Literary Collections : Letters

Though he died some forty years ago, James Thurber remains a vastly popular author, whose irreverent, insightful, and consistently witty books--for both adults and children, and typically illustrated with his droll cartoons--remain largely in print. Simon & Schuster had a strong and lasting relationship with Thurber, so it is appropriate that we be the publisher of this new collection of his letters. (An earlier collection, published in 1981 by Little, Brown, and edited by Thurber's widow, is long out of print.) For the first time, James Thurber's daughter will allow the publication of many of the extremely personal letters he wrote to both her and her late mother, and, in addition, Harrison Kinney who will edit this collection, has located many others that have never before been published. In the book, letters in most instances will be presented chronologically by date, and in an effort to make the text more accessible,an effort has been made to avoid footnotes where possible, using instead short explanatory notes preceding the letters wherever appropriate. Thurber's original drawings will be used when relevant to a particular letter, and in addition there will be an 8-page photo insert showing many of the principles. more...

Price: $24.99

Engaging letters from a gifted and perceptive Confederate cavalry officer. This book contains the letters of George Knox Miller who served as a line officer in the Confederate cavalry and participated in almost all of the major campaigns of the Army of Tennessee. He was, clearly, a very well-educated young man. Born in 1836 in Talladega, Alabama, he developed a great love for reading and the theater and set his sights upon getting an education that would lead to a career in law or medicine; meanwhile he worked as an apprentice in a painting firm to earn tuition. Miller then enrolled in the University of Virginia, where he excelled in his studies. Eloquent, bordering on the lyrical, the letters provide riviting first-hand accounts of cavalry raids, the monotony of camp life, and the horror of battlefield carnage. Miller gives detailed descriptions of military uniforms, cavalry tactics, and prison conditions. He conveys a deep commitment to the Confederacy, but he was also critical of Confederate policies that he felt hindered the army's efforts. Dispersed among these war-related topics is the story of Miller's budding relationship with Celestine "Cellie" McCann, the love of his life, whom he would eventually marry. Together, the letters offer significan insight into the life, heart, mind, and attitudes of an intelligent, educated, young mid-19th-century white Southerner. Richard M. McMurry is the author of several books, including John Bell Hood and the War for Southern Independence, Two Great Rebel Armies: An Essay on Confederate Military History, and Atlanta 1864: Last Chance for the Confederacy. more...

Price: $42.80

C. S. Lewis spent a good portion of each day corresponding with people via handwritten letters. Over his lifetime he wrote thousands of letters in which he offered his friends and acquaintances advice on the Christian life, giving away a bit of himself to each of these correspondents as he signed his notes with a heartfelt and familiar, "yours, Jack." Most of these letters are currently only available in their entirety—a collection consisting of three hefty tomes. Yours, Jack features the best inspirational readings and sage counsel culled from C. S. Lewis's letters, offering an accessible look at this great author's personal vision for the spiritual life. This thematic selection from his letters offers the freshest presentation of Lewis's writings since his death in 1963. Yours, Jack will showcase Lewis's remarkable teachings and vision for a new generation. more...

Price: $18.99