Gracias a este libro me he dado cuenta de que hay mejores formas de aprender de una persona que leer su biografía o autobiografía. Es esta una fascinante colección de cartas que ofrecen una ventana a la vida interior de nombres conocidos, y pedacitos de sabiduría que de otra manera no habrían podido ser compartidos y disfrutados. Excelente lectura para cualquier momento y cualquier mente abierta. ( )

Letter collections have never struck me as very exciting reading material, but I adored this collection. The format is gorgeous, with reproductions of many of the letters filling oversized pages, accompanied by transcripts of the handwritten ones. I was very grateful about the latter, as when I first paged through this book, I was worried it was going to be hell on my eyes.

It really is just what it claims to be—an eclectic collection. You can read a kind letter from Queen Elizabeth II to President Eisenhower with a recipe enclosed, and then go right to a frightening note from Jack the Ripper to George Lusk, chairman of the citizen's committee trying to track him down. One of the most moving sets of letters for me were the ones written on behalf of Joseph Merrick, the "elephant man". With so much bloodshed and cruelty in the spotlight when we look at history, it's easy to miss the great kindness that existed as well.

There were letters that made me laugh out loud, like Charles M. Schultz's letter to someone who wanted him to eliminate one of his characters. I loved the two letters in this collection from former slaves to their former owners, both angry, but expressed in different, eloquent ways. Kurt Vonnegut's letter to the person responsible for burning several copies of Slaughterhouse Five was perfect. Eudora Welty's letter of application to The New Yorker was delightful.

In fact, there were few letters that didn't give me something to appreciate in one way or another.

It was fun to read a few of these every morning before work. There's something in here for everyone, and it's a collection that could be read and enjoyed more than once. ( )

A fascinating collection of letters by people known and unknown. ancient and modern.
Worth a few relaxing hours of reading, and giving an insight into personalities of present renown, and others unknown to the world in general. With an index, if you are searching for a letter by a certain person. ( )

A delightful collection of often beautiful letters. Will make you wish we lived in an era of letters still. ( )

Reading this put me in mourning for the lost art of letter writing. I enjoyed this book so much. I was surprised, amused and moved by it. Every page brought something different. A really lovely book to dip in and out of. ( )