Books with title HOSPITAL SKETCHES.

Tribulation Periwinkle opens the story by complaining, "I want something to do." She dismisses suggestions to write a book, teach, get married, or start acting. When her younger brother suggests she "go nurse the soldiers", she immediately responds, "I will!" After substantial hardship in trying to obtain a spot, she has further difficulty finding a place on the train. She then describes her travel through New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore en route to Washington DC. Immediately after her arrival, Periwinkle must attend to the wounded from the Battle of Fredericksburg. Her first assignment is washing them before putting them to bed. She converses with the various wounded soldiers, including an Irishman and a Virginia blacksmith. The blacksmith's death in particular touches her deeply.

Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist best known as author of the novel Little Women. In the mid-1860s, Alcott wrote passionate, fiery novels and sensational stories. She also produced wholesome stories for children, and after their positive reception, she did not generally return to creating works for adults. Alcott continued to write until her death.

Writing under a pseudonym, Alcott recounts the six weeks she spent as a volunteer nurse for the Union Army during the American Civil War in Georgetown. A vivid and truthful portrait of an often overlooked aspect of the Civil War, this book remains among the most illuminating reports of the era's medical practices as well as a moving testimonial to the war's human cost.

Writing under a pseudonym, Alcott recounts the six weeks she spent as a volunteer nurse for the Union Army during the American Civil War in Georgetown. A vivid and truthful portrait of an often overlooked aspect of the Civil War, this book remains among the most illuminating reports of the era's medical practices as well as a moving testimonial to the war's human cost.

As boys going to sea immediately become nauticalin speech, walk as if they already had their "sea legs"on, and shiver their timbers on all possible occasions,so I turned military at once, called my dinner myrations, saluted all new comers, and ordered a dressparade that very afternoon. Having reviewed every ragI possessed, I detailed some for picket duty whileairing over the fence; some to the sanitary influencesof the wash-tub; others to mount guard in the trunk;while the weak and wounded went to the Work- basketHospital, to be made ready for active service again. Tothis squad I devoted myself for a week; but all wasdone, and I had time to get powerfully impatient beforethe letter came. It did arrive however, and brought adisappointment along with its good will andfriendliness, for it told me that the place in the ArmoryHospital that I supposed I was to take, was alreadyfilled, and a much less desirable one at Hurly-burlyHouse was offered instead.

"Hospital Sketches" is a fictionalised account of Louisa May Alcott's experiences nursing during the Civil War and presented in a collection of letters. The book garnered Alcott's first critical recognition for her observations and humour.Tribulation Periwinkle, looking for something to do, follow the suggestion of her brother, Tom, and decided to become a nurse for the Union Army. However, her difficulties begin before she even gets to the hospital. She describes the inconveniences of travel on her way to Washington, D.C. Once Nurse Periwinkle arrives at the Hurly-Burly Hotel, a temporary hospital, she has to learn how to nurse.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - So far, very good. Here was the will - now for the way. At first sight not a foot of it appeared, but that didn't matter, for the Periwinkles are a hopeful race; their crest is an anchor, with three cock-a-doodles crowing atop. They all wear rose-colored spectacles, and are lineal descendants of the inventor of aerial architecture. An hour's conversation on the subject set the whole family in a blaze of enthusiasm. A model hospital was erected, and each member had accepted an honorable post therein. The paternal P. was chaplain, the maternal P. was matron, and all the youthful P.s filled the pod of futurity with achievements whose brilliancy eclipsed the glories of the present and the past. Arriving at this satisfactory conclusion, the meeting adjourned, and the fact that Miss Tribulation was available as army nurse went abroad on the wings of the wind.