In Their Own Words: Letters from History

In Their Own Words: Letters from History #1

by National Archives

The way we communicate has changed. Today, many of our interactions are digital, but until recently writing letters was the norm. Drawing from over 100 miles of records held at the UK's official government archive, The National Archives at Kew, this collection of letters, postcards and telegraphs will shine a spotlight on a range of significant historical moments and occurrences, recapturing a lost world in which correspondence was king. The book includes letters Queen Elizabeth I, Oscar Wilde, Charles Kray, 'Jack the Ripper', the Captain of the Titanic, Edward Smith, as well as the 'real Charlotte Gray' spy, Christine Granville, amongst others. Topics covered in the collection are both British and international, Boleyn's adultery, the Gunpowder Plot, mad King George III's military campaign in the New World, Captain Cook being the first European to set foot in Australia, a soldier's view of life in the trenches, the experience of a special agent during World War II and Nelson Mandela's trial, amongst others. The book features approximately 60 letters, each with a 600 word essay, and a 3000 word introduction. There are around 120 images in the 60 of the letters themselves, and a further 60 supplementary images.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Biography, Memoir

391 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2016

Reviews

[Sheila Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A really interesting dip into the millions of documents in the National Archive. I liked the way the book was structured around different themes. Telling the story through letters worked really well.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fascinating letters in this collection with some useful historical information/context provided with each letter. For me, the personal, non-official, letters were most interesting (and occasionally amusing), giving a 'human' perspective that is missing from the dry Goverment/official letters.

Have to admit I enjoyed picking some of my favourite voices reading the letters in the audio version.

[Stefennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite interesting collection of letters. Great insight into some history

[Emma Dargue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting audiobook of the sheer breath of information stored within the National Archive.

[Mills College Library]

808.86 I358 2016