A Letter Book Selected with an Introduction on the History and Art of Letter-Writing

"A Letter Book" by George Saintsbury is a compilation of letters introduced by background on what makes letters special as a form of writing. The author looks at the value of letters in literature, showing different writing methods and highlighting important people from long ago to more recent times. The book isn't just about following letter-writing rules; it's about understanding the skill behind writing good letters. The beginning features a long introduction, where the author talks about how the book came to be. He gives credit to the many books and ideas about letter-writing that helped shape the content. Saintsbury stresses how important it is for letters to be real and truthful, charting how letter-writing has grown and its importance to culture over time, especially how it has shaped how people connected and talked to each other. Also, he mentions famous people and readings that have played a part in understanding letters, setting the foundation for the letter selection presented in the book.