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.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

This is a first edition of the first volume in C. S. Lewis’ famous Chronicles of Narnia series. Pauline Baynes’ charming illustration portrays the lion, Aslan, with sisters Susan and Lucy Pevensie. Baynes also illustrated the works of Lewis’ friend J. R. R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Title	The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Creator	C. S. Lewis
Publisher	London: Geoffrey Bles
Date	1950
Source	Vanderbilt University Collection