Scan barcode
zoefruitcake's review
5.0
A fascinating collection for moving, surprising and funny letters from the highest of the high of the lowest of the low and everybody in between. Read as part of the Read Harder challenge 2019
ayereads's review
cool book but why did Gandhi gave minimum efforts while writing to Hitler like?? sir??? I am so glad that the letter wasn't delivered
katykelly's review
5.0
One of my books of the year, I think I can say. It sounds rather lofty - a collection of letters from history - but I haven't reacted to any one book with not only tears and laughter but also feelings of great admiration, warmth and hope for mankind.
Currently my colleague is reading it too, at my recommendation and feels just the same.
So how does one book manage this? Collected together are letters from various points in time, from various countries and famous and not-so-famous people. The letters themselves are often included. One is an original cuneiform letter from Ancient Egypt. Another a simple note in a long-dead language. one you won't forget shows a coconut shell, that John F Kennedy wrote an SOS note on in World War 2 when stranded on an island, that eventually brought rescue (and eventually made a White House paperweight).
I dare you to not cheer as the former slave refuses eloquently to return to his former owner without guarantees and back pay. or to smile as the editor of the Sun convinces a young writer that there IS a Santa Claus.
I cried reading the Elephant Man's doctor's words, Virginia Woolf's suicide note for her husband. Scott (of the Antarctic)'s letter "to my widow". Letters from mothers abandoning their babies at foundling homes. The Titanic telegram - no loss of life expected.
I laughed at the note condemning Fawlty Towers, one encouraging President Nixon to eat his vegetables, a reply from a 'Top Scientist' to a boy's rocket design.
All of humanity is here. Hitler's nephew wanting to fight against his relative. A Japanese kamikaze pilot writing home. Queen Elizabeth sending a drop scone recipe. Crick explaining the recently discovered DNA stricture to his nephew.
Need I say more? The content speaks for itself. A book you can dip into or read again and again. It would make a precious gift and really is quite a beautiful object in its hardback, illustrated A4 state.
Currently my colleague is reading it too, at my recommendation and feels just the same.
So how does one book manage this? Collected together are letters from various points in time, from various countries and famous and not-so-famous people. The letters themselves are often included. One is an original cuneiform letter from Ancient Egypt. Another a simple note in a long-dead language. one you won't forget shows a coconut shell, that John F Kennedy wrote an SOS note on in World War 2 when stranded on an island, that eventually brought rescue (and eventually made a White House paperweight).
I dare you to not cheer as the former slave refuses eloquently to return to his former owner without guarantees and back pay. or to smile as the editor of the Sun convinces a young writer that there IS a Santa Claus.
I cried reading the Elephant Man's doctor's words, Virginia Woolf's suicide note for her husband. Scott (of the Antarctic)'s letter "to my widow". Letters from mothers abandoning their babies at foundling homes. The Titanic telegram - no loss of life expected.
I laughed at the note condemning Fawlty Towers, one encouraging President Nixon to eat his vegetables, a reply from a 'Top Scientist' to a boy's rocket design.
All of humanity is here. Hitler's nephew wanting to fight against his relative. A Japanese kamikaze pilot writing home. Queen Elizabeth sending a drop scone recipe. Crick explaining the recently discovered DNA stricture to his nephew.
Need I say more? The content speaks for itself. A book you can dip into or read again and again. It would make a precious gift and really is quite a beautiful object in its hardback, illustrated A4 state.
friendlywestwind's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
5.0
kathleenguthriewoods's review
5.0
I was searching for another book when I stumbled upon this one. What luck! Reading this book was a thrilling adventure that included crying, walking away to think about things I'd learned, gasping in awe and horror, and howling with laughter. I read several letters multiple times, then read some of them out loud to my husband. Called my dad twice to read him letters I thought he'd appreciate. I'm already a committed letter-writer, now I'm more inspired than ever to keep it up.
Highly recommend!
Highly recommend!
labunnywtf's review against another edition
5.0
I want a coffee table.
I spend maybe 1/10 of the entire year in my living room. I don't sit on my couch, unless someone is over here (which is an extremely rare occasion). I have absolutely no need for a coffee table.
Other than to hold coffee table books.
I need a coffee table. And I need this book to be on it.
This is such. a cool. book.
The very first letter of note is from Queen Elizabeth to President Eisenhower, offering a recipe for scones. I mean...really? Are you kidding?
Two letters from escaped slaves to their former masters, written with so much beautifully eloquent snark I wanted to cry. A letter from Ray Bradbury re: Disney robots that actually did make me cry.
A letter from Hitler's nephew, begging the president to let him serve in the US Army to fight against Germany. A letter from Gandhi to Hitler himself begging for peace, which was intercepted before receipt and never made it there.
Seriously, this book is so fucking cool.
I need a coffee table.
I spend maybe 1/10 of the entire year in my living room. I don't sit on my couch, unless someone is over here (which is an extremely rare occasion). I have absolutely no need for a coffee table.
Other than to hold coffee table books.
I need a coffee table. And I need this book to be on it.
This is such. a cool. book.
The very first letter of note is from Queen Elizabeth to President Eisenhower, offering a recipe for scones. I mean...really? Are you kidding?
Two letters from escaped slaves to their former masters, written with so much beautifully eloquent snark I wanted to cry. A letter from Ray Bradbury re: Disney robots that actually did make me cry.
A letter from Hitler's nephew, begging the president to let him serve in the US Army to fight against Germany. A letter from Gandhi to Hitler himself begging for peace, which was intercepted before receipt and never made it there.
Seriously, this book is so fucking cool.
I need a coffee table.
ljutavidra's review against another edition
4.0
"(...) remember that every life is a special problem which is not yours but another's, and content yourself with the terrible algebra of your own." (Henry James to Grace Norton)