The epistolary novel holds a special kind of heart and soul, allowing us, as readers, to piece together parts of the narrative. The nature of a book written in the form of letters makes it an immersive experience, one that leaves us wanting more of this kind of writing. The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, the winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction, has also won hearts around the world with its protagonist, Sybil, and her obsession with letter writing, inspiring us to revisit some of our favourite epistolary novels.
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
An epistolary novel told through letters and emails, The Correspondent follows 72-year-old Sybil van Antwerp, an outspoken, fiercely independent woman who learns that she is gradually losing her sight. A lifelong letter writer, Sybil corresponds with friends, family, authors, businesses, and strangers, revealing the story of her life one exchange at a time.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous follows Little Dog as he reflects on his family's history, their journey from Vietnam to America, his coming of age, and his queer identity. Written as a letter from a son to his illiterate mother, the novel holds both prose and poetry within its skin, making it one of the most cutting narratives.
The Martian by Andy Weir
If reading about space exploration and science, courage and hard work, and overcoming great odds to achieve the impossible, all with a sense of humor is your jam, then Andy Weir’s work is the perfect mix. The bulk of the story is told through the protagonist’s mission logs and journal entries.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Told through a series of letters addressed to the Chinese Premier, The White Tiger follows Balram Halwai, a self-made entrepreneur who recounts his journey from a poor village in India to the world of wealth and business. As he reflects on his rise, Balram exposes the country's deep-rooted inequalities, corruption, class divisions, and the moral compromises that shape his transformation.
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
This Is How You Lose the Time War follows Red and Blue, rival agents on opposite sides of a war fought across time and alternate realities. What begins as taunting letters exchanged between enemies gradually transforms into an intimate romance that challenges their loyalties and the course of history itself.
Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar
Set between 1904 and 1910, Vanessa and Her Sister reimagines the early years of the Bloomsbury Group through the fictional diaries of Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf’s sister. The novel chronicles the lives, relationships, and artistic ambitions of Vanessa, her sister, and their circle of writers and artists.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
A playful yet thought-provoking epistolary novel, Ella Minnow Pea is told entirely through letters exchanged by the residents of a fictional island where the government gradually bans letters of the alphabet. As each letter disappears, the characters must invent increasingly creative ways to communicate, making the novel itself progressively lipogrammatic.
The Appeal by Janice Hallet
Presented as a case file of emails, text messages, letters, and other documents, The Appeal invites readers to piece together a murder mystery alongside two junior lawyers reviewing the evidence. Set within a close-knit amateur theatre group, the story revolves around a community fundraising campaign for a young girl with cancer.
Words Platform Desk
Date 8.7.2026