Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence About (Almost) Every Subject of Daily Life

A literary jaunt in praise of the lost art of letter writing that explores a cultural history and the undeniable thrill of old-school correspondence, Syme's Letter Writer: A Guide to Modern Correspondence About (Almost) Every Subject of Daily Life, with Odes to Desktop Ephemera and Selected Letters of Famous Writers, was inspired by a famed correspondence handbook penned by a persnickety Victorian who had strong opinions on how to lick a stamp.

Cultural critic Rachel Syme has rewritten the staid letter-writing rules of yore for the letter writers of today, insisting that above all envelopes must be stuffed with flat, playful frivolities. She includes handy tips for how to press flowers and how to perfume a parcel, along with ideas for cultivating your own ritual to keep up on correspondence. 

Immerse yourself in the art of written correspondence, covering every part of the process from courting and keeping a pen pal, down to buying the best nibs for your refurbished vintage fountain pen. You’ll learn about the magic of hotel stationery, the thrill of sending postcards, and the importance of choosing a signature paper that captures your essence. 

Fragments of letters and journals from storied literary figures — Zelda Fitzgerald, Willa Cather, Vita Sackville-West, Djuna Barnes, Octavia Butler and others — offer inspiration on how to write about the weather without being a total snooze, how to write a letter like a poet, and how to infuse your correspondence with glamorous mystique. With a title nearly as long at the book itself, and even if you have never sent a hand-written letter, Syme's Letter Writer will show you the way. Pick up your favorite pen and get started!