Uncovering stories hidden in historical correspondence

Welcome to Of Lost Time, a platform dedicated to bringing you the voices and stories hidden in the personal letters of people throughout history. What were people thinking, what were they worried or happy about, and more importantly what were they feeling? All of this can be found in historical letters, correspondence, and memoirs, some of the most private and intimate sources left to us in posterity.

Get a glimpse into the intimate thoughts of history’s artists, scientists, athletes, philosophers, and public figures through Of Lost Time’s Letters for the Ages series.

Letters for the Ages is a series of eclectic anthologies, each comprised of around 100 outstanding letters written throughout history, and united by an overarching theme. The final selection of letters – sourced through meticulously researching archive material and historical literature – is chosen by two editors: an Of Lost Time in-house editor and a leading expert in their historical field. The expert editor uses their intimate knowledge of the subject to weave a fascinating narrative, connecting the letters both to their wider historical context and to each other. The resulting volumes burst with the charm and quirkiness of the individuals whose words are brought to life – their stories told, often for the first time, in their own voice.

Letters for the Ages: The Private and Personal Letters of Sir Winston Churchill is the first anthology in this exciting new series: a volume exploring the arc of Churchill’s life through his personal correspondence and interwoven with the expert commentary of historian and director of the Churchill Archives Centre, Allen Packwood.

Order Letters for the Ages from Bloomsbury Continuum here: Letters for the Ages: The Private and Personal Letters of Sir Winston Churchill: Sir Winston S. Churchill: Bloomsbury Continuum

If you know, you know — sometimes it can be hard to make sense of historical letters without some context. Want to learn more about the who, what, when, where, and why of what past people communicated to one another?

Check out our most recent blog posts for well-researched and yet easy reads about the real, human side of history. To receive email updates, just sign up here or at the bottom of the page.