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Kathryn Hughes
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The Letter: The most heartwrenching love story and World War Two historical fiction for summer reading Kindle Edition

by Kathryn Hughes (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 103,836 ratings
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* THE MEMORY BOX, THE BRAND NEW NOVEL FROM KATHRYN HUGHES, IS AVAILABLE NOW *

Every so often a love story comes along to remind us that sometimes, in our darkest hour, hope shines a candle to light our way. Discover THE LETTER by Kathryn Hughes, the Number One bestseller that has captured thousands of hearts worldwide. Perfect for fans of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks. 'A wonderful, uplifting story' Lesley Pearse

Join the hundreds of thousands of readers worldwide who have fallen in love with THE LETTER:

'An amazing, heartwrenching, unforgettable story'

'This beautiful story will bring tears and joy'

'Loved this story !! It kept me totally gripped although I was sobbing in places as well'

'A tale of love and hope with lots of twists and turns. A great story!'

Tina Craig longs to escape her violent husband. She works all the hours God sends to save up enough money to leave him, also volunteering in a charity shop to avoid her unhappy home. Whilst going through the pockets of a second-hand suit, she comes across an old letter, the envelope firmly sealed and unfranked. Tina opens the letter and reads it - a decision that will alter the course of her life for ever...

Billy Stirling knows he has been a fool, but hopes he can put things right. On 4th September 1939 he sits down to write the letter he hopes will change his future. It does - in more ways than he can ever imagine...

THE LETTER tells the story of two women, born decades apart, whose paths are destined to cross and how one woman's devastation leads to the other's salvation.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    276 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Review
  5. Publication date
    March 19, 2015
  6. Reading age
    18 years and up
  7. File size
    936 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. The first three years of his life had been spent with his natural mother in a convent in southern Ireland, where he had been born.
    Highlighted by 328 Kindle readers
  2. ‘That doesn’t seem very nice. Everything belongs somewhere.’
    Highlighted by 319 Kindle readers
  3. As she voiced all this out loud for the first time, she found a long-buried inner strength, and with it a conviction that her sanity and indeed her very survival depended on her walking away.
    Highlighted by 297 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A wonderful, uplifting story―Lesley Pearse

Autumnal Sunday afternoons were invented solely to read heart-tugging novels like this―Red

This moving love story had everyone talking... Get set to be hooked―Look

A moving story of love, loss and hope―Bella

A captivating and tragic story...beautifully told―Ajoobacats Blog

You will find it hard to put down. I cried buckets of tears reading it―Books With Wine and Chocolate

Very satisfying. Both women's stories were equally developed and interesting. They were also equally heartbreaking―Mom With a Book

With a swift pace, memorable characters and a wonderful conceptual depth, Hughes' novel is one that simply can't be put down―Bytheletterbookreviews

A story which reveals heartbreak, tragedy and loss...will stay with me for a long time―jaffareadstoo

Tugs at the heart strings... A truly gorgeous story―Shaz's Book Blog

From the Back Cover

Discover the novel that has broken a thousand hearts...

Tina Craig works all the hours she can and volunteers in a charity shop to avoid her unhappy home. Going through the pockets of a second-hand suit, she comes across an old letter, the envelope firmly sealed and unfranked. Tina opens the letter and reads it - a decision that will alter the course of her life for ever.

Billy Stirling knows he has been a fool, but hopes he can put things right. On 4th September 1939 he sits down to write the letter he hopes will change his future. It does...in more ways than he can imagine.

It's time to open The Letter.

'A beautiful story' Reviewed by Fran

'A sheer joy to read' Marianne, Amazon

'Will stir every emotion' Jo, Goodreads

'I cried buckets of tears' Books With Wine And Chocolate

'This book had me spellbound' Eleanor, Amazon

'I got goosebumps' Moly 84, Amazon

'It tugged at the heart' Megan, Goodreads

'I could not put it down' Gransnet reviewer

'Restores your faith in true love' Chris, Goodreads

'One of the best books I've ever read' Cheryl, Goodreads

'My heart broke for the characters' Shelly, Amazon

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00W22J6TU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Review (March 19, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 19, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 936 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 103,836 ratings

About the author

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Kathryn Hughes

Kathryn Hughes

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Kathryn Hughes was born near Manchester, UK in 1964. After thirty years working as a secretary and bringing up two children, she finally realised her dream of writing a book. Her debut novel, The Letter, set in her home town, was first published in 2013 and since then has become an international best-seller, translated into 30 languages. Her other books include The Secret and The Key. This summer sees the release of her fourth book, Her Last Promise, a sweeping tale of a daughter's quest to unravel the secrets of her mother's disappearance.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
103,836 global ratings
GREAT BOOK! COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
5 Stars
GREAT BOOK! COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.
I like the mystery of all of the characters and how they played in the book.
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Top reviews from the United States

HikeItUp
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Heartbreaking, and Amazing!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
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I love this book so much. The characters are realistic, and the mystery-romance makes the plot very enjoyable! I would read every book Kathryn Hughes has written!
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Lisa Harvey
4.0 out of 5 stars Creatively Woven Tale!
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2017
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A touching intricately woven tale of love, loss, survival and joy.

SUMMARY
Two women, who were born decades apart, lives are intricately woven to create a story of friendship, love and the kindness of strangers that can make a world of difference in a life. Chrissie Skinner lives in Manchester England in the late 1930s. She lives with her controlling parents and in order not to bring shame on the family she is ultimately forced to move to Tipperary, Ireland to live with an aunt.

Tina Craig lives in Manchester in the 1970s and is unhappily married to an abusive and alcoholic husband. She volunteers at a charity shop on Saturdays, and one day while sorting through the pockets of an expensive secondhand suit she comes across an old letter. The letter is firmly sealed, and had never been mailed. Tina opens the letter and finds it was written on September 4, 1939. She's moved by the contents and wonders why the letter was never mailed. She embarks on a major quest to find out what became of both the writer and the intended recipient. The letter had a major impact on her life.

The mystery of how this love letter ended up in Tina's hands is uncovered through Billy Stirling’s story from the late 1930’s. He writes a letter to his love that could change his life forever, but unbeknownst to Billy, that letter will not be delivered for thirty-four years.

REVIEW
THE LETTER is a touching tale of love, loss, survival and joy. The book was immediately engaging. KATHRYN HUGHES has created a page-turning story that will keep you entertained. Chapters alternate between Chrissie, Billy and Tina; and between 1973 and 1939. Despite the various points on view and change in timeframes, the book is remarkably easy to follow. Hughes writing is easy to read. Both Chrissie and Tina’s characters are human, with human strengths and weaknesses; and both grow a great deal emotionally during the course of the book. The ending of the book was throughly satisfying. Overall, it's a creative book and definitely worth the read.
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P. Blevins
5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful
Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2019
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The Letter: A Captivating Story of Forbidden Love, Secrets, and Sacrifice is written by Ruth Saberton. This book is a World War I book and it is just as captivating as advertised. Ruth has a knack of taking the reader into the past and actually living the lives through of her characters. Her use of descriptions of the mansion and the town as well as that of the characters makes the reader feel you are there with them and know everything about them. The pain of losing a loved one in war is hard enough; but losing them and not knowing how or even if they are lost is something we can only hope we never have to experience. However, so many people experienced this during World War I. So many lives were lost and the remains were never found or were just in pieces. Men who did come home were maimed in horrific ways not seen before. Many of them lost parts of their faces and were doomed to live lives in seclusion or if they were able to have masks made which they wore in public to hide their deformities. This was the first modern war and the first to have such hellacious damage to so many men. A whole generation of men were wiped out and an entire generation of women remained unmarried because of this war. This brings up one of the themes or questions this book raises. What would you do if your fiancé was listed as missing in action? Would you believe he was dead like everyone else does or would you wait for him as you promised?
Chloe Pencarrow has come to Cornwall to be alone and try to come to some kind of closure for the death of her husband, Neil. It has been three years since he died and she can’t get back to her painting or anything else. He came here because Neil liked this particular village since his family had come from here. Maybe being totally alone, she can figure out her life. Although it isn’t the best of accommodations, she has rented the old Rectory. She doesn’t need this large of a place; but she feels at home here. The attic is a perfect place to set up her studio and that gives her hope.
When she goes looking for wood for her fire, she meets Sue, the church’s reverend. Sue takes her for a tour of the church and shows her the memorial window for those who didn’t come back in World War I as well as the stained glass window in honor of Captain Christopher “Kit” Rivers, their hometown poet. He isn’t well known but is one of the World War I poets. Chloe notices a daisy had been added to the stained glass at a later date and wondered about it. Reverend Sue had never noticed it and had no idea why it had been added. Chloe also noted a daisy had been carved into the pew where the Rivers family had sat. It was interesting.
Later, Chloe goes for a walk and ends up at Rosecraddick Manor. Here she meets Matt who is in charge of the restoration of the Manor in order to set up an exhibit in honor of Kit Rivers to bring more tourists to town. He gets her interested in helping restore the Manor and interested in getting to know more about Kit Rivers. Even he has no idea what they will get into in learning about the Manor and Kit Rivers.
Once more, Ruth Saberton outdoes herself in creating the world of 1914 and making it and the people who live there come alive and make you want to know more when the book is finished.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Mazy
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
Reviewed in Canada on February 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
A lovely story about love and loss. Points to the certainty of how we are all connected, often unknowingly but always importantly.
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Sabine
5.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable fantastic book!
Reviewed in Germany on June 24, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is one of the most heartbreaking books I have read. Kathryn Hughes is just such a gifted author. Thank you for this great book. It took her so long to write it, but believe me, it was so worth it!
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Heleen Koopmans
2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting premise badly written
Reviewed in the Netherlands on June 18, 2022
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Interesting premise and the only reason why I finished this book. I wanted to know how it would end but the writing is uninspired, simple and repetative. At times it felt like reading a romance story written by a high school student. Two stars because the story was interesting.
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Helen James
5.0 out of 5 stars Capturing read
Reviewed in Australia on August 6, 2023
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From the first page, you visualise the people/ events/story which continues throughout the book. Well written book. One of my favourites
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Tejas Gaikwad
5.0 out of 5 stars Heart touching.
Reviewed in India on March 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
Amazing story and even better narration of it. The emotions were touching straight to the heart. I will recommend this.
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