A circle of young friends pass on a chain of "letters" starting from A and going all the way to Z.

Spanning 350 years of American history and culture, a collection of more than two hundred letters, many never before published, reveals the personalities and feelings of Americans great and small, from Amelia Earhart to Elvis Presley to Malcolm X. Reprint.

They died in each other's arms, but their secrets did not die with them. Shocking truths about their past are uncovered through the Wednesday letters.

The twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet are not considered by the Jewish sages to be merely forms that make up words, but rather the fundamental elements that the Almighty uses to create the world. Throughout the centuries these letters have also served to release a well of Jewish creativity. Their graphic beauty and the rich folklore that surrounds them have inspired generations of Jewish artists to sublime efforts. This collection of drawings is such an achievement. Working in a mode that combines traditional Jewish styles with his own distinctive line and vision, Mark Podwal has conceived this series of twenty-two drawings, each illustrating, in Hebrew alphabetic sequence, a term deriving from Jewish tradition and experience. Thus for aleph, the first letter, the artist has chosen to portray Aleph-Beth (alphabet), a fitting introduction to this Book of Hebrew Letters. Tav, the last letter, is represented by Torah. In between are such pictures as Tallit (prayer shawl) for the letter teth, Megillah (scroll) for mem, and Shalom (peace) for shin. Dr. Mark Podwal has distinguished himself as one of the most creative and inventive Jewish artists of our time. His work appears regularly in The New York Times and has been reproduced in publications here and abroad. Dr. Podwal has also collaborated with Elie Wiesel on many projects, creating the drawings for a number of Mr. Wiesel's books. In addition, the Congressional Gold Medal that President Ronald Reagan presented to Elie Wiesel was designed by Dr. Podwal. The drawings in A Book of Hebrew Letters, accompanied by the artist's calligraphy - and enhanced by his illuminating notes - together form a cluster of visual metaphors that will both delight the eye and intrigue the mind.

A real professor and her student forge a friendship through correspondence as they discuss love, art, life, cancer, and death. In 2012, Sarah Ruhl was a distinguished author and playwright, twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Max Ritvo, a student in her playwriting class at Yale University, was an exuberant, opinionated, and highly gifted poet. He was also in remission from pediatric cancer. Over the next four years—in which Ritvo’s illness returned and his health declined, even as his productivity bloomed—the two exchanged letters that spark with urgency, humor, and the desire for connection. Reincarnation, books, the afterlife as an Amtrak quiet car, good soup: in Ruhl and Ritvo’s exchanges, all ideas are fair, nourishing game, shared and debated in a spirit of generosity and love. “We’ll always know one another forever, however long ever is,” Ritvo writes. “And that’s all I want—is to know you forever.” Studded with poems and songs, Letters from Max is a deeply moving portrait of a friendship, and a shimmering exploration of love, art, mortality, and the afterlife. Praise for Letters from Max “An unusual, beautiful book about nothing less than the necessity of art in our lives. Two big-hearted, big-brained writers have allowed us to eavesdrop on their friendship: jokes and heartbreaks, admiration, hard work, tender work.” —Elizabeth McCracken, author of Bowlaway “Immediate comparisons will be made to Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Artist . . . this book is a nuanced look at the evolution of an incredible talent facing mortality and the mentor, never condescending, who recognizes his gift. Their infectious letters shine with a love of words and beauty.” —The Observer “Deeply moving, often heartbreaking. . . . A captivating celebration of life and love.” —Kirkus Reviews “Moving and erudite . . . devastating and lyrical . . . Ruhl draws a comparison between their correspondence and that between poets Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop, and indeed, with the depth and intelligence displayed, one feels in the presence of literary titans.” —Publishers Weekly

Inspired by the true story of Tyler Doughtie, whose life is depicted in the major motion picture "Letters to God," this endearing children's picture book builds on the film's popularity about Tyler's uplifting and contagious faith. Full color.

A “poignant” collection of real letters sent to Santa Claus—a town in Indiana—from the 1930s to the twenty-first century, from both children and adults (The New York Times). For countless Christmases, children—and sometimes adults—have stuffed their dreams, wishes, and promises into envelopes. Over many decades, millions of these letters have poured into Santa Claus, Indiana. Arriving from all corners of the globe, the letters ask for toys, family reunions, snow, and help for the needy—sometimes the needy being the writers themselves. They are candid, heartfelt, and often blunt. Many children wonder how Santa gets into their chimneyless homes. One child reminds Santa that she has not hit her brothers over 1,350 times that year, and another respectfully requests two million dollars in “cold cash.” One child hopes to make his life better with a time machine, an adult woman asks for a man, and one miscreant actually threatens Santa’s reindeer! Containing more than 250 actual letters and envelopes from the naughty and nice reaching back to the 1930s, this moving book will touch hearts and bring back memories of a time in our lives when the man with a white beard and a red suit held out the hope that our wishes might come true. “Often very affecting . . . also offers an unusual window into American history.” —Library Journal “The letters . . . are alternately silly and somber, hilarious and heartfelt.” —The Weekly Standard