This biography investigates the life and professional evolution of Florence Nightingale, seeking to reconcile the myth of the 'Lady with the Lamp' with the reality of her rigorous administrative and statistical contributions to modern nursing. Cecil Woodham-Smith utilizes extensive primary source material, including private correspondence and official records, to construct a comprehensive portrait of Nightingale's complex personality and her relentless pursuit of healthcare reform. The text argues that her influence extended far beyond the Crimean War, fundamentally altering the structure of hospital management and public health policy in the nineteenth century.

This work is widely regarded as a definitive biographical account, noted for its meticulous research and balanced portrayal of its subject. The text provides a dense, scholarly examination of Nightingale's life that remains a standard reference for historians and medical professionals alike.