To the Letter

To the Letter A Journey Through a Vanishing World

Main

Hardback (24 Oct 2013)

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Includes delivery to the United States

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Publisher's Synopsis

To the Letter tells the story of our remarkable journey through the mail. From Roman wood chips discovered near Hadrian's Wall to the wonders and terrors of email, Simon Garfield explores how we have written to each other over the centuries and what our letters reveal about our lives.

Along the way he delves into the great correspondences of our time, from Cicero and Petrarch to Jane Austen and Ted Hughes (and John Keats, Virginia Woolf, Jack Kerouac, Anaïs Nin and Charles Schulz), and traces the very particular advice offered by bestselling letter-writing manuals. He uncovers a host of engaging stories, including the tricky history of the opening greeting, the ideal ingredients for invisible ink, and the sad saga of the dead letter office. As the book unfolds, so does the story of a moving wartime correspondence that shows how letters can change the course of life.

To the Letter is a wonderful celebration of letters in every form, and a passionate rallying cry to keep writing.

Book information

ISBN: 9780857868589
Publisher: Canongate Books
Imprint: Canongate
Pub date:
Edition: Main
DEWEY: 826.009
DEWEY edition: 23
Number of pages: 464
Weight: 594g
Height: 220mm
Width: 143mm
Spine width: 37mm