Simon Sebag Montefiore, an award-winning historian, teams up with bestselling novelist Kate Mosse to explore powerful letters from history. They discuss emotional correspondences from iconic figures like Michelangelo and Rosa Parks, emphasizing the unique storytelling within letters. The conversation highlights the poignant letter of a soldier during the WWI Christmas truce and a heart-wrenching note from a Holocaust survivor. Themes of resilience, love, and the transformative power of written words offer deep insights into our shared humanity.
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Unexpected Letters
Simon Sebag Montefiore receives letters from people claiming to be Romanovs after writing a book about them.
He also received a cryptic letter from a long-lost love.
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Author's Anecdotes
Kate Mosse wrote a letter pretending to be dead to avoid an essay deadline.
She also received criticism about owl noises in her book from an Owl Appreciation Society member.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Christmas Truce
During Christmas 1914, a truce occurred between British and German soldiers in WWI.
They exchanged greetings, gifts, and autographs, capturing a moment of humanity amid war.
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In *Written in History: Letters that Changed the World*, Simon Sebag Montefiore presents a diverse selection of letters from ancient times to the 21st century, highlighting their impact on history and human emotions. The book includes letters from notable figures such as Elizabeth I, Catherine the Great, and Mandela, covering themes like power, love, and war. Montefiore's engaging narrative style makes these letters essential reading for understanding the past and its relevance to the present.
The Burning Chambers
Kate Mosse
Letters grant us a glimpse into fascinating lives, whether through the eyes of a genius, a monster or of an ordinary person. For this archive event, we matched up award-winning historian Simon Sebag Montefiore and No 1 bestselling novelist Kate Mosse to discuss the letters of Michelangelo, Catherine the Great, Sarah Bernhardt, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Virginia Woolf, Alan Turing and more. A cast of performers including Young Vic director Kwame Kwei-Armah, plus actors Jade Anouka, Jack Lowden and Tamsin Greig provided readings live onstage.
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