Summer Blogging: Life and Letters VIII
Along with the letters of individuals, we have collections of letters by individuals grouped by who they are. These collections represent cultures within societies, these collections represent people at various times in history. Many of them are of particular note (we’ll highlight them this summer) including Letters from Prison: Voices of Women Murderers by Jennifer Furio. The premise of the book is simple, Ms. Furio establishes an “epistolary relationship” with a number of women serving murder sentences. She does not hide their crimes, but works letters these women wrote to her to emphasize the women’s “humanness.” Who are they? Why? Through the letter the women are able to render themselves for Ms. Furio to then represent. This is a startling, important collection of letters. We have many of these.