Why would anyone write a letter and then not send it? `What a Hazard a Letter is,' wrote the poet Emily Dickinson, thinking of `the Hearts it has scuttled and sunk'. Once sent, a letter cannot be taken back: it is like a depth charge dropped into the future, into other people's lives. The moment they're written, letters become, as Janet Malcolm puts it, `fossils of feeling': they fix and freeze the sentiments we had at the time, though our lives may quickly move on and we may all too soon have second thoughts. But what if, ...
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Why would anyone write a letter and then not send it? `What a Hazard a Letter is,' wrote the poet Emily Dickinson, thinking of `the Hearts it has scuttled and sunk'. Once sent, a letter cannot be taken back: it is like a depth charge dropped into the future, into other people's lives. The moment they're written, letters become, as Janet Malcolm puts it, `fossils of feeling': they fix and freeze the sentiments we had at the time, though our lives may quickly move on and we may all too soon have second thoughts. But what if, once written, a letter is not sent - or never arrives? What a Hazard a Letter is is the first book to look at the strange phenomenon of the unsent letter. It collects together some of the most remarkable examples, from fiction and from real life, and explores the fascinating reasons why they came to be unsent, and the consequences - sometimes farcical, sometimes agonisingly poignant, and sometimes actually changing the course of history. Here, then, are authors from Ian McEwan to Iris Murdoch, Abraham Lincoln to Ernest Hemingway, and Virginia Woolf to Van Gogh: magnificent tirades written in the red mist of rage, delicious to read but all the better for not being mailed; letters whose non-arrival sets a novel's plot careering down a new track; and tender words of love that never quite got said - all, in their way, a little more eloquent for being unsent. 'A curious, astute and entertaining collection ... utterly original', Sunday Times.
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Add this copy of What a Hazard a Letter is: the Strange Destiny of the to cart. $14.99, very good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2020 by Safe Haven Books.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of What a Hazard a Letter is: the Strange Destiny of the to cart. $18.30, good condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2018 by Safe Haven Books.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in good condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 450grams, ISBN: 9780993291173.
Add this copy of What a Hazard a Letter is; the Strange Destiny of the to cart. $20.00, like new condition, Sold by Columbia Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Columbia, MO, UNITED STATES, published 2018 by Save Haven.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine jacket. Save Haven, 2018. 292pp. sm. 8vo. Outside edges of textblock slightly sunned, else as new unead hardcover, as new d/j, ribbon marker.
