Letters of Note: Volume 1

An Eclectic Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience

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• Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781452140865
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Literary Letters
• Index: Literature

This spectacular collection of more than 125 letters offers a never-before-seen glimpse of the events and people of history—the brightest and best, the most notorious, and the endearingly everyday. Entries include a transcript of the letter; a short contextual introduction; and, in 100 cases, a captivating facsimile of the letter itself. The artfulness of Shaun Usher's eclectic arrangement creates a reading experience rich in discovery. Mordant, hilarious, poignant, enlightening—surprise rewards each turn of the page. Colorfully illustrated with photographs, portraits, and relevant artworks, Letters of Note is an instant classic.

THE LETTERS

Letter No. 001

ONE’S DROP SCONES

QUEEN ELIZABETH II to U.S. PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER

January 24, 1960

Five years into her reign, Queen Elizabeth II made her first state visit to the United States in 1957 as a guest of the then U.S. president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. The favor was returned two years later, in August 1959, when the Queen entertained Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, a grand and sprawling private estate of the Royal Family’s since 1852. While discussions took place behind closed doors, this much we know: President Eisenhower quite clearly enjoyed the Queen’s drop scones, or pancakes. So much so, that five months after serving them, she belatedly sent him her personal recipe and this accompanying letter.

Jan. 24th
1960.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Dear Mr. President,

Seeing a picture of you in today’s newspaper standing in front of a barbecue grilling quail, reminded me that I had never sent you the recipe of the drop scones which I promised you at Balmoral.

I now hasten to do so, and I do hope you will find them successful. Though the quantities are for 16 people, when there are fewer, I generally put in less flour and milk, but use the other ingredients as stated.

I have also tried using golden syrup or treacle instead of only sugar and that can be very good, too.

I think the mixture needs a great deal of beating while making, and shouldn’t stand about too long before cooking.

We have followed with intense interest and much admiration your tremendous journey to so many countries, but feel we shall never again be able to claim that we are being made to do too much on our future tours!

We remember with such pleasure your visit to Balmoral, and I hope the photograph will be a reminder of the very happy day you spent with us.

With all good wishes to you and Mrs. Eisenhower.

Yours sincerely

Elizabeth R

MENU

DROP SCONES

Ingredients

• 4 teacups flour
• 4 tablespoons caster sugar
• 2 teacups milk
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 teaspoons bi-carbonate soda
• 3 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Beat eggs, sugar and about half the milk together, add flour, and mix well together adding remainder of milk as required, also bi-carbonate and cream of tartar, fold in the melted butter.

Enough for 16 people

Letter No. 002

FROM HELL

JACK THE RIPPER to GEORGE LUSK

October 1888

On October 15, 1888, George Lusk, chairman of the Whitechapel Vigilance Committee—a group of concerned citizens who actively searched for the person responsible for a spate of killings known as the “Whitechapel murders”—received this chilling letter from someone claiming to be infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper. It was sent along with a small box, the contents of which were later determined to be half a human kidney, preserved in wine. Catherine Eddowes, Jack the Ripper’s fourth victim, was thought to be the organ’s previous owner.

From hell

Mr Lusk,

Sor

I send you half the Kidne I took from one women prasarved it for you tother piece I fried and ate it was very nise. I may send you the bloody knif that took it out if you only wate a whil longer

signed

Catch me when
you can

Mishter Lusk

Letter No. 003

WIND THE CLOCK

E. B. WHITE to MR. NADEAU

March 30, 1973

Author E. B. White won numerous awards in his lifetime, and with good reason. Born in 1899, he was one of the greatest essayists of his time, writing countless influential pieces for both the New Yorker and Harper’s. In 1959, he coauthored the multimillion-selling, expanded edition of The Elements of Style to much acclaim; and he wrote children’s books that have gone on to become classics, such as Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web. He was also responsible for writing hundreds of wonderful letters.

In March 1973, he wrote the following perfectly formed reply to a Mr. Nadeau, who sought White’s opinion on what he saw as a bleak future for the human race.

North Brooklin, Maine
30 March 1973

Dear Mr. Nadeau:

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely,
E. B. White

Letter No. 004

I AM TO BE EXECUTED

MARY STUART to HENRY III OF FRANCE

February 8, 1587

For the better part of twenty years until she died, Mary Stuart was either imprisoned or on trial in England at the behest of Elizabeth I, her first cousin once removed. Her entire life was anything but normal: crowned Queen of Scotland at six days old, married and widowed by the time she was seventeen, she was even Queen of France for a short period. She also had pretensions to the English throne and that sealed her fate. This farewell letter was written by Mary, then age forty-four, in the early hours of February 8, 1587, to the brother of her deceased first husband. She would be beheaded in front of three hundred witnesses just six hours later.

Reyne descosse
8 feu 1587

Monssieur mon beau frere estant par la permission de Dieu pour mes peschez comme ie croy venue me iecter entre les bras de ceste Royne ma cousine ou iay eu beaucoup dennuis & passe pres de vingt ans ie suis enfin par elle & ses estats condampnee a la mort & ayant demande mes papiers par eulx ostez a ceste fin de fayre mon testament ie nay peu rien retirer qui me seruist ny obtenir conge den fayre ung libre ny quapres ma mort mon corps fust transporte sellon mon desir en votre royaulme ou iay eu lhonneur destre royne votre soeur & ancienne allyee.

Ceiourdhuy apres disner ma este desnonsse ma sentence pour estre executee demain comme une criminelle a huict heures du matin ie nay eu loisir de vous fayre ung ample discours de tout ce qui sest passe may sil vous plaist de crere mon medesin & ces aultres miens desolez seruiters vous oyres la verite & comme graces a dieu ie mesprise las mort & fidellementproteste de la recepuoir innocente de tout crime quant ie serois leur subiecte la religion chatolique & la mayntien du droit que dieu ma donne a ceste couronne sont les deulx poincts de ma condampnation & toutesfoy ilz ne me veullent permettre de dire que cest pour la religion catolique que ie meurs may pour la crainte du champge de la leur & pour preuue ilz mont oste mon aulmonier lequel bien quil soit en la mayson ie nay peu obtenir quil me vinst confesser ny communier a ma mort mays mont faict grande instance de recepuoir la consolation & doctrine de leur ministre ammene pour ce faict. Ce porteur & sa compaigne la pluspart de vos subiectz vous tesmoigneront mes deportemant...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Dedication
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• The Letters
• Subscribers
• Permission Credits
• Acknowledgments
• A Note about the Typefaces
• Index
• About the Author