Does anyone know of any authors that write books completely in letter form?

Question

I've been looking around for a while for any kind of book that has letters or instant messaging or something interesting in it. I found a few books but not many. I want to read a book that has someone writing back and forth to a friend or something. I love those kinds of books. Can you think of any?

Answer 1

The name for that type of novel is "epistolatory novel." Famous examples include "Pamela" by Samuel Richardson (considered by many the first novelist in the modern sense in English); ""es Liaisons Dangereuses" by Choderlos de Laclos. I believe Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is another example.

A modern example would be "Vox" by Nicolson Baker - I believe it starts as phone conversation, but ends as long chatroom exchanges. (It may be only phone dialogue -- but the feeling might be what you are looking for. FYI -- a lot of it is about sex.)

Answer 2

Actually, the form is called the epistolary novel. One of the the first major epistolary novelists (if not THE first) was Samuel Richardson, author of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison, all in letters. Tobias Smollett wrote several novels in epistolary form, and you'll find a number of 18th-century novels (like Sarah Scott's Description of Millennium Hall) that are presented as a single, huge letter.

Edit: A good modern novel that mixes in letter with more standard narrative is A.S. Byatt's Possession. It's quite lovely.

There are many more at the link below.

Answer 3

There are two books, called P.S Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More that are completely written in letter form. Also, TTYL is written as an instant messaging coversation.

Answer 4

Ranier Maria Rilke: Letters To A Young Poet

Answer 5

CS Lewis wrote the Screwtape Letters. It's a very good book.

Answer 6

I don't know of a book that communicates through letters, precisely, but I do know of a book that communicates through progress reports with readers. It's called Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes.
Hope that helped!

Answer 7

Jean Webster wrote "Daddy Long Legs" and the sequel "Dear Enemy". Though there is a short chapter at the beginning of "Daddy Long Legs" which is more explanatory of the plot, the rest is done completely in letters, and is a great read.

Answer 8

If you'd like to read something shorter than a complete novel, read the short story "Flowers for Algernon." This popular story was rewritten in novel length. It was the basis of the movie "Charley" (sp.?), which was the basis of a novelization of this movie. The novelization was called "Charley." So it appears in three written formats.

Answer 9

Try "Rosie Dunne" by Cecelia Ahern

Comprised mostly of letters and e-mails, it tells of a life-long friendship between Rosie and Alex.

Very touching!

Answer 10

Sorcery and Cecelia or Magic Chocolate Pot and the Grand Tour, both by Wrede and Pierce. They're two of my favorite books.