Letters of Note, Volume 2: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience

Letters of Note, Volume 2: An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience - Shaun Usher I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, but all opinions are my own.

I have always loved reading people's letters--they seemed to me to show the more intimate side of a person, moreso than any biography can. I received the first volume of Letters of Note for Christmas in 2014 and read it cover to cover, so I was thrilled to get Volume 2.

To me, what makes the Letters of Note books stand out from all the books of letters out there is the absolute high-quality of the books. You get not just transcripts of the letters, but photos of the letters themselves. You get to SEE the handwriting and/or typewriter flaws. In this volume, you see Mark Twain's first-ever typewritten letter and it is so thrilling to see that original. If the original is not available, there are full-page photographs of either the letter writer or an image that relates to the letter.

The book covers a huge range of dates--2014 to 1500 BC, and a diverse array of topics--letters to newborn children, last letters of those dying, love letters, hate letters, letters of joy, letters of grief. Basically, every emotion of life is here. But even with this array, there seems to be an overall theme of hope and of faith in humanity. This book leaves you feeling good.

If there is anything to complain about, it is that this book has a British slant to it, and particularly a British writer slant. It makes sense as Usher is British, but be forewarned that the Brits rule in this book.

I greatly enjoyed Letters of Note Volume 2 and give it 4 stars--a high rating from my parsimonious self.