Correspondence & Letter-Writing

A report from ''All Things Considered'' on an exhibit at the Folger Shakespeare Library.

On the convention s of letter-wri ting in 16th century England.

Class notes on medieval letter-writing, including the components of a theoretically perfect medieval letter.

A compilation of openings and closings from medieval manuscripts to assist you in your letter-writing.

The first volume from the Paston letters, correspondence among members of a family from the English gentry in the 15th and early 16th centuries.

The Cely Papers cover 1475-1488, and are a marvelous mirror into the lives and lifestyle of a very wealthy family of English wool merchants, members of the Staple of Calais and owners of business and residentia l property in London as well as some estates in Essex. They traveled regularly between England and the Continent on business and carry on a fascinatin g correspond ence that passes, often with amazing speed, between London and wherever family members or members of the firm happen to be on the Continent, but most usually they can be found at Calais or in their London headquarte rs on Mart Lane.