Ease Reading-Find Your Next Favorite Book

Hot Search

Letters of E.B. White

e.b. white dorothy lobrano guth martha white john updike

... Show More
Originally edited by Dorothy Lobrano Guth, and revised and updated by Martha White

Foreword by John Updike

These letters are, of course, beautifully written but above all personal, precise, and honest. They evoke E.B. White's life in New York and in Maine at every stage of his life. They are full of memorable characters: White's family, the New Yorker staff and contributors, literary types and show business people, farmers from Maine and sophisticates from New York–Katherine S. White, Harold Ross, James Thurber, Alexander Woolcott, Groucho Marx, John Updike, and many, many more.

Each decade has its own look and taste and feel. Places, too–from Belgrade (Maine) to Turtle Bay (NYC) to the S.S. Buford, Alaska–bound in 1923–are brought to life in White's descriptions. There is no other book of letters to compare with this; it is a book to treasure and savor at one's leisure.

As White wrote in this book, "A man who publishes his letters becomes nudist–nothing shields him from the world's gaze except his bare skin....a man who has written a letter is stuck with it for all time."

736 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1976
Literary awards
laurence l. u0026 thomas winship/pen new england award, national book critics circle award, national book award finalist, 

This edition

Format
736 pages, Hardcover
Published
November 28, 2006 by Harper
ISBN
9780060757083
ASIN
0060757086
Language
English

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for e.b. white

e.b. white

... Show More
Elwyn Brooks White was a leading American essayist, author, humorist, poet and literary stylist and author of such beloved children's classics as Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan. He graduated from Cornell University in 1921 and, five or six years later, joined the staff of The New Yorker magazine. He authored over seventeen books of prose and poetry and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1973.

White always said that he found writing difficult and bad for one's disposition.

Mr. White has won countless awards, including the 1971 National Medal for Literature and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal, which commended him for making “a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.”

Readers also enjoyed

Community Reviews

Rating(4.1 / 5.0, 64 votes)
5 stars
20(31%)
4 stars
28(44%)
3 stars
16(25%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
64 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
bonngg
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
What a truly fabulous book penned by a truly fabulous man. It contains letters spanning from his childhood all the way up to just before his death. There are an abundance of letters from his friends, acquaintances, family, colleagues, and editors.

It is simply wonderful to view our relatively recent history through his eyes and experiences.

Reading this book is like living a life vicariously, from his childhood to his old age.

I had no inkling that he was such an outdoors enthusiast.

The last few pages were almost unbearable, knowing that it signified the end of his remarkable life.

He possesses the most integrity of any writer I have ever encountered. He initiated the environmental movement and is passionate about politics. He is incredibly observant and does not tolerate fools easily, although he is kind while still making his point and firmly adhering to his principles.

He became much more than just a gentleman farmer when he, along with his wife, the editor Katherine Sergeant Angell White, and their young son, relocated to a saltwater farm in upstate Vermont.

This is a book that I purchased and eagerly anticipate reading numerous more times.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
CrashRHCP
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
As I am a slow reader with a long want-to-read list, books over 400 or 500 hundred pages tend to make me a bit impatient.

However, this particular book is an exception. Even though it's twice as long as those that usually daunt me, it has held my attention from start to finish.

It has been a real privilege to be afforded such an intimate look at E.B. White's life. His correspondents were so diverse, and his own life was so interesting.

Reading his letters, I never felt bored for a minute. I was constantly engaged by his thoughts, his experiences, and his unique perspective on the world.

One of the things I loved most about this book was his humour. His wit and charm shone through on every page, making me laugh out loud at times.

This book has truly been a delight to read, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good biography or a collection of letters.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
karannemesis
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
I finished the last few letters of this collection last night.

It ends in 1975, two years before the death of his wife in 1977, and eleven years before his own death of Alzheimer's in 1986.

In many letters near the end of this volume, he was complaining about his forgetfulness in correspondence and taking medication.

I find it tragic that someone of his intellect and erudition would suffer from this disease, but Alzheimer's respects no one.

He and his wife were both plagued with health problems for a great many years before their deaths.

Letters are particularly personal things to publish, since there is no editing except in choosing which ones to allow.

It gives you a sense of the real person behind the author.

As he told one correspondent, what you read on the pages of an author's books sometimes has nothing to do with the person who wrote it.

But nothing here disappointed me in the least, and I loved the stories behind the writing of his essays, his time at the New Yorker, and how and when he came to write his children's books.

This book has inspired me to re-read Charlotte's Web, which I haven't done since childhood.

Time in a barn with the animals appeals to me right now.

It's as if the gentle world of that story can offer a respite from the harsh reality of the author's later years.

The simple yet profound relationships between the characters in the book are a reminder of the beauty that can exist even in the most ordinary of places.

I'm looking forward to rediscovering those charms and perhaps finding new meanings in the story.

Maybe it will also give me a better understanding of the author himself and the inspiration that led him to create such a beloved classic.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Inspektical
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More

Is a nice book. It is a wonderful literary work that can bring joy and inspiration to readers. The story within its pages unfolds in a captivating manner, drawing the reader in and making them eager to turn each page. The characters are well-developed and relatable, allowing the reader to form an emotional connection with them. The writing style is engaging and流畅, making it a pleasure to read. Whether it is a work of fiction or non-fiction, a nice book has the power to transport the reader to another world, expand their knowledge, and触动 their hearts. It is a treasure that can be enjoyed time and time again, and it has the potential to have a lasting impact on the reader's life.

0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
tsumo1
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
E.B. White is a beloved writer, and through a wide sample of his correspondence, one can construct a unique understanding of him.

My personal favorites among his letters are those between him and his then-pregnant wife. They discussed matters that are not typically openly talked about between husbands and wives.

Interestingly, their solution was quite ingenious. They would leave each other notes that were ostensibly authored by their curious pet.

This not only added an element of playfulness but also served as a clever strategy for negotiating the often troublesome social conventions.

It shows the creativity and thoughtfulness that White and his wife brought to their relationship.

By reading these letters, we get a glimpse into their private world and can better appreciate the depth of their connection.

Overall, E.B. White's correspondence offers a rich and fascinating perspective on his life and work.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
lekoweko
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
I have a deep affection for White's writing style. It is truly captivating and engaging. What makes it even more remarkable is the inclusion of the colorful details not only of his own life but also of the eras he lived through.

His works are like vivid tapestries that weave together the personal and the historical, creating a rich and immersive experience for the reader.

With every sentence, he transports us to different times and places, allowing us to witness the events and emotions that shaped his world.

The details he provides are so vivid and precise that we can almost feel as if we are there, experiencing it all firsthand.

White's writing style is a testament to his talent and his ability to bring history to life in a way that is both entertaining and educational.

It is a joy to read his works and discover the hidden gems and stories that lie within.

I look forward to continuing to explore his writing and uncovering more of the fascinating details of his life and the eras he inhabited.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
RhyukxX
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
Hardly anyone writes letters anymore.

This is truly a remarkable collection. It consists of letters penned by the author of Charlotte's Web and a plethora of magazine articles for The New Yorker.

The sheer volume and diversity of the content make it a challenging read to consume all at once.

I found myself having to take breaks and go back to it in between reading other books.

I would read a few letters or articles and then put it down, only to return later with a fresh perspective.

Each piece offers a unique glimpse into the mind and life of the author, as well as the时代 in which they were written.

It's a fascinating exploration of the art of letter writing and magazine journalism, and a reminder of a time when these forms of communication were more prevalent.

Despite the difficulty in reading it all at once, I'm glad to have discovered this collection and look forward to continuing to explore its pages.
0 0 Reply
Profile Image for Kimberly .
SirChickenMan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 14,2025
... Show More
I began reading this particular work in 2013. However, with its substantial length of 662 pages, it unfortunately got set aside and buried beneath other things at some point. But a couple of months ago, I unearthed it once again and have now finally completed it.

Mr. White was truly a charming and pithy letter writer. Given that he became a co-author of the famous "Elements of Style" on precisely that subject, perhaps this isn't entirely unexpected.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know his friends and family in this manner and learning about his views. Despite having a bevy of "litry" friends and several friends outside that particular realm as well, he seems, on the whole, to have been a rather shy person. He never accepted an offer to speak to, or even belong to any group, nor did he even make an appearance to receive a national award from a president (both Kennedy and Nixon are mentioned in these pages).

Most of all, I adored his interest in, affection for, and attentive care towards creatures of all shapes and sizes.

What also struck me about this book, which seems unique to a book of letters, was the passage of time. He doesn't mention his age until he's in his 50's. By that time, we've already had accounts of visits to the hospital for various reasons concerning either him or his wife. And then, occasionally, an age number is casually dropped, and each time it serves as a call to reminisce about the days of old. Even though I wasn't alive when he was young, imagining at times my folks in those days, I found myself growing fond of his memories, as if they were my own and I too missed those younger days of better health and a world with less clash, grit, and modernity.
0 0 Reply
Leave a Review
You must be logged in to rate and post a review. Register an account to get started.