Charles Dickens, Man of Letters
Today is the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth. The English novelist wrote many of his greatest works in serial form, including “Oliver Twist,” “David Copperfield,” “Bleak House,” and “Great Expectations.” He also wrote a lot of letters. The Huntington has more than a thousand of them, including a group of 35 acquired by purchase through the Library Collectors’ Council in 2010.
Top 10 Stories about Huntington Acquisitions
The year 2011 was strong in new acquisitions—and also in stories about gifts and purchases that added to the riches of the holdings in The Huntington’s collections. Here are 10 memorable stories—from letters, paintings, and a death mask to a tea house that went halfway around the world and back again.
Reports on the Death of Letter Writing Are Greatly Exaggerated
When was the last time you wrote a real, honest-to-goodness letter? In the age of e-mail and texting, it is only natural to assume that the glorious age of letter writing was far superior to, say, the confines of 140 characters on Twitter.
Your Most Loving Son and Sailor Boy
On the original Armistice Day, Anthony Edward Mrazek was a young sailor who wrote long letters home to his parents and sister, signing them all “your most loving son and sailor boy.” His granddaughter has donated his collection of letters to The Huntington.
