Description

The internationally bestselling word-of-mouth hit that has captured tens of thousands of hearts across the world, The Correspondent is the story of one unforgettable woman, told through the letters that she sends.

Perfect for fans of Three Days in June, Olive Kitteridge and Tom Lake.

‘THIS NOVEL IS A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION’ Ann Patchett

‘I CAN’T PRAISE IT ENOUGH. AN ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH’ Clare Chambers

‘I CRIED MORE THAN ONCE . . . SHOWS US WHAT A GLORIOUS THING GROWING OLDER CAN BE’ Florence Knapp

‘I DON’T HAVE ANY WORDS. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STORY’ Reader review

‘I THINK I’VE JUST FINISHED MY FAVOURITE BOOK OF THE YEAR’ Reader review

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Every morning, Sybil Van Antwerp sits down to write letters – to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to attend a class she desperately wants to take, to her favourite authors to tell them what she thinks of their latest books.

Because at seventy-three, Sybil has used her correspondence – witty and wise – to make sense of the world. But beyond the page, she has spent the last thirty years keeping the people who love her at arms’ length… Until letters from someone she had put out of her mind land on her doorstep, forcing her to reckon with her past mistakes.

For as Sybil is about to learn: it’s never too late to write a few post-scripts.
Funny, wry and bittersweet, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of connection, the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime, told by one of the most memorable characters you will ever meet.

Readers love THE CORRESPONDENT

‘This is the book of the year!’ 5 reader review

‘This book touched my soul’ 5 reader review

‘Should be required reading’ 5 reader review

‘Oh my heart. What a gem’ 5 reader review

‘I found myself asking myself, “Is this the best book I’ve ever read?”‘ 5 reader review

‘Left a profound impact on me . . . explores the reflections that come with the choices we make and it does so with such grace and depth that it’s impossible not to be moved’ 5 reader review

Publisher Review

Subtly told and finely made, The Correspondent is a portrait of a small life expanding. Virginia Evans shows how one woman changes at a point when change had seemed impossible. That change, like this novel, turns out to be a cause for celebration. — Ann Patchett, bestselling author of TOM LAKE I can’t praise it enough. Sybil is such a wonderful character, and the supporting cast so vivid and real. For a book about grief and regret it is also properly funny. It’s an absolute triumph — Clare Chambers, bestselling author of SMALL PLEASURES An absolute delight from start to finish, this novel is subtle, moving, wise and intelligent. I devoured it and will be reading everything Virginia Evans writes from now on. In the meantime, I’ll be recommending The Correspondent to anyone who’ll listen. — Lucy Atkins, author of WINDMILL HILL and MAGPIE LANE A witty, tenderly rendered story of a life, in all its fragments and knots, and ultimately a beautiful meditation on the lost art of communication. I can’t imagine anyone with a soul not loving it — Lauren Bravo, author of PRELOVED I finished this wonderful, wonderful book in tears, and had to take a moment to pull myself together. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you reflect, as all the best novels do. Read it, read it, read it! Then buy it for your family, your friends, your people. — Fran Littlewood, author of AMAZING GRACE ADAMS Open-hearted with some, a hedgehog curled tight in a ball with others, I cried more than once as I witnessed this brilliant woman come to understand herself more deeply and risk lowering her defences. Both serious and uplifting, in The Correspondent, Virginia Evans shows us what a glorious thing growing older can be. — Florence Knapp, author of THE NAMES The Correspondent is the rarest of debuts with not a misplaced word, or a beat missed. Moving, funny and exquisite, it is a masterpiece in human frailty. — ANNE GRIFFIN, bestselling author of WHEN ALL IS SAID The superbly talented Virginia Evans has written a novel of connection and daring . . . The circus of beautifully drawn characters, who receive and respond to Sybil’s letters are vibrant and rich . . . The letters are so deliciously crafted, Sybil’s life itself becomes a work of art. — Adriana Trigani, bestselling author of THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE I was wowed by this deliciously brilliant book! Thank you, Virginia Evans, for a life beautifully told in letters, for creating a character whose mind struggles with her heart in a most intriguing, sympathetic, witty, and binge-worthy way. Author friends – please forgive me for proclaiming The Correspondent my new favorite book. — Elinor Lipman, author of MS DEMEANOR What a lovely novel . . . I fell in love with the eloquent, stubborn Sybil, such a wonderful character. — Margot Livesey, author of THE FLIGHT OF GEMMA HARDY