A weighty coffee table book, this tome collects 125 notable historical letters, ranging widely in time period and topic. But for figures we otherwise know via their public personas---musicians, actors, artists, scientists, and politicians----these letters offer a candid glimpse into private lives and intimate relationships. At turns comical, earnest, sarcastic, and acerbic, letters offer a view into history we typically don't see. And it's fascinating and rewarding to look.
