGE work_NN1 in_II a_AT1 way_NN1 that_CST belies_VVZ any_DD notion_NN1 that_CST she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ "_" simply_RR "_" an_AT1 empiricist_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 utilitarian_JJ ,_, or_CC even_RR a_AT1 positivist_JJ thinker_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 was_VBDZ also_RR not_XX simply_RR an_AT1 idealistic_JJ and_CC sympathetic_JJ nurturer_NN1 of_IO soldiers_NN2 ,_, "_" the_AT lady_NN1 of_IO the_AT lamp_NN1 "_" in_II popular_JJ images_NN2 from_II the_AT period_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA we_PPIS2 shall_VM see_VVI in_II the_AT chapters_NN2 that_CST follow_VV0 ,_, Nightingale_NP1 shared_VVD ideals_NN2 about_II governance_NN1 and_CC reform_NN1 in_II31 common_II32 with_II33 reformist_JJ essayists_NN2 ,_, philanthropists_NN2 ,_, and_CC novelists_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE time_NNT1 ,_, but_CCB she_PPHS1 also_RR challenged_VVD the_AT views_NN2 of_IO many_DA2 of_IO these_DD2 important_JJ writers_NN2 on_II philosophical_JJ and_CC scientific_JJ grounds_NN2 ._. 
Her_APPGE critiques_NN2 warrant_VV0 our_APPGE attention_NN1 ,_, especially_RR given_VVN the_AT enormous_JJ ,_, and_CC until_II recently_RR underappreciated_JJ influence_NN1 she_PPHS1 had_VHD on_II reformist_JJ ideals_NN2 and_CC methods_NN2 following_VVG her_APPGE return_NN1 from_II the_AT Crimea_NP1 ._. 
Most_DAT people_NN today_RT who_PNQS know_VV0 her_APPGE name_NN1 still_RR know_VV0 nothing_PN1 of_IO her_APPGE close_NN1 advising_VVG relationships_NN2 with_IW and_CC influence_VV0 on_II members_NN2 of_IO the_AT Victorian_JJ British_JJ war_NN1 office_NN1 ,_, government_NN1 sanitary_JJ and_CC hospital_NN1 reformers_NN2 ,_, poor_JJ law_NN1 reform_NN1 activists_NN2 ,_, not_XX to_TO mention_VVI the_AT government_NN1 commissions_NN2 that_CST came_VVD into_II being_VBG as_II a_AT1 result_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE behind-the-scenes_JJ efforts_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT scale_NN1 and_CC impact_NN1 of_IO many_DA2 other_JJ of_IO her_APPGE reformist_JJ efforts_NN2 ,_, far_RR too_RG numerous_JJ and_CC far_RR reaching_VVG to_TO mention_VVI here_RL ._. 
Chapter_NN1 3_MC Competing_JJ Visions_NN2 :_: Nightingale_NP1 ,_, Eliot_NP1 ,_, and_CC Victorian_JJ Health_NN1 Reform_NN1 By_II the_AT mid_JJ 1860s_MC2 ,_, Nightingale_NP1 had_VHD acquired_VVN a_AT1 degree_NN1 of_IO moral_JJ authority_NN1 in_II the_AT general_JJ public_NN1 as_II a_AT1 result_NN1 primarily_RR of_IO her_PPHO1 widely_RR documented_VVN work_NN1 in_II the_AT Crimea_NP1 ._. 
But_CCB she_PPHS1 had_VHD also_RR earned_VVN the_AT respect_NN1 of_IO many_DA2 in_II government_NN1 and_CC intellectual_JJ circles_NN2 ,_, through_II her_PPHO1 largely_RR behind-the-scenes_JJ work_NN1 on_II issues_NN2 related_VVN to_II the_AT sick_JJ ,_, the_AT poor_JJ ,_, and_CC women_NN2 --_NN1 including_II work-house_NN1 reform_NN1 ,_, hospital_NN1 design_NN1 ,_, retraining_VVG women_NN2 for_IF careers_NN2 in_II nursing_NN1 ,_, and_CC army_NN1 and_CC hospital_NN1 sanitary_JJ reform_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD of_IO the_AT leading_JJ female_JJ reformers_NN2 and_CC novelists_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE day_NNT1 including_II Harriet_NP1 Martineau_NP1 ,_, Elizabeth_NP1 Blackwell_NP1 ,_, Elizabeth_NP1 Gaskell_NP1 ,_, and_CC philanthropist_NN1 Angela_NP1 Burdett-Coutts_NP1 ,_, had_VHD offered_VVN their_APPGE support_NN1 to_II Nightingale_NP1 's_GE reform_NN1 efforts_NN2 by_II helping_VVG to_TO find_VVI resources_NN2 for_IF soldiers_NN2 ,_, to_TO retrain_VVI manufacturing_NN1 women_NN2 to_TO be_VBI nurses_NN2 ,_, and_CC ,_, using_VVG Nightingale_NP1 's_GE sanitary_JJ statistics_NN and_CC documents_NN2 about_II training_VVG the_AT military_JJ in_II sanitary_JJ principles_NN2 to_TO write_VVI editorials_NN2 favorable_JJ to_II Nightingale_NP1 's_GE views_NN2 in_II popular_JJ periodicals_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 the_AT Daily_JJ News_NN1 ._. 
There_EX were_VBDR three_MC types_NN2 of_IO reforms_NN2 ;_; however_RR ,_, that_CST Nightingale_NP1 was_VBDZ reluctant_JJ to_TO get_VVI behind_II publicly_RR despite_II the_AT urgings_NN2 of_IO some_DD of_IO her_APPGE prominent_JJ female_JJ reformer_NN1 friends_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 resisted_VVD endorsing_VVG the_AT three_MC following_JJ initiatives_NN2 :_: advocating_VVG for_IF women_NN2 's_GE suffrage_NN1 ,_, opening_VVG medical_JJ education_NN1 to_II women_NN2 ;_; and_CC supporting_JJ medical_JJ reforms_NN2 of_IO particular_JJ kinds_NN2 that_CST ,_, she_PPHS1 felt_VVD ,_, drew_VVD intellectual_JJ and_CC financial_JJ resources_NN2 away_II21 from_II22 sanitary_JJ studies_NN2 ._. 
One_PN1 might_VM have_VHI imagined_VVN --_NN1 given_VVN her_APPGE well-documented_JJ comments_NN2 in_II her_APPGE correspondence_NN1 ,_, "_" Cassandra_NP1 ,_, "_" and_CC elsewhere_RL about_II the_AT stifling_JJ lives_NN2 that_CST most_DAT women_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE day_NNT1 led_VVD --_JJ that_CST Nightingale_NP1 would_VM have_VHI agitated_VVN enthusiastically_RR for_IF votes_NN2 for_IF women_NN2 and_CC for_IF women_NN2 's_GE right_JJ to_TO enter_VVI into_II the_AT field_NN1 of_IO medicine_NN1 ._. 
Likewise_RR ,_, her_APPGE interest_NN1 in_II assembling_VVG "_" the_AT facts_NN2 "_" about_II disease_NN1 in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO save_VVI lvies_NN2 through_II sanitary_JJ studies_NN2 would_VM suggest_VVI that_CST she_PPHS1 would_VM have_VHI supported_VVN research_NN1 of_IO any_DD scientific_JJ kind_NN1 into_II the_AT nature_NN1 of_IO disease_NN1 ._. 
None_PN of_IO these_DD2 assumptions_NN2 would_VM be_VBI correct_JJ ._. 
The_AT previous_JJ chapters_NN2 of_IO Victorian_JJ Medicine_NN1 and_CC Social_JJ Reform_NN1 :_: Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 among_II the_AT Novelists_NN2 have_VH0 described_VVN Nightingale_NP1 's_GE willingness-_NN1 despite_II her_PPHO1 feeling_VVG that_DD1 fiction_NN1 distorted_VVN the_AT truth_NN1 through_II sensationalism_NN1 and_CC sentimentalizing_VVG --_JJ to_TO draw_VVI from_II the_AT rhetorical_JJ and_CC narrative_JJ strategies_NN2 of_IO novelists_NN2 in_II order_NN1 more_RGR effectively_RR to_TO influence_VVI public_NN1 opinion_NN1 in_II31 favor_II32 of_II33 her_APPGE reform_NN1 ideas_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 chapter_NN1 considers_VVZ the_AT rather_RG different_JJ feelings_NN2 provoked_VVN in_II Nightingale_NP1 by_II a_AT1 novelist_NN1 whose_DDQGE prolific_JJ intellect_NN1 and_CC genius_NN1 for_IF realist_NN1 description_NN1 had_VHD earned_VVN the_AT kind_NN1 of_IO respect_NN1 among_II Victorian_JJ writers_NN2 ,_, including_II Nightingale_NP1 herself_PPX1 ._. 
George_NP1 Eliot_NP1 's_GE method_NN1 of_IO respresenting_VVG her_APPGE fictional_JJ worlds_NN2 according_II21 to_II22 her_PPHO1 dazzlingly_RR wide-ranging_JJ reading_NN1 in_II the_AT works_NN of_IO her_APPGE scientific_JJ ,_, medical_JJ ,_, and_CC philosophical_JJ contemporaries_NN2 was_VBDZ particularly_RR evident_JJ in_II Middlemarch_NP1 ._. 
It_PPH1 created_VVD ,_, for_IF Nightingale_NP1 ,_, not_XX only_RR what_DDQ Catherine_NP1 Judd_NP1 has_VHZ described_VVN as_II "_" a_AT1 competition_NN1 for_IF the_AT role_NN1 of_IO social_JJ prophet_NN1 "_" between_II the_AT two_MC women_NN2 ;_; it_PPH1 also_RR created_VVN withering_JJ challenges_NN2 to_II many_DA2 of_IO the_AT scientific_JJ and_CC philosophhical_JJ principles_NN2 on_II which_DDQ Nightingale_NP1 's_GE own_DA authority_NN1 on_II public_JJ health_NN1 issues_NN2 had_VHD been_VBN based_VVN ._. 
To_TO be_VBI sure_JJ ,_, Nightingale_NP1 never_RR explicitly_RR acknowledged_VVD the_AT threat_NN1 that_CST Eliot_NP1 's_GE status_NN1 as_CSA social_JJ and_CC scientific_JJ sage_NN1 posed_VVN to_II her_APPGE own_DA ._. 
She_PPHS1 based_VVD her_APPGE objections_NN2 to_II Middlemarch_NP1 both_RR in_RR21 public_RR22 and_CC private_JJ writings_NN2 primarily_RR on_II what_DDQ she_PPHS1 saw_VVD as_CSA Dorothea_NP1 Ladislaw_NP1 's_GE failure_NN1 at_II the_AT end_NN1 of_IO Middlemarch_NN1 to_TO imagine_VVI a_AT1 means_NN of_IO contributing_VVG to_II the_AT public_JJ good_JJ in_II any_DD way_NN1 other_II21 than_II22 serving_VVG as_II helpmeet_NN1 to_II her_APPGE aspiring_JJ politician_NN1 husband_NN1 Will_NP1 Ladislaw_NP1 ._. 
EPILOGUE_NP1 :_: NIGHTINGALE_NP1 IN_II THE_AT TWENTY-FIRST_MD CENTURY_NNT1 :_: THE_AT LEGEND_NN1 VERSUS_II THE_AT LIFE_NN1 Throughout_II researching_VVG and_CC writing_VVG Victorian_JJ Medicine_NN1 and_CC Social_JJ Reform_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 have_VH0 thought_VVN about_II how_RRQ best_RRT to_TO explain_VVI what_DDQ Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 's_GE legacy_NN1 might_VM be_VBI in_II the_AT twenty-first_MD century_NNT1 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ no_AT one_MC1 way_NN1 to_TO describe_VVI her_APPGE complex_JJ legacy_NN1 ._. 
The_AT breadth_NN1 and_CC depth_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE knowledge_NN1 about_II social_JJ problem_NN1 in_II Britain_NP1 ,_, India_NP1 ,_, and_CC elsewhere_RL ,_, and_CC the_AT broad_JJ effects_NN2 of_IO her_APPGE reformist_JJ work_NN1 seem_VV0 to_TO be_VBI all_RR21 but_RR22 unknown_JJ to_II the_AT general_JJ public_NN1 today_RT ;_; the_AT name_NN1 "_" Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 "_" in_II my_APPGE hearing_NN1 has_VHZ often_RR been_VBN used_VVN almost_RR as_II an_AT1 insult_NN1 to_TO describe_VVI women_NN2 perceived_VVN by_II the_AT speaker_NN1 to_TO be_VBI either_RR overly_RR empathetic_JJ busy-bodies_NN2 or_CC obsequious_JJ caregivers_NN2 wanting_VVG attention_NN1 for_IF their_APPGE effors_NN2 ._. 
Perhaps_RR it_PPH1 's_VBZ then_RT no_AT wonder_NN1 that_CST in_II 1999_MC Unison_JJ ,_, the_AT larget_NN1 British_JJ trade_NN1 union_NN1 representing_VVG nurses_NN2 ,_, decided_VVD it_PPH1 was_VBDZ time_NNT1 to_TO disassociate_VVI their_APPGE profession_NN1 from_II her_APPGE example_NN1 ,_, to_TO "_" exorcise_VVI the_AT myth_NN1 of_IO Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 "_" ._. 
As_CSA I_PPIS1 hope_VV0 this_DD1 book_NN1 makes_VVZ evident_JJ ,_, recent_JJ scholarship_NN1 on_II Nightingale_NP1 's_GE life_NN1 and_CC work_NN1 has_VHZ attempted_VVN to_TO broaden_VVI the_AT popular_JJ perception_NN1 of_IO her_PPHO1 out_RP from_II narrow_JJ iconic_JJ perceptions_NN2 of_IO her_PPHO1 as_CSA either_RR the_AT self-sacrificing_NN1 ministering_VVG angel_NN1 to_II the_AT troops_NN2 during_II the_AT Crimean_JJ War_NN1 or_CC as_II the_AT stern_NN1 ,_, unforgiving_JJ bureaucrat_NN1 who_PNQS professionalized_VVD nursing_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Collected_JJ Works_NN of_IO Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 ,_, edited_VVN by_II Lynn_NP1 McDonald_NP1 ,_, along_II21 with_II22 Mark_NP1 Bostridge_NP1 's_GE fine_JJ biography_NN1 ,_, Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 :_: The_AT Making_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 Icon_NN1 ,_, and_CC Jharna_NP1 Gourlay_NP1 's_GE Florence_NP1 Nightingale_NP1 and_CC the_AT Health_NN1 of_IO the_AT Raj_NP1 are_VBR only_RR a_AT1 few_DA2 of_IO the_AT most_RGT recent_JJ examples_NN2 of_IO excellent_JJ archival_JJ scholarship_NN1 now_RT offering_VVG a_AT1 much_RR richer_JJR picture_NN1 of_IO Nightingale_NP1 as_II an_AT1 intellectual_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 reformer_NN1 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 person_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB that_DD1 scholarship_NN1 does_VDZ not_XX always_RR make_VVI its_APPGE way_NN1 into_II the_AT public_NN1 eye_NN1 in_II any_DD form_NN1 other_II21 than_II22 reviews_NN2 ,_, a_AT1 point_NN1 that_CST Nightingale_NP1 ,_, with_IW her_APPGE sophisticated_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO how_RRQ public_NN1 opinion_NN1 is_VBZ often_RR generated_VVN ,_, would_VM no_RR21 doubt_RR22 have_VHI recognized_VVN ._. 
Even_RR Bostridge_NP1 's_VBZ carefully_RR nuanced_VVN and_CC meticulously_RR researched_VVN biography_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ was_VBDZ highly_RR praised_VVN by_II its_APPGE critics_NN2 ,_, elicited_VVD dismissive_JJ conclusions_NN2 about_II Nightingale_NP1 herself_PPX1 ._. 
Reviewing_VVG Bostridge_NP1 's_GE book_NN1 for_IF The_AT Independent_NN1 ,_, Jan_NP1 Marsh_NP1 concludes_VVZ of_IO Nightingale_NP1 ,_, "_" In_II the_AT end_NN1 ,_, the_AT legend_NN1 is_VBZ historically_RR more_RGR significant_JJ than_CSN the_AT life_NN1 ._. "_" 
And_CC the_AT reviewer_NN1 for_IF The_AT Atlantic_NP1 wraps_VVZ up_RP his_APPGE or_CC her_APPGE review_NN1 with_IW the_AT sweeping_JJ conclusion_NN1 that_CST Nightingale_NP1 was_VBDZ "_" a_AT1 woman_NN1 to_II whom_PNQO we_PPIS2 owe_VV0 a_RR31 great_RR32 deal_RR33 ,_, but_CCB would_VM perhaps_RR never_RR want_VVI to_TO meet_VVI ._. "_" 
Both_DB2 comments_NN2 seem_VV0 to_TO reflect_VVI a_AT1 desire_NN1 to_TO sum_VVI up_RP her_APPGE life_NN1 in_II sweeping_JJ terms_NN2 ;_; and_CC both_DB2 risk_VV0 putting_VVG off_RP readers_NN2 who_PNQS might_VM forget_VVI the_AT reviewers_NN2 '_GE prior_JJ compliments_NN2 about_II the_AT book_NN1 in_II the_AT interest_NN1 of_IO not_XX bothering_VVG themselves_PPX2 with_IW learning_VVG more_RRR about_II an_AT1 ultimately_RR unlikable_JJ person_NN1 ._. 
Reviews_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 these_DD2 prompt_VV0 me_PPIO1 to_TO question_VVI why_RRQ my_APPGE perceptions_NN2 of_IO Nightingale_NP1 ,_, the_AT person_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT importance_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE work_NN1 to_II current_JJ social_JJ ,_, economic_JJ ,_, and_CC health_NN1 policies_NN2 in_II Britain_NP1 and_CC abroad_RL should_VM be_VBI so_RG entirely_RR different_JJ to_II what_DDQ we_PPIS2 find_VV0 in_II these_DD2 two_MC reviews_NN2 ._. 
Her_APPGE insightful_JJ and_CC thorough_JJ methods_NN2 of_IO gathering_VVG information_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE gifts_NN2 for_IF presenting_VVG that_DD1 material_NN1 to_II government_NN1 officials_NN2 and_CC to_II the_AT public_NN1 in_II ways_NN2 calculated_VVN to_TO make_VVI the_AT most_DAT impact_NN1 would_VM ,_, on_II its_APPGE own_DA ,_, seem_VV0 important_JJ enough_RR to_TO suggest_VVI that_CST Nightingale_NP1 's_GE work_NN1 is_VBZ at_RR21 least_RR22 as_RG important_JJ as_CSA her_APPGE legend_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 seems_VVZ terribly_RR ironic_JJ given_JJ Nightingale_NP1 's_GE scrupulous_JJ decision_NN1 not_XX to_TO give_VVI her_APPGE name_NN1 to_II causes_NN2 to_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 did_VDD not_XX also_RR give_VVI her_APPGE work_NN1 that_CST anyone_PN1 in_II the_AT twenty-first_MD century_NNT1 should_VM find_VVI her_APPGE name_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT legend_NN1 it_PPH1 appears_VVZ to_TO invoke_VVI ,_, "_" more_RGR historically_RR significant_JJ "_" than_CSN the_AT voluminous_JJ amounts_NN2 of_IO work_NN1 she_PPHS1 did_VDD in_II the_AT interests_NN2 of_IO making_VVG life_NN1 better_RRR for_IF the_AT poor_JJ ,_, sick_JJ ,_, and_CC the_AT colonized_JJ ._. 
In_II making_VVG this_DD1 claim_NN1 I_PPIS1 do_VD0 not_XX mean_VVI to_TO suggest_VVI that_CST others_NN2 '_GE contributions_NN2 to_II the_AT kinds_NN2 of_IO reform_NN1 work_NN1 Nightingale_NP1 undertook_VVD in_II Britain_NP1 ,_, India_NP1 ,_, and_CC elsewhere_RL are_VBR less_RGR notable_JJ or_CC less_RGR laudable_JJ than_CSN Nightingale_NP1 's_GE ;_; and_CC I_PPIS1 regret_VV0 that_CST critical_JJ attention_NN1 on_II her_APPGE lfie_NN1 and_CC work_NN1 may_VM have_VHI overshadowed_VVN the_AT work_NN1 of_IO Indian_JJ reformers_NN2 in_RR21 particular_RR22 ;_; but_CCB I_PPIS1 do_VD0 want_VVI to_TO insist_VVI that_CST Nightingale_NP1 's_GE contributions_NN2 --_NN1 her_APPGE work_NN1 both_RR behind_II the_AT scenes_NN2 and_CC in_II the_AT public_JJ --_NN1 should_VM play_VVI a_AT1 larger_JJR part_NN1 in_II her_APPGE legacy_NN1 than_CSN the_AT fading_JJ iconic_JJ images_NN2 of_IO her_PPHO1 as_CSA either_RR the_AT ministering_JJ angel_NN1 or_CC the_AT stern_JJ bureaucrat_NN1 ._. 
