“Eight or Nine Wise Words About Letter Writing” (for the E-mail Generation)

Over at the blog Booktryst: A Nest for Book Letters, Stephen J. Gertz has posted most of the text of Carroll’s pamphlet “Eight or Nine Wise Words About Letter Writing,” with some commentary about its relevance 120 years later. The original pamphlet “was very popular, going into five editions 1890-1897.” Mr Gertz says:

The Net has been compromised; it’s lights out for email. Time to get out a piece of stationary, a pen, and write an old-fashioned letter. But how? What’s a 21st century citizen to do? Ask Mr. Dodgson!

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Finally, do not, under any circumstances, use emoticons or texting shorthand to express yourself. Mr. Dodgson would disapprove – in around 800 – 900 words, minimun.

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5 thoughts on ““Eight or Nine Wise Words About Letter Writing” (for the E-mail Generation)

    1. Lewis Carroll met Mabel Burton on 16th August 1877,according tohis diary.He also said ” I have never become friends with a child more easily ” He later told Mable his letters were for her and her only. She therefore never allowed anyone to copy them or publish them
      I have just bought one of his letter to her !!!

    1. Thanks for asking, Joanne! We are still determining the locations of our 2011 spring and fall meetings; keep an eye on the Events page of this site for updates. In the meantime, we hope you’ll be able to join us at our fall 2010 meeting in NYC next week on Saturday, November 6th. We have an amazing line-up of speakers including Adam Gopnik and Carroll biographer Jenny Woolf, among others. If you’re in the area, or can get here, it’s going to be a “don’t miss” meeting! The full agenda is on our Events page. We’re going to have five authors signing six books, all at 20% off list price–perfect gifts for the holidays, and there’s something for everyone. 🙂

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