Mount Gambier Library will host an author event with bestselling author Victoria Purman for the launch of her latest release ‘The Nurses’ War’.
Team leader of library programs Kristi Brooks said the event will be a great event for lovers of historical fiction who will respect the amount of research Ms Purman has undertaken to piece this story together.
“Victoria is an Australian top 10 and USA Today bestselling fiction author and ‘The Nurses’ War’ is an extraordinary story of grit, love and loss so please join us for this free event,” Mrs Brooks said.
Ms Purman is well known for writing historical tales and ‘The Nurses’ War’ is based on the real experiences of Australian nurses in World War I, giving an insight into their bravery, strength of character, compassion, love and loss while treating wounded servicemen.
The story is based in 1915 as World War One raged in Europe, where an Australian nurse, Sister Cora Barker, left her home in Australia for England determined to use her skills for King and country.
When she arrived at Harefield House – donated to the Australian Army by its expatriate Australian owners – she helped transform it into a hospital which was also used to assist recuperating Australian soldiers.
As the months passed, her mission to save the lives of diggers became more urgent as the darkest months of the war saw injured soldiers from the battlefields of France and Belgium flood into Harefield in the thousands.
When the hospital sent out a desperate call for help, a quiet young seamstress from the village, Jessie Chester, stepped up as a volunteer.
At the hospital she met Private Bert Mott, a recovering Australian soldier, all while the looming threat of his return to the front line hung over them.
The event will be held tomorrow at 7pm.
To attend, contact the Mount Gambier Library for bookings on 8721 2540 or visit the library’s website.
