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100 Letters That Changed the World
The history of the world as witnessed through the most inspiring, heartfelt, and impactful letters ever written.
For the legions of readers who enjoyed 100 Diagrams that Changed the World and A History of the World in 100 Objects , here is a new take on understanding world history through the most important, impassioned, and world-changing letters ever penned.
The selected letters demonstrate the power of the written word to inspire, astonish, and entertain and range from ink-inscribed tablets vividly describing life in ancient Rome to remarkable last wills and testaments, passionate outpourings of love and despair, and diplomatic notes with deadly consequences.
Included are entries that span Leonardo da Vinci's résumé with barely a mention of his artistic talents; Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn; Beatrix Potter's correspondence with a friend's son that inspired Peter Rabbit; the scrawled note that brought about Oscar Wilde's downfall; SOS telegrams from the Titanic; the telegram informing the president about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s open letter from a Birmingham jail; Nelson Mandela's letters from prison; as well as notable suicide notes or famous last words by cultural luminaries such as Virginia Woolf, Baudelaire, and Kurt Cobain.
For the legions of readers who enjoyed 100 Diagrams that Changed the World and A History of the World in 100 Objects , here is a new take on understanding world history through the most important, impassioned, and world-changing letters ever penned.
The selected letters demonstrate the power of the written word to inspire, astonish, and entertain and range from ink-inscribed tablets vividly describing life in ancient Rome to remarkable last wills and testaments, passionate outpourings of love and despair, and diplomatic notes with deadly consequences.
Included are entries that span Leonardo da Vinci's résumé with barely a mention of his artistic talents; Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn; Beatrix Potter's correspondence with a friend's son that inspired Peter Rabbit; the scrawled note that brought about Oscar Wilde's downfall; SOS telegrams from the Titanic; the telegram informing the president about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s open letter from a Birmingham jail; Nelson Mandela's letters from prison; as well as notable suicide notes or famous last words by cultural luminaries such as Virginia Woolf, Baudelaire, and Kurt Cobain.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
224 pages, Hardcover
Published October 29, 2019
24 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Colin Salter
53 books9 followersEdinburgh-based writer Colin Salter is the author of 100 Letters That Changed The World, 100 Speeches That Changed The World and the co-author with Scott Christianson of 100 Books That Changed The World.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 29, 2019
Originally published October 28, 2019, at BORG.com.
New book collects “100 Letters that Changed the World”
Review by C.J. Bunce
Whenever you read a Colin Solter book, you know what you’re going to get. Salter, author of 100 Speeches that Changed the World and the co-author of 100 Books that Changed the World, is bringing his next thought-provoking ideas to your bookstore next month, 100 Letters that Changed the World. As with his prior entries in the series, Solter doesn’t really assemble the 100 best, 100 favorite, or even 100 most important items in each category, but he brings to light primary references from history. In doing this he reminds readers as much as things change, they also manage to stay the same. Having read his earlier books, I find I’m as intrigued to learn what he has selected from the obscure as much as more expected finds.
In truth, not all of these letters changed the world, if anyone, as might be the case with a few suicide notes from popular culture across the decades. It also gives a bit more weight to letters that exist in their original form today, and letters that might fetch big dollars on the collector’s market. The most intriguing of the letters is a note from Abigail Adams to husband John Adams from 1776. Her letter decidedly did not change the world, because had Adams paid heed to her plea, women would have been included along with “all men” in the Declaration of Independence. But it is a fascinating secret from history nonetheless. Also fascinating is the final, jovial letter from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his wife Constanze, including references to his peer Antonio Salieri.
More obvious, important entries in 100 Letters that Changed the World include the telegram informing FDR about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s open letter from a Birmingham jail, Nelson Mandela’s letters from prison, and words of King Henry VIII’s affections to Anne Boleyn, which indeed would forever alter the course of history in Europe, Christopher Columbus’s first report back to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1493, as well as Galileo mentioning his telescope whereby he first saw the moons of Jupiter and noted its military advantage for Italian naval efforts in 1610. And from the historic, but perhaps not so critical to human progress is the last telegram message from the RMS Titanic, a telegram from the Wright Brothers to their father of their successful first airplane flight, and Pliny the Younger’s letter to Tacitus describing the horrific deaths from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79.
Themes of some of the selections are espionage and defiance, like documented correspondence between Julius Caesar’s assassins after his murder and Joan of Arc’s threatening note to King Henry VI.
This book does not include photographs of all the letters, but does include some, excerpting key quotations from others. The most unique form of letter is JFK’s famous carved desk coconut that he used to save the crew of the PT-109 during World War II. The most amusing, a studio rejection letter to The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, stating, “The Beatles have no future in show business.”
An appendix includes photographs of two complete letters between friends Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller.
From publisher Universe in a full-color hardcover, 100 Letters that Changed the World would make a good choice for historians and high schoolers on up, and anyone interested in world history and culture. It arrives in bookstores in November and is available for pre-order now
New book collects “100 Letters that Changed the World”
Review by C.J. Bunce
Whenever you read a Colin Solter book, you know what you’re going to get. Salter, author of 100 Speeches that Changed the World and the co-author of 100 Books that Changed the World, is bringing his next thought-provoking ideas to your bookstore next month, 100 Letters that Changed the World. As with his prior entries in the series, Solter doesn’t really assemble the 100 best, 100 favorite, or even 100 most important items in each category, but he brings to light primary references from history. In doing this he reminds readers as much as things change, they also manage to stay the same. Having read his earlier books, I find I’m as intrigued to learn what he has selected from the obscure as much as more expected finds.
In truth, not all of these letters changed the world, if anyone, as might be the case with a few suicide notes from popular culture across the decades. It also gives a bit more weight to letters that exist in their original form today, and letters that might fetch big dollars on the collector’s market. The most intriguing of the letters is a note from Abigail Adams to husband John Adams from 1776. Her letter decidedly did not change the world, because had Adams paid heed to her plea, women would have been included along with “all men” in the Declaration of Independence. But it is a fascinating secret from history nonetheless. Also fascinating is the final, jovial letter from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to his wife Constanze, including references to his peer Antonio Salieri.
More obvious, important entries in 100 Letters that Changed the World include the telegram informing FDR about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s open letter from a Birmingham jail, Nelson Mandela’s letters from prison, and words of King Henry VIII’s affections to Anne Boleyn, which indeed would forever alter the course of history in Europe, Christopher Columbus’s first report back to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1493, as well as Galileo mentioning his telescope whereby he first saw the moons of Jupiter and noted its military advantage for Italian naval efforts in 1610. And from the historic, but perhaps not so critical to human progress is the last telegram message from the RMS Titanic, a telegram from the Wright Brothers to their father of their successful first airplane flight, and Pliny the Younger’s letter to Tacitus describing the horrific deaths from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79.
Themes of some of the selections are espionage and defiance, like documented correspondence between Julius Caesar’s assassins after his murder and Joan of Arc’s threatening note to King Henry VI.
This book does not include photographs of all the letters, but does include some, excerpting key quotations from others. The most unique form of letter is JFK’s famous carved desk coconut that he used to save the crew of the PT-109 during World War II. The most amusing, a studio rejection letter to The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein, stating, “The Beatles have no future in show business.”
An appendix includes photographs of two complete letters between friends Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller.
From publisher Universe in a full-color hardcover, 100 Letters that Changed the World would make a good choice for historians and high schoolers on up, and anyone interested in world history and culture. It arrives in bookstores in November and is available for pre-order now
June 28, 2020
I have some gripes.
Firstly. Most of these don't even include the whole letter. So much for actually reading the letters that supposedly changed the world. Secondly, this collection is awfully white, western, male and war orientated. I don't know. It feels redundant at this point in time.
I just feel like it could have been so much better.
Firstly. Most of these don't even include the whole letter. So much for actually reading the letters that supposedly changed the world. Secondly, this collection is awfully white, western, male and war orientated. I don't know. It feels redundant at this point in time.
I just feel like it could have been so much better.
February 4, 2020
Look, if you’re going to make your books about historically significant letters, don’t you think you should...oh, I don’t know...include the whole text of the letters? Or even any text, in some cases where the letter was only referenced and not even quoted?
Two stars only for the excellent contextual research.
Two stars only for the excellent contextual research.
May 31, 2023
Today's nonfiction post is on 100 Letters That Changed the World by Colin Salter. It is 224 pages long and is published by Rizzoli Universe Promotional Books. The cover is a picture of different letters with the title in red across them. The intended reader is someone who is interested in history. There is some mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the dust jacket- The history of the world as witnessed through the most inspiring, heartfelt, and impactful letters ever written.
For the legions of readers who enjoyed 100 Diagrams that Changed the World and A History of the World in 100 Objects , here is a new take on understanding world history through the most important, impassioned, and world-changing letters ever penned.
The selected letters demonstrate the power of the written word to inspire, astonish, and entertain and range from ink-inscribed tablets vividly describing life in ancient Rome to remarkable last wills and testaments, passionate outpourings of love and despair, and diplomatic notes with deadly consequences.
Included are entries that span Leonardo da Vinci's résumé with barely a mention of his artistic talents; Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn; Beatrix Potter's correspondence with a friend's son that inspired Peter Rabbit; the scrawled note that brought about Oscar Wilde's downfall; SOS telegrams from the Titanic; the telegram informing the president about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s open letter from a Birmingham jail; Nelson Mandela's letters from prison; as well as notable suicide notes or famous last words by cultural luminaries such as Virginia Woolf and Baudelaire.
Review- An interesting and personal look into history from the hands of the people who lived it. There are all letters in this book, from personal love notes to leaders trying to stop a war. There is some commentary about what was going when the letter was written, like Dr. King being arrested during the Civil Rights Movement but no judgements about the letter itself. Also the letters are pictured in the book with full text typed out for easier reading. I would recommend this book.
I give this book from my Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the dust jacket- The history of the world as witnessed through the most inspiring, heartfelt, and impactful letters ever written.
For the legions of readers who enjoyed 100 Diagrams that Changed the World and A History of the World in 100 Objects , here is a new take on understanding world history through the most important, impassioned, and world-changing letters ever penned.
The selected letters demonstrate the power of the written word to inspire, astonish, and entertain and range from ink-inscribed tablets vividly describing life in ancient Rome to remarkable last wills and testaments, passionate outpourings of love and despair, and diplomatic notes with deadly consequences.
Included are entries that span Leonardo da Vinci's résumé with barely a mention of his artistic talents; Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn; Beatrix Potter's correspondence with a friend's son that inspired Peter Rabbit; the scrawled note that brought about Oscar Wilde's downfall; SOS telegrams from the Titanic; the telegram informing the president about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s open letter from a Birmingham jail; Nelson Mandela's letters from prison; as well as notable suicide notes or famous last words by cultural luminaries such as Virginia Woolf and Baudelaire.
Review- An interesting and personal look into history from the hands of the people who lived it. There are all letters in this book, from personal love notes to leaders trying to stop a war. There is some commentary about what was going when the letter was written, like Dr. King being arrested during the Civil Rights Movement but no judgements about the letter itself. Also the letters are pictured in the book with full text typed out for easier reading. I would recommend this book.
I give this book from my Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
May 21, 2025
What an amazing, amazing book!
It reads like short (very short) but so impactful novels, it reads like treats for a curious mind.
Every double page, is a new letter: loved to see the original letter along with its transcription, a context, beautiful photos. The aesthetic is totally at the service of the clarity of content and its marvelous to be able to enter the world of that letter in such a vivid manner.
The 100 letters are displayed by chronological order, a very understandable choice. Perhaps not enough from the African and Asian continent (which is probably explained by an increase of budget to hire translators and researchers in non-latin languages), but I see it more as a stepping stone to advocate for the power of letters that had a significant impact. Additionally, probably because of the self imposed constraint of double page, some were cut shortly. Again, I explored diving deeper on my own preferred letter and rather saw this book as a menu of the secret correspondences existing out there.
I tastefully devored the letters. Some tragic, funny, exposing unknown players of modern world. It's been incredible to see known figures under a different light (Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller) or to discover others (such as the absolutely fondamental role of George Washington Williams in the liberation of Congo from the rule of Leopold II of Belgium).
Just one left thing to do: write more letters.
It reads like short (very short) but so impactful novels, it reads like treats for a curious mind.
Every double page, is a new letter: loved to see the original letter along with its transcription, a context, beautiful photos. The aesthetic is totally at the service of the clarity of content and its marvelous to be able to enter the world of that letter in such a vivid manner.
The 100 letters are displayed by chronological order, a very understandable choice. Perhaps not enough from the African and Asian continent (which is probably explained by an increase of budget to hire translators and researchers in non-latin languages), but I see it more as a stepping stone to advocate for the power of letters that had a significant impact. Additionally, probably because of the self imposed constraint of double page, some were cut shortly. Again, I explored diving deeper on my own preferred letter and rather saw this book as a menu of the secret correspondences existing out there.
I tastefully devored the letters. Some tragic, funny, exposing unknown players of modern world. It's been incredible to see known figures under a different light (Alexander Graham Bell and Helen Keller) or to discover others (such as the absolutely fondamental role of George Washington Williams in the liberation of Congo from the rule of Leopold II of Belgium).
Just one left thing to do: write more letters.
June 1, 2022
Not great. Poor selection for "world changing" letters (also, there isn't a predefined course of history to be changed, something he mentions in the introduction). Not all are reproduced at least partly, which is rather strange. The analysis is sometimes incredibly poor and other times is very biased.
It was an impulse purchase from a museum gift shop. Big mistake.
It was an impulse purchase from a museum gift shop. Big mistake.
August 3, 2025
A better title would have been "100 Very Interesting Letters from the Western World", as not every epistle had any real impact (e.g., John Adams didn't "remember the ladies").
This book has encouraged me to read more about certain historical figures, like Joan d'Arc.
Good gift for the history buff in your life.
This book has encouraged me to read more about certain historical figures, like Joan d'Arc.
Good gift for the history buff in your life.
January 17, 2020
Many of these letters created a mark in history, but I think very few “changed the world”
Nevertheless, the majority of them are interesting as insights into history, customs, and historical figures.
A mildly interesting read for when you want to relax.
Nevertheless, the majority of them are interesting as insights into history, customs, and historical figures.
A mildly interesting read for when you want to relax.
August 5, 2021
I don't know if the letters actually changed the world, or simply influenced transitions. However, I do feel that such a collection is worth a read and definitely looks good on a bookshelf.
Truth be told, I rather enjoyed going through this book :)
Truth be told, I rather enjoyed going through this book :)
August 4, 2022
An interesting book to dip into containing letters through history written by some of the most important people of their time
August 6, 2022
Very insightful and inspirational .
Read
September 2, 2024at times so interesting, at most times so very dull
January 16, 2025
where are the letters.
June 19, 2025
Few nuggets tucked inside the bunch.
Previously unknown powerful & inspiring actions from history made it 👍
Previously unknown powerful & inspiring actions from history made it 👍
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews