Emilia Vincent's long life (1828-1913) encompassed the complete reigns of William IV, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII, and she witnessed the remarkable changes and innovations of the 19th century. A granddaughter of the Dean of Westminster, Emilia spent much of her life caring, first for members of her family, and then for others in the nursing home she established. As such, she was part of the growing movement to develop nursing into a respectable profession. Emilia worked tirelessly in the support of others; she lost friends and family through typhoid, tuberculosis, and the influenza epidemic of 1889-92—which was possibly a coronavirus. She founded the Helena Nursing Home in Reading, Berkshire, which continued to be a place of support and care for more than 130 years.

This book traces Emilia's life and family, from her birth in the hallowed surroundings of Dean's Yard, Westminster Abbey, to the home she made for herself in Reading. It pays tribute both to the nurses she worked with and the people she cared for. These include the poignant stories of Lucy May, an original Canadian girl adopted by Christian missionaries, and Edith Satchell, whose brother was a serial con man.

The title of this book comes from the epitaph on Emilia's grave in Reading cemetery: "A Life Devoted to Others".