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Family Life T he correspondence to, from and about family members selected here represents a small fraction of the extant letters, in each case of representative material. Letters to Nightingale ’s family also appear in European Travels (notably her letters from Greece and Rome, which are newsy and cheerful) and in the volumes on war and militarism (there is much correspondence to her family from the Crimea). Moreover all the Letters from Egypt were addressed to the family (again full of information and reflections). Those included here have been chosen to portray basic relationships, with all their anxiety and stress, hope and disappointment. They begin with substantial selections of letters to her mother, father and sister and then go on to the extended family and the Verneys. Most of the items are designated ‘‘letter/draft/copy’’ because it is not possible to distinguish between drafts or copies Nightingale kept herself (often written on stationery with a printed letterhead) and those actually sent and received (both sets were given to the British Library by the family). Nor is pen or pencil any indication of a letter’s status, for Nightingale often sent serious letters in pencil. Nor is her signature any guarantee; there are signed drafts and unsigned sent letters, and of course she often used her initials, especially with people to whom she was close. Letters to her parents often close with ‘‘your loving child’’ without any name or initials. Several ‘‘letters,’’ at least, one must doubt were ever sent (notably one very hard letter to her father). Since this Collected Works is organized thematically, letters to family members, especially to her father, will appear in other sections as well (notably on religion, politics and Poor Law reform). The letters here deal with personal and family concerns. They are arranged chronologically so that development and change in relationships can be traced. The letters largely speak for themselves so that editorial comments are inserted only occasionally. / 89 The section begins with the ‘‘Lebenslauf’’ or curriculum vitae Nightingale wrote for entrance to the Deaconess Institution in 1851. There are several other notes she wrote around the same time, which reflect her frustration at not being allowed to nurse or study nursing. These notes serve as an introduction to the correspondence to mother, father and sister. Nightingale’s ‘‘Lebenslauf’’ for Kaiserswerth Source: Lebenslauf, original at Kaiserswerth Diakoniewerk, published in Anna Sticker, ed., ‘‘Florence Nightingale: Curriculum Vitae’’ (Kaiserswerth: Diakoniewerk 1954) 24 July 1851 I had a sickly childhood. The climate of England did not suit me, after that of Italy (Florence) where I was born. I could never like the play of other children. But the happiest time of my life was during a year’s illness which I had when I was six years old. I never learnt to write till I was eleven or twelve, owing to a weakness in my hands, and I was shy to misery. At seven years of age we had a governess, who brought me up most severely. She was just and well intentioned, but she did not understand children and she used to shut me up for six weeks at a time. My sister, on the contrary, she spoilt. When I was ten my mother would have no more governesses and my father took us himself in hand. He taught me Latin and Greek and mathematics and whatever he knew himself. I had the most enormous desire of acquiring—for seven years of my life, I thought of little else but cultivation of my intellect. And even now when I think what a human intellect may become by industry, ambition comes before me like Circe with her cup to tempt me. I had also the strongest taste for music. But God was merciful to me, and took away my voice by constant sore throat. Otherwise I think, if I could have sung, I should have wished for no other satisfaction . Music excited my imagination and my passionate nature so much that I recognize this as a real blessing. God has always led me of Himself. I remember no particular sermon or circumstances which ever made any great impression upon me. But the first idea I can recollect when I was a child was a desire to nurse the sick. My daydreams were all of hospitals and I visited them whenever I could. I never communicated it to anyone—it would have 90 / Florence Nightingale: Her Life and Family [18.216.94.152] Project MUSE...

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