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

Shaun Usher’s Volume 2 of Letters of Note is, once again, fabulous. One can’t help becoming engrossed in each letter, shown in its original form and the letter-writer’s own hand. Seeing the actual penmanship adds so much to our mental imagery of the writer. Often a photograph accompanies the letter along with a brief write-up providing some background information pertaining to the letter or the relationship of the parties involved. For those of us with an inquiring mind, the diversity of the chosen letters creates a springboard for further research or inquiry into an author, person, or subject. Martha Gellhorn’s letter to Hemingway enticed me to pull out some of my Hemingway biographies. After reading the lively letter Mozart show more wrote to his cousin, Marianne, I found myself playing a few minuets on the old turntable! It’s just a delightful and eclectic assortment of correspondence from a wide range of famous people. No need to read from beginning to end—just open anywhere at anytime and learn something new and fascinating! I am left wondering, however, what will become of our knowledge of people in the future as letter-writing becomes more and more of a dying practice; as the majority of modern correspondence is left to electronic modes of communication such as emails, voice messaging, texting, and the like? Will any documents remain at all? For now though, we have the good fortune of insightful and dedicated people, like Shaun Usher. I’m hoping there’ll be a Volume 3!!! show less

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 show more 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. show less

I've read letters on the Letters of Note site from time to time, so I was excited to receive this from LTER. It is a finished copy, and is absolutely beautiful in hardback, with transcripts of the letters as well as photos of them in many cases. The subtitle promises an eclectic collection, and that is certainly delivered - from a letter from a woman Roman Britain inviting another woman to her birthday party to one from John Lennon to Eric Claption, and everything in between. I appreciated the inclusion of non-American letters, such as one from Che Guevara to his children and one from a prominent Czech socialist to her daughter shortly before her execution. Some letters are light-hearted and some are deadly serious. It took me a long show more time to read this book because it's not the kind of thing you really sit down with and read cover to cover, but instead visit for a few minutes here and there to see what treasures await. Treasures like a letter from Gene Wilder about his wardrobe for Willie Wonka, and a letter from Katherine Mansfield to her husband's mistress - you really never know what you might find the next time you open the book. One of my favorites is the letter the book ends with, which is from a British soldier describing the impromptu Christmas truce with some German troops in World War I. It's the kind of thing you've heard about, but reading it described to folks back home by someone who experienced it is amazing.

The book would be a great one to have on the coffee table. I'm sure it would draw people in to pick it up and whatever they find is likely to spark some sort of conversation! show less

What an amazing book! First of all, it’s beautiful. From the paper to the ribbon bookmark to the layout and design to the selection of letters.

I must confess I didn’t read it cover to cover. However, I thumbed through every page and read the short introduction to every letter. I selected about one in three or four letters to read through beginning to end. What an amazing collection Mr. Usher has pulled together. They run the gamut from laugh-out-loud funny to insightful to outrageous to inspirational. Some illuminate a piece of history and all enlighten readers about the letter’s writer. I would be hard pressed to pick a single favorite but letters from Dr. Seuss, Gene Wilder and Private Eye magazine would be on my list.

This is show more a great book to keep nearby to pick up every so often and just read a letter. It’s almost guaranteed to be thought-provoking and interesting. The only one that I didn’t enjoy and probably will never read is the letter from Lorina Bulwer, reproduced entirely in upper case, the least readable format imaginable. I understand why the author made that choice, but I don’t have to like that choice.

Letters of Note (Volume 2) still gets an A+ from me, however. And I plan to buy Volume 1 to add to my collection.

Review based on publisher-provided copy of the book. show less

As the owner of Shaun Usher’s first “Letters of Note” as well as his “Lists of Note,” I was delighted to receive “Letters of Note, volume 2” from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. Like Usher’s previous compilations, “Letters of Note, volume 2” is a physically beautiful book, with full-color pictures and reproductions of the original correspondence. Some of the letters are also typed on an accompanying page, which provides a more reader-friendly format for perusing the different letters.

There is a nice variety of people and backgrounds included, from political figures to entertainers to everyday people. This collection includes a letter from Noel Coward, who writes to Marlene Deitrich in order to administer a show more hefty dose of tough love; a puzzeled and curmudgeonly letter from cartoonist Robert Crumb to saxophonist Mats Gustafsson; and a delightful set of correspondence between J.K. Rowling (writing as her character Albus Dumbledore) and Steven Armes, who was seeking employment at Hogwarts. Accompanying each letter is a brief paragraph or two that provides helpful background information on the writers as well as context for the letters.

The only element of the book that could have been better from a personal standpoint (and it is a quibble that has been addressed by other reviewers on LibraryThing) is the organization of the letters. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the organization. While this can invite readers to stumble upon letters and individuals they might not have sought out before, it can also be frustrating. This problem is somewhat mitigated by the table of contents and index.

Despite this very minor criticism, “Letters of Note, volume 2” is an excellent book and is worthy of its predecessors. I can’t wait to share it with my students, and I’ve already gifted a copy of it to a friend. show less

I have (and love) Usher’s Lists of Note but missed out on the first collection of letters; after reading this, I’ll be sure to track a copy down.

Like Lists, this book is put together beautifully. The layout includes a short bit of background about each letter, a reproduction of the letter or a transcription (very helpful for olde time cursive), and, sometimes, a related image.

If there is an order to the letters, it isn’t obvious. (The subtitle says it is an Eclectic Collection!) I appreciated this — for all that they span thousands of years, people are pretty much the same.

I was first stunned by receiving a hardbound copy for review. This is a beautifully put together volume of coorespondece that not only includes many photos and the text of the letters, but the actual reproduction of the originals themselves. Both the famous (John Lennon, Winston Churchill, Charles Bukowski just to name a few) to the completely unknown this book has something for everyone and the history it reveals is amazing. My favorite so far is the Christmas Eve letter from a WWI soldier to his wife describing the Christmas cease fire between some German and British troops. You may have heard the story but to see the actual letter and read the first hand account is something that you will not forget. I have had Volume 1 on my wish show more list forever but never picked it up. I will be purchasing it soon I am sure. Simply terrific! show less