Edward Tyas Cook (1857-1919) was an English journalist, biographer, and literary critic. A graduate of New College, Oxford, he had a distinguished career in journalism, serving as editor of several prominent newspapers, including the Pall Mall Gazette and the Westminster Gazette. Known for his thoughtful and well-researched work, Cook was also a skilled biographer who dedicated himself to providing objective and honest portraits of his subjects.
His connection to Florence Nightingale was the result of a direct request from Nightingale’s family after her death. The family trusted Cook to present a factual account of her life, one that would move beyond the public image of a saintly figure. Cook rose to the challenge, spending years poring over her extensive private papers. The result, The Life of Florence Nightingale, is widely considered his most important work and remains a foundational text for anyone studying the history of nursing and women’s roles in Victorian society
