Please Continue: Literary Correspondence as Conversation

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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 Henry James to Horace Scudder]

In 1897, Henry James was forced to hire a typist due to wrist strain. In this letter, his apology for “this Remingtonese” expresses a distaste for the typewriter, but he retained a typist for the rest of his life and eventually became so accustomed to the clacking keys that he could not create a story without having the sound in the background.

Title	[Letter from Henry James to Horace Scudder]
Creator	Henry James
Date	September 20, 1897
Source	Henry James Collection