Publication Date: April 29,2025
Print Length: 291 pages
New York Times Bestseller
Best Book of the Year: NPR, The Washington Post, Boston Globe
Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize
SYNOPSIS
In The Correspondent, Virginia Evans captures the life of Sybil, Van Antwerp, a divorced woman in her 70s, through the letters Sybil writes to her family and friends as well as to the authors whose books she admires.
Through her quirky letters, Sybil stays connected to those she loves while also processing painful episodes from her past. As she deals with the challenges of old age, Sybil uses her letters to express her opinions, to consider her life choices and ultimately to find a way to forgive herself for the death of her son and the divorce from her husband that followed this tragic episode. The Correspondent honors the fast-disappearing art of letter-writing and the depth of communication it can inspire.
REVIEWS AND AUTHOR INFORMATION
Limbong, Andrew, “The influence of the sleeper hit novel “The Correspondent.” NPR, January 22, 2026. The influence of the sleeper hit novel ‘The Correspondent’ : NPR
Kirkus, “The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.” THE CORRESPONDENT | Kirkus Reviews,
Sperti, Holli, “Miraculous and mundane: ”The Correspondent” explores rebirth in a winter season.” Southern Review of Books, April 23, 2025. Miraculous and Mundane, “The Correspondent” Explores Rebirth in a Winter Season – Southern Review of Books.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Virginia Evan tells Sybil’s story through the letters Sybil writes. Did this story-telling technique allow you to gain insight into Sybil’s character? Was there anything about this innovative approach that you wished could have been different?
Sybil uses letters to connect with those who have corresponded with her throughout her life. In what ways do letters deepen the connection she has with her life long friend, Rosalie, as they use letters to remember the past as well as to examine their present challenges?
In what ways did the letters Sybil left unsent help her to move past her deepest sorrow to a place of self-forgiveness?
Has letter-writing become a lost art? What are the unique benefits of communicating through letters as compared to more modern ways of communicating such as email?
