Book Review

Women's Hospitals in Brighton & Hove by Val Brown.

This lively account of early twentieth century pioneering women doctors is teeming with facts, not only about the medical profession but also the women's suffrage movement and the First World War. Val traces the development of the two local women's hospitals from the first gleam in an idealistic eye, to their successful operation followed by sad absorption into the National Health Service, which led to their eventual demise.

I found it a fascinating read, not least for the descriptions of women's networking and committees, still going strong in today's community organisations. I particularly felt for these doctors in the challenge they faced securing funds to turn their vision into bricks and mortar! Unlike today though, they had the local aristocracy to help out through the tradition of noblesse oblige.

There's also plenty here for future researchers of lesbian history to get their teeth into – lots of "lifelong companions" and pairs of single women. The ball has already rolled a little way on some of these – see Brighton Ourstory newsletter no.12 for more on Val's two heroines, Dr Louisa Martindale and Dr Helen Boyle.

Linda