Coming of Age as a Writer

Florence Nightingale was a very powerful woman who was a nurse and a writer. This is one of her many books she wrote. She wrote over 200 books, pamphlets and articles and over 1400 letters. She wrote about her experiences, what she wanted to change, life as a nurse, and her thoughts. She was similar to Briony in Atonement as Briony wrote about her secrets, thoughts, and short stories while growing up and becoming a nurse.  

“She was one of those children possessed by desire to have the world just so. Whereas her sisters room was a stew of unclosed books unfolded, unmade bed…” Briony, like Florence, was a quiet, neat, observant and organized person unlike both of their older sisters. This way of thinking caused her imagination to be the strongest part of her personality. This helped her come of age as a writer. 

This is of the HMS Belfast, a ship used in WWII. The men on this ship had many hardships and struggles as Robbie would have had when he was volunteering in the Army. “The corporals depended on Turner’s French.” Even though he was a volunteer, he was an educated man, which ended up making him an obvious help to others during the war. Through his experiences in war and prison, he was always writing to Cecilla. His educational experiences would help him not only help him in war but war would also help with his education by experiencing something new. 

At the British Library in the Propaganda exhibition, different ways of propaganda that have been used over time are displayed. Propaganda is used to fight wars and combat disease, build unity and create division. Using propaganda as a writer can help your point come across in a stronger way. Such as our well-known American Uncle Sam poster is a classic example of recruiting men to war. 

Monuments are of the oldest forms of propaganda. People are able to instantly recognize them as a way to remember events, people, and nations. Coming to age as a writer is about learning how to put your thoughts down in a strong and remembered way, just as this well known monument, The Eiffel Tower.