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The Correspondent

byVirginia Evans

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The internationally bestselling word-of-mouth hit that thousands of readers are calling their favourite book of the year, The Correspondent is the story of one unforgettable woman, told through the letters that she sends.

Over 20,000 five star reviews on Goodreads!

'I WAS DELIGHTED AND MOVED. MASTERFUL' New York Times
'A CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION' Ann Patchett
'I CAN'T PRAISE IT ENOUGH. AN ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH' Clare Chambers
'YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH SYBIL. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO LET HER GO' Irish Times
'I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE WITH A SOUL NOT LOVING IT' Lauren Bravo
'UNIQUE AND CHARMING' Good Housekeeping
'I'LL BE RECOMMENDING IT TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN' Lucy Atkins
'SHOWS uS WHAT A GLORIOUS THING GROWING OLDER CAN BE' Florence Knapp

A heartwarming, witty story about the life of an extraordinary woman, told through her letters, for fans of Olive Kitteridge, A Man Called Ove and 84 Charing Cross Road
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Every morning at around half past ten, 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 – full of sharp humour and hard-earned wisdom – 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.


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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

I was delighted and moved . . . Evans does an expert job at making you root for [Sybil] even as you want to give her a timeout . . . Masterful

New York Times

About Virginia Evans

Virginia Evans is from the East Coast of the United States. She attended James Madison University for her bachelor’s in English literature. After starting a family, she went back to school for her master’s of philosophy in creative writing at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, where she studied under tutors including Claire Keegan and Kevin Power. She now lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her husband, Mark, two children, Jack and Mae, and her Red Labrador, Brigid.
Details
  • Imprint: Penguin
  • ISBN: 9781405971553
  • Length: 400 pages
  • Price: £9.99
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