To Father: The Letters of Sister Maria Celeste to Galileo, 1623-1633

by Dava Sobel

Galileo's daughter was her father's greatest source of strength during his most difficult time. Galileo was at the heart of the most dramatic collision between science & religion in history. He was also a loving father who treasured his illegitimate daughter, Virginia, perhaps her father's equal in brilliance & sensibility. Since marriage was impossible, she entered a convent to spend the rest of her days there as Sister Maria Celeste. Her 124 letters span the decade in which a new Pope battled the Reformation; the 30 Years' War embroiled Europe; the bubonic plague erupted; & a new philosophy of science threatened to overturn the order of the universe. Her evocative letters touch on all of these situations, but they dwell in the details of everyday life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Science, Italian Literature, Italy, Religion

355 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2002

About the author

Dava Sobel is an American writer of popular expositions of scientific topics. Her books include Longitude, about English clockmaker John Harrison; Galileo's Daughter, about Galileo's daughter Maria Celeste; and The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars about the Harvard Computers.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

About six months ago, I read Dava Sobel’s wonderful book, Galileo’s Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith, and Love. Sobel’s inspirational source was a collection of 124 letters from daughter Virginia Galileo to her famous father. While extensive quotes appear in Galileo’s Daughter from the original letters, I had an irrepressible urge to read all the surviving letters in their entirety. Imagine my delight when I was able to purchase a superb, clean, hardcover copy of Letters to Father: Sour Maria Celeste to Galileo 1623-1633 from Thriftbooks for only a few dollars! The book, with its deckle edge, attractive font, and attached burgundy ribbon bookmark, almost has the look of a rare and precious objet d’art!

At the risk of being accused of shameless vanity, I will quote from my own Goodreads review of Galileo’s Daughter, for it still rings true, and even more so:

“What emerges from these letters is the picture of an extraordinarily articulate, energetic, and highly intelligent, multidimensional young woman who loves and reveres her father. This is all the more astonishing given the restrictive, demanding convent environment. For almost 20 years, Sour Maria Celeste lived a life devoid of any discretionary time, since every minute of every day was driven by mundane tasks and prayer. Furthermore, she had no private, personal space she could call her own, nowhere she could go to fashion an inner thought or indeed, an inner life.”

The factors mentioned in the paragraph above are brought into even sharper relief upon reading the letters in full in Letters to Father. Virginia Galileo adopted the name Sour Maria Celeste when her father placed her in a convent run by the Poor Clares, “the second order of Franciscans, founded by Saint Clare of Assisi in the thirteenth century.” The Poor Clares seemed to live on the edge of destitution, depriving themselves “of earthly comforts to pray constantly for the souls of the world,” and frequently having to beg for outside assistance. Many times, their diet would consist of food whose quality today would render it fit only for a trash can. Their food was often moldy, hopelessly lacking in nutrition, and unappetizing in look and taste.

As well as poor quality (and often insufficient) food, the nuns suffered from a chronic lack of discretionary time and personal private space. Sour Maria Celeste frequently lamented “a constant and extreme shortage of time, of which I can never count a single hour truly mine.” In another instance, “…as I never find enough time even to finish my chores, and unfortunately I cannot wrench one additional hour from my sleep without seriously threatening my health.” All of this led to ongoing illnesses, some minor—headaches, toothaches, stomachaches—but some more serious which left her bedridden with severe fevers for weeks on end.

And yet, she was extraordinarily devout. Any hardship she suffered she attributed—with humble gratefulness—to a merciful God. “I am still not very well either, but by now I am so accustomed to poor health that I hardly think about it, seeing how it pleases the Lord to keep testing me always with some little pain or other.” The little pain often lasted months and was “so severe that I could find no respite day or night.” When the pain abated it was always “by the Lord’s grace.”

Sour Maria Celeste was as resourceful as she was intelligent and indefatigable. In Galileo’s frequent absences, she oversaw (remotely, through communication with his servants) the running of his household. She kept tabs on which fruits and vegetables were or were not flourishing in his garden, what monies and accounts had to be settled—she even saw to the feed required by the family mule!

Her intelligence was remarkable, not least of all for the mystery in how she acquired it, given that she entered the convent at age 13 with little or no education. She requested her father to send her everything he wrote and she undoubtedly read every word; her writing prowess extended to writing letters on behalf of the abbess to lobby for monastery funding; and at one time she even diagnosed why a clock might be broken!

Sobel reminds readers that, “All Sour Maria Celeste’s letters are first drafts, as she had neither time nor paper to waste in copying. Yet they contain only a few mistakes—a word omitted here or there, with hardly any crossing out—and the long complex sentences never lose their balance.”

To end on something of a sad note, Sour Maria Celeste never seemed to let her imagination stray to possibilities beyond her current circumstances; she never indulged in regretful “If only…” notions. Yet the unavoidable, obvious, and rather poignant question readers will ask is why her father didn’t see fit to remove her (and her sister) from the monastery to work for him. At a minimum. she would have made a first-class amanuensis, although in my mind, she could easily have been a very practical and helpful teammate in Galileo’s sundry experiments and studies.

From entering the convent at age 13 to her cloistered death at age 33, I would argue that Sour Maria Celeste’s natural spirit was somehow curtailed. I would further argue that, in a more fertile, stimulating, and social environment, those 20 years could have been transformative: Sour Maria Celeste could have morphed back into being Virginia Galileo. She might have inherited the status of a “chip off the old block,” and instead of just one famous scientist named Galileo, the world might have benefitted from two!

[Fawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suor Maria Celeste's letters would have been otherwise lost had she not been the daughter of Galileo, as Dava Sobel points out in her introduction. This is a quiet and very kind book that gives you a sense of life and daily rituals at that time. Suor Maria Celeste emerges modestly as a kind of heroine of her time, in a way many ordinary women are in their own; sacrificing, forgiving, loving, hardworking, and accepting. The intimacy between father and daughter is very touching, and although they didn't see each other often and lived worlds and philosophies apart it is very evident that each was important to the other and deeply respected in turn. Although this was not a page turner in a traditional sense, Suor Maria Celeste's touching letters brought comfort and kindness to me as they must have brought to Gallileo almost 400 years ago. Worth a look.

[☺Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after having read and enjoyed Dava Sobel's book, Galileo's Daughter. This collection of translations of Suor Maria Celeste's letters to her father illustrate her devotion to and love for Galileo. They also describe the deprivation and hardships endured by the poverty-stricken nuns at the San Matteo convent - where everything, including food, was often in short supply.
Many of the nuns were frequently ill, in a large part due to malnutrition, including Sister Maria Celeste's younger sister, Suor Arcangela.
Thank goodness Suor Maria Celeste had Suor Luisa as a dear friend and co-worker in the convent's apothecary.
Very interesting . . .

[Steven "Steve" · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of brief letters that show something of the life of Galileo’s daughter, who was a nun in a convent. The letters are mostly about small day-to-day matters which gives a unique insight as to what the life of a 17th century nun was like. There are letters around Galileo’s trial as well, which end suddenly when he was able to return home. A quick and surprisingly enjoyable read.

[Juan Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 1600s in what is now Italy, people lived poorly compared to today.

If someone of good social class had children out of wedlock it was allowed, but the children had only one destiny: the women went to the convent, and the men had to work in trades that their father got them.

In the book: "Letters to Father", Suor María Celeste wrote her life in the convent between 1623 and 1633 to her father Galileo.

Like the daughters of that time, he treated him with great respect. Like daughters of all ages, I always asked for things. It is interesting to see how they lived in those times, how difficult life was. In those times plague afflicted and devastated much of Italy, and during those years was the Galileo process.

Very interesting reading, if you want to know how life really was in the past.

[Jack¿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi pare di aver capito, attraverso le pagine di questo libro forte, che essere padre non vuol dire agire considerandosi tale, non ha niente a che vedere con l'essere un esempio come uomo e come lavoratore, come padre o come guida giusta. Kafka e il padre erano diversi, profondamente, figli di epoche diverse, figli di genitori diversi,persone con bisogni diversi, eppure chi non lo é. Quindi io non penso di aver capito come si deve fare il padre leggendo questo libro, peró ho pensato che il solo fatto di essere padre ti distingue e allontana dal figlio e quindi, per concluedere, ho pensato che forse piú che padre, per mio figlio, vorrei essere amore.

[Amy Reich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of letters that Galileo's daughter had written to him while she was in a monastery. Interesting details include a lot of food that he sent to her, her blood sister, and cousin; pastries and medicines she prepared and sent to him, stories other their other relatives, stories within the monastery, the amount of financial support Galileo sent the monastery especially at her request, and her feelings about his trials and efforts to run his house from afar.

[Samwise Chamberlain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dullsville. Correspondence consists of:

- Shopping lists
- What baked goods she is sending along
- Praying to God
- Begging for money
- Kissing sufficient butt to warrant said requests for money
- How the wine is coming along
- Who's dead and who's dying
- Whether author or her sister is currently constipated
- Ubraiding her father for not visiting/writing more often.
- Bemoaning headaches and toothaches

Intelligently written, but not anything really worth reading.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating insight into Galileo's life, contradicting some of the myths. The implications are discussed in Dava Sobel's Galileo's Daughter: A Historical Memoir of Science, Faith and Love.

[Shervin Ghiami · Rating 2 out of 5]

This rating is arbitrary - very evocative writing from SMCG and illustrates a fascinating perspective of the Galilean tribulations and Italian life in the early 17th century. A great book to have in your arsenal.

[Georgia Doyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Page after page of letters complaining of ailments, begging for money or goods or visits. There were a few interesting letters......very few. But reading these letters will make you thankful not to be a woman in the 17th centuary.

[Jennifer Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a history, the author writes with hindsight. These primary pieces hold a poetry of unfolding time and mundane practices as devotional prayer.

[Doris Raines · Rating 3 out of 5]

GREAT BOOK.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of letters, presented in the original Italian alongside an English translation, is a fascinating look into the lives of Galileo Galilei and his daughter, a nun at the Convent of San Matteo. There is an introduction that gives an overview of Virginia Galilei's life, and there follow 124 of her letters to her father that are still in existence. Not being able to read Italian, I guess I can't say this is an impeccable translation, but I'm pretty sure that it is. Suor Maria Celeste (the name Virginia took when she took her nun's vows) and her sister (Suor Arcangela) lead a cloistered life with the Poor Clares, and the poverty of the lifesyle comes through in the continual updates of the health of herself and the other sisters at the convent, as well as in the contiual requests for small sums of money, bits of cloth, and ingredients for medicines, candies, and soups. But equally evident is the matter-of-fact acceptance of their poor condition, even the joy in the minimalist lives they lead. Prayer for the needy is one of the main occupations of the Poor Clares, but Suor Maria also works in the apothecary and infirmary, she leads choir and teaches Gregorian chants to novices, she writes letters of business for the mother abbess, and she even writes plays and performs in them. She often speaks of not having enough time to rest, and yet she carves out time to write almost weekly to her famous father. She always addresses him formally, and yet the affection and love in their relationship is over abundant. Rather than seem to rigid or disant, the use of formal flourishes only adds to the expressions of love and devotion. Suor Maria was educated before she entered the convent by her father and her grandmother, though she never received any formal education. She writes long sentences perfectly, with graceful turns of phrase, and on the the first draft (she hadn't time or paper to waste on revisions. The translator attributes her literary grace to her father, " who is considered a giant of Italian prose." His responses to her have been lost, but it is clear from her responses that he wrote back just as frequently, and never denied her requests, for which she is always careful to express greatest thanks. While Galileo is in Rome during his trial and after, when he is still forbidden to return home, Suor Maria does much to take care of his household, sending him reports on the garden, his wine cellar, and household expenses. Unfortunately, she falls ill and dies a few months after his return home, cutting short her life at the age of 33, worn down by the worry of the previous year while her father was away. She never hints that she thinks his work is heretical, though she does pray when he writes of new work that "for love of God may these new subjects not chance to meet the same luck as past ones, already written." Never is there any doubt of the strong faith of this family, and Galielo certainly does not lack for friends that care for his fate, assist in caring for his household while he is gone, and work on his behalf in Rome to mitigate his sentence. All of the nuns pray for his good health and safe return. The letters never touch on the content of Galileo's work, but the details of everyday life are just as fascinating as the movements of the heavenly bodies. I also now want to find candied citrons, apparently Galileo's favorite treat of the many candies and pastries that Suor Maria makes for him.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read one of the author's other books (Longitude) so I know her biographies are good but this book is merely a translation of 124 letters sent from Suor Maria Celeste to her father Galileo over a decade. The Italian transcriptions of the letters are presented on the left side of the page with the English translation on the right and a brief introduction to the context and content is provided by the author beforehand. Although I know more French than Italian, I found the side-by-side presentation of the source material intriguing and might recommend this book as a study aide for higher-level Italian students who want to practice their translation skills.

As for the content, it took me awhile to get into the material. The first half of the letters are fairly banal, asking for food and materials to produce various confections and medicines for her father with reminders to return baskets and updates of various Sisters' maladies. About midway through, however, the plague starts ravaging Florence and Galileo has to face the Inquisition, which results in much more interesting content as his daughter struggles to follow the trial while sending notices on which areas of the country to avoid. There are also some moments of levity, such as the confusion surrounding the gift of "buffalo eggs", and many interesting tidbits on convent governance and management sprinkled throughout the letters. (Fun fact: chicken broth seems to have been used to cure colds since this era.)

Overall, this a good book for the right reader though I might recommend reading the author's biography (Galileo's Daughter) instead or before this one because the first half was quite tedious.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first hand look at what life was like during the time of Galileo's inquisitional trial, During the plague.

Sour Maria Celeste was a cloistered nun who served as the Apothecary for the convent she lived in. You learn different ailments and their treatments. The love this young woman feels for her father is amazing and so warmly orated. One side is in Italian, the other is the English translation (I read no Italian, so I cannot speak on the accuracy of translation).

This book is a must read for any history enthusiast. I am not a history enthusiast, but I really enjoyed this book.

Frank

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading a couple of accounts of Galileo's life, it is nice to see a complete collection of these marvelous letters. As someone else has said before, it is scarcely imaginable that Galileo was human once you see the lengths and expenses (with so little gratitude) his many relatives brought before him. Marie Celeste was one of the few who made claims upon him that seemed meritorious, and often she would plead so subtly that a man such as Galileo must have willingly acceded merely to the cleverness of the demand.

[Susan Massolia · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are actual letters written to Galileo from his daughter, a cloistered nun, who entered the convent (near Florence, Italy)at the age of 13. I'm a history nut, so to read these letters and get a feel of what their life was like in the early 1600s is wonderfully interesting! The way they spoke, what they ate, the politics and religious views of the time - every leter I read, I look forward to the next.

[Lila DiPasqua · Rating 5 out of 5]

While cloistered in a convent, Galileo’s daughter, Sister Maria Celeste, wrote over one hundred letters to her father. This book is a collection of those surviving letters, a wonderful look into the lives of both daughter and the famous scientist, Galileo. Rich with historical details and tidbits, each letter is presented in the original Italian version as well as in its English translation. I delighted in both.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Dava Sobel's other book regarding these letters and though that was quite a while ago, I seem to recall that it was better, thanks to the contextual narrative provided in that other work. This truly is just the compilation and translation of the letters, and while they are enjoyable, they do feel a little repetitive.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I hadn't had to leave this book behind when I moved. I think nothing can give you insight into a situation like primary documents, and I think these were especially insightful.

[Sean Selman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but Dava Sobel's 'Galileo's Daughter' does a better job of giving you the narrative and the context.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply amazing! Let history tell itself.

[Pamela Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read after reading Galileo's Daughter.

[Veroni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truthful glance of that era through 124 surviving letters, from a daughter to her beloved father.

[Kathy S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t finish the book as I found it very repetitive. Still a fascinating insight to life in the 1600’s, the relationship between father and daughter and the influence of the church.

[Jing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look into the daily lives of a Galileo and his daughter. I just love all these breathtaking details that the readers can gleam from the letters concerning the desperately poor lives of a nun in early 17th centur Italy, especially the thoughts, customs, clothing and food of the everyman during that time. Makes history come alive, really, and reminds you how _human_ these historical figures are.