Epistolary Novel 'The Correspondent' Shortlisted for Women's Prize

An epistolary novel, a book told through letters, has become a surprise bestseller. Virginia Evans's "The Correspondent" follows an irascible woman in her 70s who manages her closest relationships only by mail. The novel is now shortlisted for the prestigious Women's Prize for Fiction. Epistolary novels were once very popular, from classics like "Clarissa" to Bram Stoker's "Dracula." They are rare today because they are difficult to write well. Authors must master tone and voice while creating movement within a limited form. But some recent examples have succeeded. In the 2000s, "We Need to Talk about Kevin" and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" became hits. In the 2010s, "Where’d You Go, Bernadette?" achieved similar success. Now "The Correspondent" joins that list. It has spread by word of mouth and is a bestseller in the US and the UK. The Guardian calls it "an immensely enjoyable read."