Famous Letters

By Frank McLynn

Book Overview

The great letters of history -- letters by the famous and powerful, letters that have themselves been part of the events that have changed history give us a unique window on the past. This book is an illustrated survey of 50 letters by some of the best-known men and women in history. Each was either intimately connected with famous moments in the past or throws a light on the personalities and celebrities of history. Among the famous letter writers represented here are: -- Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII-- Marie Antoinette to Madame Elizabeth-- Abraham Lincoln to Mrs. Lydia Bixby-- Neville Chamberlain to Adolf Hitler-- Albert Einstein to Franklin Delano Roosevelt Each letter is presented in modern English and transports the reader straight into the past, evoking the passions and dramas of the moment in which it was written. This fine collection of the world's most intriguing correspondence is sure to offer a glimpse into the great minds and moments of the past.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0895775212
• ISBN13: 9780895775214
• Release Date: October 1993
• Publisher: Reader's Digest Association
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 2.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.8" x 11.3"

Customer Reviews

Unusual way to learn history

Although purportedly about letters, this book is really about some of the most remarkable people and events throughout history. The letters, interesting in their own right, serve more as the jumping off point. Beautifully illustrated and well written, this is a fascinating book which can be sipped a little at a time -- or consumed in a single sitting! Highly recommended for any student of history of the fine art of letter writing.