Power of correspondence celebrated in new book showcasing historical letters
Postscript: Life, Love and Loss in Australian Letters
• Historically significant letters selected from the vast collections of the National Library of Australia
• The original letters are paired with creative responses from contemporary Australians
• A moving collection celebrating the singular power of the letter
(L) Jim Fitzpatrick, Department of Information, John H Lowin, who delivers Drouin's mail, has a letter for Mrs Leslie Allison of Drouin, Victoria, 1944, nla.obj-147028185; (R) Book cover, Postscript
(L) Jim Fitzpatrick, Department of Information, John H Lowin, who delivers Drouin's mail, has a letter for Mrs Leslie Allison of Drouin, Victoria, 1944, nla.obj-147028185; (R) Book cover, Postscript
The National Library of Australia holds millions of letters in its collections: love letters, reports on scientific discoveries, impassioned pleas, newsy notes about the week that’s just been, responses from politicians to members of their electorate, letters to the editor and so many more.
Postscript showcases a selection of these remarkable letters from our collection, and pairs them with responses from modern Australian writers.
The original letters may have shaped history, confessed love, covered philosophical matters, or given an insight into the writers’ lives. The modern letters do the same. Readers can map the web of literary friendship between some of our greatest writers, like Mem Fox, Morris Gleitzman, Henry Lawson and C.J. Dennis.
“[Postscript] made me think about how personal correspondence is a caring act (and loving, often) - that someone cares enough to take that time, to make the recipient the sole focus of their attention for the duration of writing that letter.”
"You can see the beginnings of love and the terrible ends of relationships. You can sense the great need for—and ongoing work towards—reconciliation. This is a collection of letters that will engage and enlarge readers’ sense of empathy—perhaps inspiring them to pick up the pen themselves. It is a testament to the particular power of a letter (or an email, fax or telegram) to shock us, to move us and to warm us."
Postscript will be released on 1 May 2026, in stores in time for Mother’s Day.
List of Authors
Reverend John Flynn OBE | Michael Winkler
Henry Lawson | Frank Reid | Robert Skinner
John Ian Wing | Shelley Ware
Sir John Monash | Judith Wright | Maggie Mackellar
Norma Brooks | David Brooks
Jane Austen | Kate Forsyth
Barbara Blackman AO | Barrina South
Adela Pankhurst | Amy Remeikis
Kylie Tennant | Sita Sargeant
Bill Gammage | Frank Bongiorno AO
Senator Neville Bonner AO | William McLeod | Raelene Rallah-Baker
Mem Fox | Morris Gleitzman | Daniel Gray-Barnett
John Barrett | Dr Ranjana Srivastava OAM
Patrick Glynn | John Trigg | Sam Wallman
Media kit
Images for media use available for download via Dropbox.
Media enquiries
Lauren Conron, Media Liaison, National Library of Australia
Phone: 0401 226 697
Email: media@nla.gov.au