Louisa May brings her writing skill to bear on describing her experiences as a nurse during the Civil War. She became ill during her work and was treated with the then state of the art medicine which contained murcery as an active ingredient. As a result she never fully recovered her strength, and her hair and teeth fell out. Excellent reading for anyone who truly wishes to learn what it was like for those who were sick or injured during this challenging time in history, or who wish to know more about this wonderful writer beyond her novels.