Please Continue: Literary Correspondence as Conversation

Navigation Menu+

In Summary

The letters in this exhibit span a century of English literature, from the 1880s to the 1980s, and each one was sent with the hope that it would bring a response in return, continuing the conversation. Because the fiction writers and poets who wrote this correspondence were all devoted to the craft of writing, their missives are works of art in themselves, albeit more personal and playful than their published volumes had the freedom to be. Each author’s epistles express personality not only through the chosen text, but also through paper color, handwriting, choice of writing utensil, and the many other physical details required to complete and mail a letter. The messages also hint at the lives on the receiving end of the correspondence, prompting us to imagine responses to the questions asked, praises doled out, and affections expressed.

[Letter from Arthur Conan Doyle to unidentified recipient]

This letter shows that Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, dealt with mysteries of his own. He read about a potential lawsuit against “a well-known author,” concluded that the article must be referring to him, and wrote this note to try to get to the bottom of the matter.

Title	[Letter from Arthur Conan Doyle to unidentified recipient]
Creator	Arthur Conan Doyle
Date	September 17, 1904
Source	Stahlman Autograph Collection