Seventeen-year-old Florence Nightingale Soden began this diary to mark her society debut and to document the expanded social and travel engagements available to her. The first entry on Sept 3, 1883 marks her seventeenth birthday and details Soden’s extensive journey around Italy and France, far away from her home in Clapham, England.

Soden clearly reflects upon some of her entries after they are written and edits herself. She cut out three pages, another four have been completely removed from the diary, and one page is painted over black. Botanical specimens are tipped in as momentos. Her student days are remembered with a Class I exam paper on the history of Rome laid in at the back. (It may be that a Class I mark was the parental prerequisite for the reward of her travel abroad.)

Born in 1866 and named after the illustrious nurse, Florence visited her namesake city several times in her journeys. Soden documents everyday vexations and unusual events including singing lessons from Dr Emil Behnke and her experience viewing a tonsillectomy operated by Dr Lennox Manuscript Diary of Florence Nightingale Soden of Larkbere, Thornton Road, Clapham Park.

Half bound morocco, remains of 3 wax seals on covers. 240pp. 20 x 17cm. Label on cover “F.N.S. 1883. 1884”.