A review by jadzia
Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience by Shaun Usher

5.0

As a fan of epistolary novels and anything connected to letters, I could not wait till I got my own copy of this book. The book turned out to be something even more exciting and engorssing than I expected. It is a collection of the most interesting, moving and impressive letters ever written, some witty, some touching, but I enjoyed all of them, separately and also together, as a set of the most characteristic property of every human being - ability to use language and write, in such a manner, as to entertain and to charm, to fool and to explain.
It is quite a long read, especially when the reader does really want to enjoy every single letter, till the very last line. Short descriptions and explanations to each letter make it easier to understand the context and familiarise oneself with each person, be it an author or a recipient of a letter.
I admire the effort of Usher and his idea to show the world those genuine letters. I especially like the letters written by famous writers, which often differ from their books, novels, poems etc. but which are also proof of real talent and wit. The fact that all those people experienced and felt the same as we do nowadays is surprising but also comforting. Each letter brings something new and unexpected, leaving the reader with itch for more.