Letters In Fiction.

Examples of letters and the mails in fiction. This first example from "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" a ghost story by M.R. James. Found in "The Ghost Stories of M.R. James" published by The Folio Society.


......Before he had time to answer more than ten or eleven of the miscellaneous questions propounded to him in the lightness of their hearts by his young offspring, who had accompanied him, the postman was seen approaching; and among the morning's budget was one letter bearing a foreign postmark and stamp (which became at once the objects of an eager competition among the youthful Gregorys), and was addressed in an uneducated, but plainly an English hand.

When the rector opened it, and turned to the signature, he realized that it came from the confidential valet of his friend and squire, Mr. Somerton. Thus it ran:

HONOURED SIR,-
Has I am in a great anxeity about Master I write at is Wish to Beg you Sir if you could be so good as Step over. Master has add a Nastrey Shock and Keeps His Bedd. I never Have known Him like this but No wonder and Nothing will serve but you Sir. Master says would I mintion the Short Way Here is Drive to Cobblince and take a Trap. Hoping I Have maid all Plain, but am much Confused in Myself what with Anxiatey and Weakfulness at Night. If I might be so Bold Sir it will be a Pleasure to see a Honnest Brish Face among all These Forig ones.
I am Sir
Your obed. Serv.
WILLIAM BROWN.

(For anyone wanting to read this spooky tale, and others, by M.R. James, there is for the first time an edition of all his published Ghost stories put out by Oxford World's Classics.)

Please add any examples from other works of fiction.

Terry

And one to a much loved character.........

Terry

Hi to all
Lots of Rider Haggard novels have "letters" to persons in the stories.

Regards

Horamakhet

Terence. I didn't get that "cartoon" at all. Maybe it's cultural.

Hi CanadaStamp,

It is a comic panel with Lois lane talking to Superman, who is reading a letter to him from a young fan asking for help. Superman is telling Lois that he won't be going to work tomorrow. He is going to help the letter writer get rid of the monster. it is all about the letter and the content.

Terry

Hi Horamkhet,

Yes indeed, and a technique that Bram Stoker used in his novel, "Dracula", which is told mainly through letters between the characters involved.

Terry

And letters are often being sent and received by Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes.

Terry

From 'Warning: Writer at Work" by Larry L. King.

In his essay "Leavin' McMurtry" he is deeply critical of film director Sidney Lumet's portrayal of the 1920's to 1960's Texas Panhandle, and it's people, in the film "Lovin' Molly", adapted from Larry McMurtry's fine novel, "Leaving Cheyenne". The essay is about King's many (unsuccessful) attempts to advise Lumet on accurate portrayals of people, places, and lifestyle. Amongst Larry L. King's many criticisms of Lumet's film I found this wee postal related gem:

At great expense to my soul I said nothing when a 1945 scene presented a Rural Route mail carrier, not in khaki or tattered blue jeans, but in a sparkling, tailored US Mail costume which even Houston's city letter-carriers would not adopt until years later.

Terry
Edited to add photo


Rural Route mail carrier with prezzies from customers.

Lots of stuff in movies, huffingtonpost has a list & synopses

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/samar..._820127.html

Just the movies
10. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
9. You've Got Mail (1998)
8. Atonement (2007)
7. 84 Charing Cross Road (1987
6. Dear John (2010)
5. P.S. I Love You (2007)
4. Letters to Juliet (2010)
3. The Lake House (2006)
2. The Notebook (2004)
1. Beaches (1988

Not forgetting The Patriot (2000) with our own Mel Gibson in which we not only have a letter but the mail rider as well.

There is also "The Postmistress" by Sarah Blake, in which a letter and a Postmistress are central to the plot.

Terry

There's a trilogy of books written and illustrated by Nick Bantock titled "Griffin and Sabine"

quote: "The legendarily popular trilogy of books containing the Griffin-Sabine correspondence literally contains the correspondence: postcards, front and back, and letters in envelopes pasted into the book, which the reader must open and read--a temptation few can resist."

Truly marvellous graphis, I want them!

Terry

Terrence...i just checked the Amazon UK site...many sellers selling used copies starting
at £00.01....one pence!...they're worth getting.