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More Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
More Letters of Note is another rich and inspiring collection, which reminds us that much of what matters in our lives finds its way into our letters.
These letters deliver the same mix of the heartfelt, the historically significant, the tragic, the comic and the unexpected. Discover Richard Burton's farewell note to Elizabeth Taylor, Helen Keller's letter to The New York Symphony Orchestra about 'hearing' their concert through her fingers, the final missives from a doomed Japan Airlines flight in 1985, and even Albus Dumbledore writing to a reader applying for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.
Including letters from:
Jane Austen, Richard Burton, Helen Keller, Alan Turing, Albus Dumbledore, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry James, Sylvia Plath, John Lennon, Gerald Durrell, Janis Joplin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hunter S. Thompson, C. G. Jung, Katherine Mansfield, Marge Simpson, Dorothy Parker, Buckminster Fuller, Beatrix Potter, Che Guevara, Evelyn Waugh and many more
These letters deliver the same mix of the heartfelt, the historically significant, the tragic, the comic and the unexpected. Discover Richard Burton's farewell note to Elizabeth Taylor, Helen Keller's letter to The New York Symphony Orchestra about 'hearing' their concert through her fingers, the final missives from a doomed Japan Airlines flight in 1985, and even Albus Dumbledore writing to a reader applying for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.
Including letters from:
Jane Austen, Richard Burton, Helen Keller, Alan Turing, Albus Dumbledore, Eleanor Roosevelt, Henry James, Sylvia Plath, John Lennon, Gerald Durrell, Janis Joplin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Hunter S. Thompson, C. G. Jung, Katherine Mansfield, Marge Simpson, Dorothy Parker, Buckminster Fuller, Beatrix Potter, Che Guevara, Evelyn Waugh and many more
365 pages, Unbound
First published September 3, 2015
128 people are currently reading
2310 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Usher
46 books298 followersShaun Usher is a writer, editor, and compulsive collector of remarkable words. He is the author of Letters of Note, an international bestseller that began life as a blog and grew into a celebrated series of books and inspired the live stage show Letters Live, which he has co-produced since 2013. He has published 16 books so far, covering everything from love and grief to music, dogs, and outer space, and in October 2025 will release his 17th, Diaries of Note: 366 Lives, One Day at a Time, a curated journey through a year’s worth of diary entries from history. He lives in Manchester with his wife, Karina, and their three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 21, 2016
Once again I cannot write anything else than: WOW. Shaun Usher is passionate, is full of wisdom and ideas - a true collector of words and emotions.
February 7, 2017
It's a book of letters and, if that sounds boring, you obviously haven't read this book. These are brilliant missives, some funny, some sad, some zany, all fascinating. I loved Letters of Note, Vol. 1; I'm amazed to find that Vol. 2 is just as fabulous.
April 17, 2017
Inspirational.
April 2, 2020
Nie znam drugiej książki tak dobrej na prezent dla kogoś, o kim wie się niewiele więcej ponad to, że lubi czytać. Zdecydowana większość listów jest krótka, więc świetnie się sprawdzają, kiedy na to czytanie ma się niewiele czasu w ciągu dnia - parę listów tu, parę listów tam. Rozrzut tematyczny i czasowy - ogromny, od starożytnych wiadomości wyrytych na tabliczkach po listy osób wciąż żyjących. Są tu listy zabawne, smutne, szokujące, wzruszające, oburzające, tragiczne w treści, kontrowersyjne, zaskakujące pomysłowością i po prostu urocze. Są zwykłe słowa szarych Kowalskich i okrągłe zdania wielkich pisarzy. Są muzycy, żołnierze, niewolnicy, dyrektorzy firm, gospodynie domowe, lekarki, naukowcy, nastoletni chłopcy i gwiazdy Hollywood. Słowem: dla każdego coś.
Zaczęłam czytać dwa tomy jednocześnie i tak się złożyło, że ten skończyłam pierwszy, ale najlepiej zamówić od razu obydwa. Pokochają to wszyscy miłośnicy biografii, kinomani i melomani, fani sztuki i nauki, osoby zainteresowane historią świata. Te drobne opowieści i anegdoty spisane w listach to historia, o której się nie naucza - a przynajmniej nie w takim detalu. Warto, a nawet trzeba.
Zaczęłam czytać dwa tomy jednocześnie i tak się złożyło, że ten skończyłam pierwszy, ale najlepiej zamówić od razu obydwa. Pokochają to wszyscy miłośnicy biografii, kinomani i melomani, fani sztuki i nauki, osoby zainteresowane historią świata. Te drobne opowieści i anegdoty spisane w listach to historia, o której się nie naucza - a przynajmniej nie w takim detalu. Warto, a nawet trzeba.
January 10, 2016
I bought this with a Waterstones' voucher that my aunt and uncle gave me for Christmas, (it was half price in the sale and a complete bargain.) having bought Lists of Note with last year's voucher. The lists I kind of dip into now and again but I started flicking through this at about 9 o'clock last night and I ended up reading the whole thing from start to finish into the wee small hours of the morning. I shall be buying Letters of Note (the 1st one) after pay day.
The letter that has stayed with me most strongly was the one that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sent to their children before they were executed on charges of Communism in the U.S. They were denounced, wrongfully, by Ethel's brother to save his own skin and that of his pregnant wife - the side notes by editor Shaun Usher give just the right amount of context to maximise the impact of the letters whilst letting them speak for themselves.
The letter that has stayed with me most strongly was the one that Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sent to their children before they were executed on charges of Communism in the U.S. They were denounced, wrongfully, by Ethel's brother to save his own skin and that of his pregnant wife - the side notes by editor Shaun Usher give just the right amount of context to maximise the impact of the letters whilst letting them speak for themselves.
March 31, 2016
I love these books so much. If another 10 were to be released, I'd happily read them all.
July 25, 2017
I don't know why I didn't find this as bewitching as the first, but here we are.
March 29, 2020
An amazing collection. I found the last few less interesting but learned so much, some are so funny, others sad. Would thoroughly recommend
February 12, 2016
More Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
Shaun Usher
This book is an irresistible treasure to people who love words in all their forms and find letters fascinating. The art of writing a letter is ancient and is quickly becoming a lost skill in these modern times. It is kind of ironic that a hard copy of a book like this, which began life as a thoroughly modern blog, www.lettersofnote.com, came about through crowd funding.
The book contains over a hundred letters, and is peppered with photographs and drawings, transcripts and excellent copies of original letters. Handwriting is as much a drawcard as the turn of phrase, and sometimes there’s the surprise of classic communication that transcends time and would be as much in context now as then.
Without doubt, reading it provides the feeling that humans continue to have a commonality of experience. I have had this book since before Christmas and have come back to it many times, always delighted by something found within the covers. Recently, I came across a letter from David Bowie in response to his first American fan letter. Ever wondered how two poets break up their tumultuous relationship? Read the heartbreaking farewell of a slave husband to his wife, upon discovering his owner had sold him to another Master. Or perhaps reflect upon the tragic letter from famous poet, William Wordsmith, to a friend and fellow poet, Robert Southey, informing of the death of Wordsmith’s two children in 1812.
A perfect book for a quirky friend, assisting with school projects and sure to provoke thoughtful contemplation and curiosity, MORE LETTERS OF NOTE would make a brilliant gift for you or someone else.
Melissa
LOVEthatBOOK
melissa-sargent.com
Shaun Usher
This book is an irresistible treasure to people who love words in all their forms and find letters fascinating. The art of writing a letter is ancient and is quickly becoming a lost skill in these modern times. It is kind of ironic that a hard copy of a book like this, which began life as a thoroughly modern blog, www.lettersofnote.com, came about through crowd funding.
The book contains over a hundred letters, and is peppered with photographs and drawings, transcripts and excellent copies of original letters. Handwriting is as much a drawcard as the turn of phrase, and sometimes there’s the surprise of classic communication that transcends time and would be as much in context now as then.
Without doubt, reading it provides the feeling that humans continue to have a commonality of experience. I have had this book since before Christmas and have come back to it many times, always delighted by something found within the covers. Recently, I came across a letter from David Bowie in response to his first American fan letter. Ever wondered how two poets break up their tumultuous relationship? Read the heartbreaking farewell of a slave husband to his wife, upon discovering his owner had sold him to another Master. Or perhaps reflect upon the tragic letter from famous poet, William Wordsmith, to a friend and fellow poet, Robert Southey, informing of the death of Wordsmith’s two children in 1812.
A perfect book for a quirky friend, assisting with school projects and sure to provoke thoughtful contemplation and curiosity, MORE LETTERS OF NOTE would make a brilliant gift for you or someone else.
Melissa
LOVEthatBOOK
melissa-sargent.com
October 30, 2016
This is really extraordinarily delightful!
Keep this book on your coffee table to both entertain and learn from.
These letters, memos, and notes would never be seen otherwise--and they're almost always hilarious or remarkable. It's like going through the attic of an incredibly worldly and well-connected grandmother!
Some personal favorites: Ursula K. LeGuin's fabulously worded refusal to blurb a book (page 146), Hunter S. Thompson's foul-mouthed rejection of Anthony Burgess's 50,000 word novella (page 188), and the indescribable anti-social memorandum found on page 86 which describes all of us, some of the time.
Keep this book on your coffee table to both entertain and learn from.
These letters, memos, and notes would never be seen otherwise--and they're almost always hilarious or remarkable. It's like going through the attic of an incredibly worldly and well-connected grandmother!
Some personal favorites: Ursula K. LeGuin's fabulously worded refusal to blurb a book (page 146), Hunter S. Thompson's foul-mouthed rejection of Anthony Burgess's 50,000 word novella (page 188), and the indescribable anti-social memorandum found on page 86 which describes all of us, some of the time.
Want to read
September 28, 2015Great review in the Times
July 23, 2018
This second volume of communiques to and from people famous and not was at times just as potent as the first, just as moving, just as insightful. I’m rating it slightly lower for two reasons, one purely selfish which I’ll save for last.
Whether it was because I’d just read its predecessor, I’m not sure, but some of the magic of discovery was missing for me in this one. I don’t think it was because the senders and receivers were of any less note - they include the likes of
Steve Albini (to Nirvana)
Abraham Lincoln
Sylvia Plath
Winston Churchill
Janis Joplin
John Lennon (to Eric Clapton)
Emily Dickinson
Abigail Adams
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kurt Vonnegut
As well as inspiring letters like the one from Helen Keller to the NY Symphony Orchestra after “listening” to Beethoven for the first time - full circle, if you will, from a composer who couldn’t hear to one of the most literate hearing-impaired people in history and back again. Or from Gene Wilder to the makers of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with “just a few ideas” on how to make the character and the movie a little better; without his suggestions the movie would not have been early as wondrous. Or the resume and job application sent to Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft & Wizardry - and its reply from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Almost all of them were as delightful and charming as any that were included in the previous collection, without doubt.
The personal (and selfish -I almost didn’t include it here) reason it was slightly more disappointing than the first version was simply that the publishers didn’t take the time to transcribe most of the letters from their original type-written, or in some cases hand-written, originals for the electronic version of the collection. (In the first volume every letter was shown in both forms.) Some, maddeningly, were available in both but most were not; it almost made it more frustrating that way. The ones that did not provide the easier to read version both took more time to make legible and were harder to read since they were so true to the letters’ original forms. I appreciate the fact that in “real life” both volumes had the goal of providing the formats, textures and ‘looks and feels’ of their originals, and in fact I plan to buy them for exactly those reasons as gifts for a few people I know will appreciate them, but it made for a frustrating experience for me, and took me out of the spell it was so successfully weaving more than once. (On an even MORE selfish note, the e-version of volume one had been on sale and volume two was about 15 times - from $1 and change to $15 and change - more expensive, so I’d expected at least a similar experience, not a downgraded or rushed final product.)
Nevertheless, I recommend both volumes highly. Each holds a mirror up to our own society and our own experiences, from the personal to the universal, and both held more than a few epiphanies for this reader.
Whether it was because I’d just read its predecessor, I’m not sure, but some of the magic of discovery was missing for me in this one. I don’t think it was because the senders and receivers were of any less note - they include the likes of
Steve Albini (to Nirvana)
Abraham Lincoln
Sylvia Plath
Winston Churchill
Janis Joplin
John Lennon (to Eric Clapton)
Emily Dickinson
Abigail Adams
Eleanor Roosevelt
Kurt Vonnegut
As well as inspiring letters like the one from Helen Keller to the NY Symphony Orchestra after “listening” to Beethoven for the first time - full circle, if you will, from a composer who couldn’t hear to one of the most literate hearing-impaired people in history and back again. Or from Gene Wilder to the makers of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with “just a few ideas” on how to make the character and the movie a little better; without his suggestions the movie would not have been early as wondrous. Or the resume and job application sent to Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft & Wizardry - and its reply from Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Almost all of them were as delightful and charming as any that were included in the previous collection, without doubt.
The personal (and selfish -I almost didn’t include it here) reason it was slightly more disappointing than the first version was simply that the publishers didn’t take the time to transcribe most of the letters from their original type-written, or in some cases hand-written, originals for the electronic version of the collection. (In the first volume every letter was shown in both forms.) Some, maddeningly, were available in both but most were not; it almost made it more frustrating that way. The ones that did not provide the easier to read version both took more time to make legible and were harder to read since they were so true to the letters’ original forms. I appreciate the fact that in “real life” both volumes had the goal of providing the formats, textures and ‘looks and feels’ of their originals, and in fact I plan to buy them for exactly those reasons as gifts for a few people I know will appreciate them, but it made for a frustrating experience for me, and took me out of the spell it was so successfully weaving more than once. (On an even MORE selfish note, the e-version of volume one had been on sale and volume two was about 15 times - from $1 and change to $15 and change - more expensive, so I’d expected at least a similar experience, not a downgraded or rushed final product.)
Nevertheless, I recommend both volumes highly. Each holds a mirror up to our own society and our own experiences, from the personal to the universal, and both held more than a few epiphanies for this reader.
October 21, 2023
“I do not think that I want to lie down in your crowded bed for bouts of therapeutic lovemaking. Loving you, I see no beauty in lopsided true love. (…) It is possible to cometh to rest in someone - but you have evidently not had enough pleasure and power. Maybe I want the middle-aged things now. I’ve had my fuck, but I’ve lost my love. My womb won’t tear me to pieces now, maybe, but my heart certainly will.” - Elizabeth Smart
“I feel obliged to say that the emotional universes we inhabit are so distinct, and in deepest ways opposed, that nothing fruitful orsincere could ever emerge from association between us.” - Bertrand Russell
“Bringing fabulous fractured fibula no pain just tricky to manipulate while charlestoning. Anything to prolong vacation. Your fractious fugacious frangible Sivvy.” - Sylvia Plath
“And I’m so afraid that the treasures I long to unpack for you, that have come to me in magic ships from enchanted islands, are only, to you, the old familiar red calico and beads of the clever trader who has dealings in every latitude, and knows just what to carry in the hold to please the simple native - I’m so afraid of this, that often and often I stuff my shining treasures back into their box, lest I should see you smiling at them!” - Edith Wharton
“I’m worried that we’re going to fall into the trap of bigness, that we’re going to worship techniques instead of substance, that we’re going to follow history instead of making it, that we’re going to be drowned by superficialities instead of buoyed up by solid fundamentals.” - Bill Bernbach
“There are no real rewards for time passing. And I was not beautiful when I was young and no one said so and I never found myself so; and God knows it was a mean row to hoe. I have so much now that it startles me: blessings overflowing, and I had nothing then. But I don’t really like what I know; I don’t really care for wisdom and experience. I would rather believe, and beat out my brains, and believe some more. I do not like this safe, well-armed woman I have become. The loud bleating disheveled starry reckless failed girl was a better person.” - Martha Gellhorn
“I feel obliged to say that the emotional universes we inhabit are so distinct, and in deepest ways opposed, that nothing fruitful orsincere could ever emerge from association between us.” - Bertrand Russell
“Bringing fabulous fractured fibula no pain just tricky to manipulate while charlestoning. Anything to prolong vacation. Your fractious fugacious frangible Sivvy.” - Sylvia Plath
“And I’m so afraid that the treasures I long to unpack for you, that have come to me in magic ships from enchanted islands, are only, to you, the old familiar red calico and beads of the clever trader who has dealings in every latitude, and knows just what to carry in the hold to please the simple native - I’m so afraid of this, that often and often I stuff my shining treasures back into their box, lest I should see you smiling at them!” - Edith Wharton
“I’m worried that we’re going to fall into the trap of bigness, that we’re going to worship techniques instead of substance, that we’re going to follow history instead of making it, that we’re going to be drowned by superficialities instead of buoyed up by solid fundamentals.” - Bill Bernbach
“There are no real rewards for time passing. And I was not beautiful when I was young and no one said so and I never found myself so; and God knows it was a mean row to hoe. I have so much now that it startles me: blessings overflowing, and I had nothing then. But I don’t really like what I know; I don’t really care for wisdom and experience. I would rather believe, and beat out my brains, and believe some more. I do not like this safe, well-armed woman I have become. The loud bleating disheveled starry reckless failed girl was a better person.” - Martha Gellhorn
January 30, 2018
[I should probably say that I was given this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I was not required to give a review and my opinion is my own. Just like to be upfront about these things.]
I recieved the softback edition which is a large, heavy thing with good quality paper. You could do some damage if you whacked someone with it. I like that in a book. It also has plenty of pictures, including scans of the letters.
In my opinion this is a book that should be in dead tree format. Perhaps a PDF if they sell them, but I can't imagine it would look good on an ereader.
The content is amazing. I haven't read the first volume, but if you're having doubts about there not being enough quality letters out there to fill this book then I'm happy to say those fears are unfounded. In these pages you will find every aspect of humanity that is expressable in words, and a reassuring reminder that wherever or whenever you go people are people. One of my favourites was a clay tablet complaining about the poor quality of goods. Something that will make me smile next time I'm wrangling with some customer service helpline, I'm not just on hold, I'm participating in a thousands of years old tradition.
It's rare that something is both mind expanding and comforting at the same time, but this book pulls it off.
I did find the centerpiece of an embroidered letter from a madwoman a little uncomfortable, but I understand why it was included. That's about the only negative I can think of, and that's probably just me.
I recieved the softback edition which is a large, heavy thing with good quality paper. You could do some damage if you whacked someone with it. I like that in a book. It also has plenty of pictures, including scans of the letters.
In my opinion this is a book that should be in dead tree format. Perhaps a PDF if they sell them, but I can't imagine it would look good on an ereader.
The content is amazing. I haven't read the first volume, but if you're having doubts about there not being enough quality letters out there to fill this book then I'm happy to say those fears are unfounded. In these pages you will find every aspect of humanity that is expressable in words, and a reassuring reminder that wherever or whenever you go people are people. One of my favourites was a clay tablet complaining about the poor quality of goods. Something that will make me smile next time I'm wrangling with some customer service helpline, I'm not just on hold, I'm participating in a thousands of years old tradition.
It's rare that something is both mind expanding and comforting at the same time, but this book pulls it off.
I did find the centerpiece of an embroidered letter from a madwoman a little uncomfortable, but I understand why it was included. That's about the only negative I can think of, and that's probably just me.
February 20, 2019
For those not familiar with Shaun Usher's obsession with correspondence, check out the website lettersofnote.com first.
In each of the books he has included 125 letters. I'm afraid this volume had a few that were questionable, such as Lorina Bulwer's rambling letter from the insane asylum. What makes it interesting is that she hand-stitched it -- but it makes no sense. Several of the letters are angry responses by people like Norman Mailer, Ursula LeGuin, Hunter Thompson, the Egyptian Shepsi, V.S. Naipaul, and Asger John.
Like the first volume, this volume ends with a letter home from a world war. In this case a
touching letter from English Captain James Armes, who describes the Christmas Eve 1914 truce between German and English soldiers. The joys of a book like this is that it can prompt the reader to research subjects with which they weren't familiar. Some gems in this book are:
* Beatrix Potter's letter to the son of a friend which starts the Tale of Peter Rabbit. This is one case where the original is more important than the transcription because Potter draws Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter.
* The librarian's letter to Francis Ford Coppola that led to the filming of "The Outsiders".
* Samantha Smith's 1982 letter to Yuri Andropov.
* Prof. Steven Armes application for the 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' teaching post at Hogwarts.
* British Air Marshal Hugh Dowding's memo to Winston Churchill urging the conservation of British fighter planes for the coming Battle of Britain.
In each of the books he has included 125 letters. I'm afraid this volume had a few that were questionable, such as Lorina Bulwer's rambling letter from the insane asylum. What makes it interesting is that she hand-stitched it -- but it makes no sense. Several of the letters are angry responses by people like Norman Mailer, Ursula LeGuin, Hunter Thompson, the Egyptian Shepsi, V.S. Naipaul, and Asger John.
Like the first volume, this volume ends with a letter home from a world war. In this case a
touching letter from English Captain James Armes, who describes the Christmas Eve 1914 truce between German and English soldiers. The joys of a book like this is that it can prompt the reader to research subjects with which they weren't familiar. Some gems in this book are:
* Beatrix Potter's letter to the son of a friend which starts the Tale of Peter Rabbit. This is one case where the original is more important than the transcription because Potter draws Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter.
* The librarian's letter to Francis Ford Coppola that led to the filming of "The Outsiders".
* Samantha Smith's 1982 letter to Yuri Andropov.
* Prof. Steven Armes application for the 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' teaching post at Hogwarts.
* British Air Marshal Hugh Dowding's memo to Winston Churchill urging the conservation of British fighter planes for the coming Battle of Britain.
January 10, 2019
Oh to go back to a world with letters. What an inspirational book. Shaun Usher does a superb job of just writing enough about the people concerned, answering my questions regarding the letters without knowing what they were, genius. It's not 'just' a book about letters, (if it was, it would still be great) it's a delve into history and involves famous people but proper famous people such as authors, musicians, inventors, people who have had an impact in history and therefore on our lives, not just stars of the stage and screen. It also includes not so famous people, some of my favourites were from children just wanting an answer to often difficult questions. What is overwhelming about this collection of letters is it reminds you of how important it is to express yourself, to tell people how much they mean to you, to believe in yourself and to follow your dreams. To ask the question, it's never silly and the answer may just lead you to better things. It's hard to pick favourites amongst such a heartfelt, awe inspiring, revealing, very funny and at times very sad collection but I would say the Tiger memos, Norman Mailer's letter to his father, Alan Turing's letter to his friend, Dr Suess inspiring a child to follow their dreams, A Pile of 5000 Cats and Kittens and Eric Idle's note to John Major. Even if my review has not inspired you to get your hands on a copy of this, you want to know why Eric Idle wrote to John Major, don't you ☺️
March 24, 2023
Personally, I found this book fascinating, but I suppose it is not for everyone. This is an updated version of a similar book published in 2023. It contains a collection of letters of some of history's most absurd, as well as most aspiring people. I especially enjoyed the letter from 50 women sharp-shooters, with Annie Oakley among them, to then President William McKinley saying they would fight for his efforts in the Spanish-American War. There are more than 100 such letters from a page of history none of us think to explore. Although the book is 338 pages, it reads faster than one would expect.
January 11, 2021
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first one. There a few interesting and touching Letters. But I couldn't take to Letters that are from an author (or somebody) that I didn't know, to another person that I didn't know even when the context was more intersting than the relevant people.
It was a Christmas present so I read it through but couldn't help feeling that we were now scraping the bottom of the barrell.
It was a Christmas present so I read it through but couldn't help feeling that we were now scraping the bottom of the barrell.
January 8, 2017
Enjoyable but Kindle Edition Missing Transcriptions
I enjoyed volume 1 and most of volume 2. At present, in the Kindle edition several letters (maybe 10 give or take) only include the images without the transcriptions, which I found difficult (if not impossible) to read on my tablet or pc.
I enjoyed volume 1 and most of volume 2. At present, in the Kindle edition several letters (maybe 10 give or take) only include the images without the transcriptions, which I found difficult (if not impossible) to read on my tablet or pc.
April 23, 2019
Sehr lustige, berührende und interessante Briefe, ausgezeichnet in Szene gesetzt durch passende Sprecher*innen. In einem Brief lästert z.B. eine verkaterte Jane Austen über einen langweiligen Ball. Einziger Makel an dem Hörbuch ist, dass zu oft Namen, auch von wirklich bekannten Leuten, falsch ausgesprochen wurden.
June 19, 2020
This book is filled with little bits of joy throughout. My only regret was having to read it so fast as I was on a Kindle Unlimited trial.
There is so much to take in, and the curator is generous with the amount of letters he has gathered (over 100 are included). The stories are interesting and span the breadth of human experience and times.
There is so much to take in, and the curator is generous with the amount of letters he has gathered (over 100 are included). The stories are interesting and span the breadth of human experience and times.
January 1, 2022
An unusual, eclectic collection of letters that show how letters are used as a vehicle of communicating emotion at a time when we can only visualize electronic communication. Each letter is put into context by a brief essay preceding the letter. I gave it four instead of five stars only because some of the original letters reproduced were difficult to read on kindle.
August 21, 2025
what an intriguing read! letters along with backgrounds from the famous and infamous. on topics both joyous and terrifying. prints of the letters are included, and it was really interesting to see the handwriting of the likes of Oscar wilde and many others. highly recommend for a book you can pick up and read anytime.
May 6, 2017
As a writer of letters, I really enjoyed this book of correspondence! Some famous letters and others unremarkable but all have insight into a particular time in history or into a life. A splendid read!
May 14, 2017
Almost as interesting as the first book; such a personal experience to read the letters of someone else, and truly amazing to get this glimpse into history and the personal lives of famous, or note-worthy people. A great read.
July 9, 2017
Not even close to as good as the first. I couldn't quite get into this one as I did the first one. Still a very enjoyable read, but perhaps reading them in succession might of messed up my expectations.
September 25, 2017
I love letters, and notes written to remind or inform or plead or to impress, and I love this series. The only issue I have is that the font size is really small, so to read a ton in one sitting is pretty hard for limited vision people, but I love the variety of notes here.
November 24, 2021
I have loved reading this - I have dipped in and out over several months after it was given to me as a birthday gift from my daughter. A wonderful collection of letters from the famous, infamous and unknown - it is a glorious dedication to letter writing and the use of language.
December 23, 2023
excellent compilation of clever smart and funny letters on all of the topics from Janis Joplin through Lincoln, Churchil, Austen, Pope, ancient letters found in cave, and serious of the communists’ regime prisoners.. I really enjoyed reading it.
April 22, 2024
I adore the concept of this book; being able to read the words of real people is such a wonderful experience. Adding to that actual images of some of the letters...chef's kiss. I learnt so much about some incredibly interesting people. So worth the read.
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