Get Real Letters From Some Of History's Greatest Authors

Meet your new writing coaches: Jane Austen, Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, and more.

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Six-Month Membership

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26+ Replica Letters

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"Postscript" Biographies

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First-Class Postage

Order six months of letters for just $129.

As Seen In

as featured in ny times history .com buzzfeed mental floss and others

— Andrew W.

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“Gave Letterjoy to my Dad for Father’s Day. He loves the letters. Best gift I ever gave him!” — Lisa L.

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“My husband said this is the best Father’s Day gift he has ever gotten. He loves the letters!” — Susan L.

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“Got our first one yesterday! My 12 year old history obsessed son loved it.” — Jen M.

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“My father really enjoys his letters. Received his first one after Father's Day and looks forward each week to the next one.” — Robert K.

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“Got my dad Letterjoy for his birthday, and the first one arrived today. Heard from him right away - he loved it!”

The Perfect Gift For Writers

Get curated letters from some of history's most famous & innovative writers.

Learn first-hand how legendary authors overcame obstacles to publish enduring best-sellers and create iconic characters.

Read along as they critique other popular works from their era, forge their identities as authors, lay out what they believe to be the keys to great writing.

This collection will inspire you to rush to your writing nook and give you actionable advice to apply to your next novel, short story, poem, or article.

Meet Your Writing Coaches

Letters from Jane Austen

Jane Austen

Author of "Pride and Prejudice" and "Sense and Sensibility" & domestic novel virtuoso.

Letters from Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Author of "Crime and Punishment," "The Brothers Karamazov," and other masterpieces of Russian literature.

Letters from Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

Chronicler of the American South. Best-selling author of "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and "Mules and Men".

Letters from F. Scott Fitzgerald

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jazz-age icon. Author of "The Great Gatsby" and "The Beautiful and Damned".

Letters from Charlotte Brontë

Charlotte Brontë

Author of "Jane Eyre" under the pseudonym "Currer Bell". Sister to two more legends of literature.

Letters from Arthur Conan Doyle

Arthur Conan Doyle

Physician & best-selling author of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and "A Study in Scarlet". Creator of iconic detective Sherlock Holmes.

Letters from EB White

E.B. White

Long-time New Yorker editor, children's novelist, and co-author of 'The Elements of Style' alongside his former professor.

Letters from Mark Twain

Mark Twain

Legendary humorist & best-selling author of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". World's worst businessman.

Letters from H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells

Sci-fi pioneer. Author of "The War of the Worlds," "The Time Machine," and dozens of other novels.

Letters from Willa Cather

Willa Cather

Pulitzer-prize-winning author of "My Ántonia," "O Pioneers!," and other tales of frontier life.

Letters from Louisa May Alcott

Louisa May Alcott

Beloved author of "Little Women". Noted for her poignant tales of family and female empowerment.

Letters from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley

Mary Shelley

Daughter of feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and radical philosopher William Godwin. Author of "Frankenstein."

Letters from Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Mastermind behind "The Raven" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" and author of the first modern detective story.

Letters from other authors

And More...

The above list is just a sampling of the authors you'll receive letters from as a recipient of this collection.

Please note: The "pen pal" list is subject to change.

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The Letterjoy Experience

Real Letters In Your Mailbox

Each week, you'll receive a replica letter in your (actual, physical) mailbox from a famous author discussing writing, editing, or the creative process.

This package includes twenty-six letters mailed over a six-month period.

These are real letters sourced from archives, libraries, and special collections around the world, and reproduced for you on fine stationery.

Timely & Timeless Topics

Throughout your membership, you'll receive letters exploring a variety of writing-related themes.

You'll also learn the story behind best-selling novels like "Jane Eyre" and "Ulysses."

Topics your "pen pals" will touch on include character development, plot, dialogue, process, editing, handling criticism, and beating writer's block.

Old-School Charm

No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Opening your letters is as “old-school” an experience as can be. Each is mailed in an ivory-hued envelope with a real first-class stamp.

All of your letters will arrive on fine stationery, vellum, or parchment with letterhead and other design touches engineered to transport you back in time.

The Full Story

Alongside each of your letters, you’ll receive “the postscript,” an article on your latest author, their writing process, their style, and their career.

Each postscript is brimming with details perfect for inspiring an afternoon of writing or helping you plot your next best-seller.

This collection is Part I of an ongoing series. Part II will be available in 2025.

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Famous author letter gift

Recommended For:

  • Aspiring Writers
  • Journalists & Published Authors
  • Avid Readers & Bookworms
  • Students of English Literature & Journalism

This collection is also suitable for classroom and educational use. If you'd like to buy this collection for a group, please request a quote.

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Member Testimonials

★★★★★

"My 12 year old history obsessed son loved his Letterjoy. It’s not just the letter- it’s the info that comes with it. My son is on Scholar Bowl and he sees these as a treasure trove of info. Took it to school today to share with team. Thank you!"

— Lauren, Florida

★★★★★

"If you are looking for a great holiday gift for someone in politics or who likes history I have really enjoyed @Letterjoy . They send you a historical letter each week and they are fascinating. One week might be from a WWII general & the next week about natural ice in the 1920s."

— John, Alabama

★★★★★

"We did the Letterjoy thing as a Christmas gift for our son, and I’m definitely the biggest beneficiary. I read them aloud to the whole family, in the accent/voice I imagine each author would have had."

— Stephanie, New York

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Frequently Asked Questions

Letterjoy gives you a reason to check your mailbox, something to look forward to every week, and the opportunity to study history in a fun & intimate format.

For gift-givers, Letterjoy is a constant reminder that you care. Each time a Letterjoy letter arrives in your recipient's mailbox, they'll think of you.

We hear often stories about gift recipients who call the person who gave them Letterjoy whenever a new letter arrives to discuss it.

For recipients, Letterjoy is an immersive offline escape. Our letters, produced on premium stationery or parchment, are the perfect break from your overwhelming email inbox or social media feed.

Anyone! We have seriously seen it all. Letterjoy is particularly popular as a present for lawyers, grandparents, teachers, veterans, and college students, but we've seen Letterjoy gifted to governors, comedians, plumbers, and more.

We have gift members on six continents, including spouses, bosses, parents, grandparents, children, great grandparents, and more.

We have also seen Letterjoy gifted to people of all professions, from top politicians and captains of industry to local reverends and teachers.

Of course! Treat yourself to any of our packages. You deserve something to look forward to as you check the mail each week.

Yes. The historical letters we mail to your door are reproductions of real letters (or telegrams) written by legendary figures and eloquent eyewitnesses. They are sourced from some of the finest archives, special collections, and private sources on the planet.

For more information on sourcing, and the philosophical debate over what constitutes authenticity (and our stance on it), reach out to Support[at]letterjoy[dot]co.

Our signature American History collection tells the story of our nation from 1776 through 1960.

A few of the major eras covered include the American Revolution (obviously), the early republic, the Civil War, World War I, the Industrial Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the Cold War.

A few of the specific events this collection includes letters from are The Alamo, Pearl Harbor, John Brown's raid, and the Constitutional Convention.

For the most detailed and up-to-date list of topics you'll receive letters about, please refer to this page.

In addition to this collection, we offer a growing list of additional topic-specific collections. Our current offering includes:

Please Note: All collections with the exception of our signature American History collection are offered only in six-month packages.

We do. You can download our customizable explanation letter here. Mail it, email it, send it as a telegram, or wrap it and put it under the tree. However you deliver it, our welcome letter is an excellent way to introduce your gift.

In addition to our main "Letters From American History" collection, we offer a few topic-specific "special collections". Please Note: Special collections are only available in six-month increments.

These are the special collections currently available for purchase:

Yes. All Letterjoy packages include free USPS First-Class postage. Members with mailing addresses outside the United States will incur a modest international postage surcharge.

Every Letterjoy letter is accompanied by "The Postscript," a detailed article about your letter, the person who wrote it, and the events described within it.

For more details on how we write "The Postscript" and why many Letterjoy members consider it the highlight of their experience, visit this page.

Yes! No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Our letters arrive via First-Class mail, and "the Postscript," the article about each letter, arrives in the very same envelope.

Letterjoy is a great way to decompress and disconnect from the digital world.

Of course you can! Our samples page has high-resolution PDF scans of a few of our past letters.

Yes. We mail to addresses around the world. Charges for additional postage may apply (and letters may take 2-3 weeks to arrive, depending on the quality of your local postal carrier).

Letters are sent via first-class mail once per week. Newly activated orders usually go out in the first mailing of the month you selected at checkout.

If you purchase within a week of the start of your start month, your first letter will (in most cases) go out with our 2nd mailing of the month.

Recently moved? On an extended vacation? You can change your address right from our self-serve member portal (Members.letterjoy.co).

We’re here to help! Visit our support page or send us an email. We’ll be in touch soon with an answer.

You can also reach us by letter at 1101 14th St N.W., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005.

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