Week 4: Growing up as a Writer

Day 1: British Library

This week's featured novel was Ian McEwan's Atonement. This novel is based around the life of a girl growing up around the time of the second World War. The plot is centered around her and her troubled family relationship ending in a surprising way. Our first stop being the British Library we were able to see ancient documents and historic writings with our own eyes. Those featured were religious texts along with the Magna Carta. 

Day 2: Imperial War Museum 

Our second stop was my favorite of the week, the Imperial War Museum. A former psychiatric hospital, this building stands out from the rest with its new purpose featuring two large anti aircraft guns out front.  

Also out front is a piece of the Berlin Wall. This week's theme about writing speaks through this image as some Berliners wanted to portray their message of change in this powerful way. 

This is one of the more unfortunate sights to see, a bomb used to devastate towns and cities. This was an English bomb that would have been dropped throughout German as the Allies closed in on the Nazi's. However, innocent civilians were part of the casualties of war from weapons like this. Documents and letters from families depict the terrifying thought of being hit with one of these. 

Day 3: Nightingale Museum 

Our final stop was the Nightingale Museum, dedicated to the woman above, Florence Nightingale. She is credited with a huge part of professionalizing nursing and was also an incredible writer. 

Florence served as a nurse during the war in Crimea. During that time she was know as "the lady with the lamp" for her tireless walking up and down the corridors of her hospital checking on soldiers throughout the night. Eventually she establishes a nursing school that was strict but just what the time period needed to start advancing healthcare.   

During the latter years of her life, Florence fell ill and became confined to her bed. There she went on to write well over 6,000 letters and hundreds of books. Florence was far ahead of her time and I am inspired by her life's work and lasting legacy. Like Florence, we can all come of age as a writer. It all depends on when we are ready to make that transition.