An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
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Average rating4.3
Letters of Note, the book based on the beloved website of the same name, became an instant classic on publication in 2013, selling hundreds of thousands of copies. This new edition sees the collection of the world's most entertaining, inspiring and unusual letters updated with fourteen riveting new missives and a new introduction from curator Shaun Usher. From Virginia Woolf's heart-breaking suicide letter to Queen Elizabeth II's recipe for drop scones sent to President Eisenhower; from the first recorded use of the expression 'OMG' in a letter to Winston Churchill, to Gandhi's appeal for calm to Hitler; and from Iggy Pop's beautiful letter of advice to a troubled young fan, to Leonardo da Vinci's remarkable job application letter, Letters of Note is a celebration of the power of written correspondence which captures the humour, seriousness, sadness and brilliance that make up all of our lives.
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I don't know when I've had a better time browsing through a book. It's a collection of the most interesting letters ever written. It includes some classics (Little Virginia's letter to Santa Claus! A new poet's inquisitive letter to Rilke!) and some that were new-to-me, but, if you are like me, you won't skip over many. It's a must-read, folks!
This collection of letters was a joy to read. It is a simple premise. The author sourced and compiled a plethora of interesting letters from around the world. Some are heartbreaking, others are funny, a few are grim and dark, and others lift the spirits. I found it exciting to read a few each and every day. As the author notes, the letter is sort of an antique practice these days. While emails and texts push information forward quickly, there is nothing quite like receiving handwritten correspondence.
A big thank you to Helga for recommending this book for Non-Fiction November. It was an absolute blast to read, Mon Ami!
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