Kazuhiro FUJITA's Black Museum at Ki-oon reopens its doors with Ghost and Lady, the tormented and flamboyant story of Florence Nightingale, a young English lady whose vocation is to care for the sick, but who encounters many obstacles. This character really existed and is fundamental in the history of Western medicine. But what tormented the young Florence so much? Answer in the two volumes of this mini series.
Ghost & Lady
Original title: 黒博物館スプリンガルド
Translated title: Kuro Hakubutsukan – Ghost and Lady
Drawing: FUJITA Kazuhirō
Scenario: FUJITA Kazuhirō
French publisher: Ki-oon Collection – Black Museum
Japanese publisher: Kōdansha
Type: Seinen
Gender: Fantastic, suspense
Origin: Japan – 2015
Synopsis
The Theatre Royal at Drury Lane is said to have been haunted by a man in grey for several decades. Far from frightening viewers, Grey's appearances, as everyone calls him, are a sign that the play will be a success. This ghost, who quietly enjoys his eternity, one day meets a particularly tormented young woman. The young lady introduces herself as Florence Nightingale and asks him to kill her. Initially surprised by this request, Gray finally agreed. But her taste for the theater wants to make it a tragedy and take the young Florence to the moment when she will be aware of her despair.
Their meeting will profoundly transform them and lead them ever further towards the goal of the young Florence.
Ghost and Lady:
A fictionalized biography of a nursing pioneer
This woman with an exceptional destiny defied the conventions of her time, refused the destiny that her family had traced for her. Far from the charitable actions of the young ladies of the Victorian era, she went into contact with the sick and the poor to help them. It is she who gives its letters of nobility to the profession of nursing , hitherto occupied by nuns or women said to have bad life, with skills and dubious morality.
During her youth, Florence travelled throughout Europe and visited many hospices and sanatoriums, she learned many lessons in medicine and hygiene. Thanks to her talents in statistical mathematics, she also highlighted the shortcomings of the hospitals of the time, and applied her knowledge to improve reception and medical care, to improve patient care and reduce the mortality rate. For centuries and until then, patients went to hospices to die. Those who could afford it were cared for at home.
Yet, despite its good results and innovative ideas, it has met with very strong opposition. Whether in the civilian or especially in the military, his innovative methods of caring for the sick have been the subject of scathing criticism. The Crimean War marked a turning point in the young woman's life. Florence is confronted not only with illness and death, but also with the horrors of war and the administrative burden of the British imperial army and the bad faith of doctors. The debate around his person then raged in public opinion and political spheres. It was his actions during this period that made him go down in history.
An unconventional woman
Coming from a distinguished family, whose two daughters received a careful education in order to make beautiful marriages, Florence, who claims to have been called by God, refuses this life.
She stands against the advice of her family, against the conventions of her time and against the military medical authorities. Her life was one of struggle, and the period of the Crimean War was the culmination, the time when her faith and vocation were most tested before she was recognized and supported not only by her family, but also by the British population as a whole.
A touch of the supernatural
In addition to her convictions, in the manga, Florence is sensitive to everyone's spirits and shadow side. The idea of associating it with a cynical ghost makes it possible to confront two very different personalities with a touch of a very nineteenth-century Gothic novel. Several ideas such as dark specters or the materialization of everyone's negative feelings are interesting.
The graphics are strange, both dark and angular, with a great sense of detail. The eyes in particular are of rare intensity. The boards are dynamic, readable and very expressive. We find the oppressive atmosphere of the Victorian era.
The edition is of good quality with its grain cover, old book style. We are in the middle of edumanga, but it is a real pleasure. Even more captivating than Springald, this second history of the Black Museum is well worth the detour.
This story is impressively lively and tenacious. We would have loved to find the continuation of the adventures of Florence Nightingale, but unfortunately it is not possible… So we savor the only two volumes of Ghost and Lady.
A biographical story imbued with fantasy, which will speak to all those directly or indirectly related to the medical sphere, but also to all others. To put in all hands!
