This book is a fictionalized account of the author's experiences nursing during the Civil War. 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.
As a modest Boston lady, she is embarrassed at her first assignment of cleaning the men. However, she soon becaomes used to such duties and it promoted to head nurse of the night shift. She describes the men, the processes of nursing, and the occurances at the hospital with great detail, humor, and tenderness. Nurse Periwinkle is forced to leave when she becomes ill and her father comes to bring her home. In the last chapter, she answers questions people had about nursing during the Civil War. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book? - humorous Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Life of a profession: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Job/Profession/Status story Yes Main Character Gender - Female Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 9 () United States Yes The US: - Northeast Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |