Widely recognised as one of the greatest female letter writers in English, Jane Welsh Carlyle (1801–1866) possessed a famous sense of wit and irony, which, together with her keen observational skills, made her an important literary figure in her own right. This three-volume set of her letters, published in 1883 and annotated throughout by her husband Thomas Carlyle, represents a fine example of the letter-writing genre. The publication of the letters made a significant contribution to a growing acceptance and critical recognition of this often dismissed literary form. Volume 1 (from 1834 to 1847) is introduced by Thomas, who recollects the events of the day in June 1834 when the first letter of the collection was written. Through Jane's correspondence with her family and friends, the reader will be entertained by her amusing descriptions of everyday life, and will gain a revealing insight into the highs and lows of her marriage.
