Bernice Bobs Her Hair Illustrated

The story was based on letters which a nineteen-year-old Fitzgerald sent to his fourteen-year-old sister Annabel.[7][2] As she wished to make herself more socially appealing, he "attempted to refine her social skills, providing detailed instructions on popularity and improving her image."[7][2]In 1915, Fitzgerald wrote her a voluminous 10-page letter which gave "advice on conversation, poise, carriage, dancing, expression, dress, and personality."[7] Fitzgerald later used this letter for the basis of his 1919 story draft.[7] The original text of the story was much longer, but Fitzgerald cut nearly 3,000 words and changed the ending to make the story more attractive to publishers. Fitzgerald named the title character Bernice as a reference to Berenice II of Egypt.[8] According to legend, Berenice sacrificed her most beloved possession-her tresses-to ensure victory in warfare.[8] For this act, the gods bestowed upon her a great honor: They placed her tresses in the heavens as the constellation Coma Berenices.