Novel set in the first half of the 20th Century HUNGARY
Novel set in ANNAPOLIS, Maryland
31st August 2026
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, novel set in ANNAPOLIS, Maryland
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans won the 2025 Women’s Prize for fiction and its merits are immediately obvious. This epistolary novel – one written in the form of letters – features the correspondence of Sibyl Van Antwerp. Sibyl is a retired lawyer and law clerk. She writes old fashioned letters to all and sundry, from journalists and fellow lawyers to family members and even her next-door neighbour. For her, writing allows a form of expression that phone calls and more modern technologies don’t. The book covers many years of letters sent and received and reveal her innermost thoughts and something of her history. Among the letters is one that is different, in that it is ongoing – and unsent. A feature of the book that both intrigued and entertained was the exchange of letters with ‘real’ authors, such as Ann Patchett and Joan Didion – how did they manage that?
The setting for the book is mainly Sibyl’s home in Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland, USA. The author creates a vivid picture of the house and its surroundings. There are references to other places, such as Scotland and Texas, but location descriptions mainly serve to support the developing story.
Another feature that I particularly enjoyed was Sibyl’s book recommendations and reviews. Her forthright character means that she doesn’t mince her words when writing to her friends, and even the authors, about the books she has read. One of the things we discover about Sibyl is that she is very open about her feelings – all except the ones she keeps secret. She exchanges letters with Harry, the young son of a fellow lawyer, over a long period and shares more with him than with anyone. She also acts as a sounding board and confidante for him. Nevertheless there are things she doesn’t tell even him and he refers to the “stones”, or secrets, that they carry around with them.
So this is a bit meta: my review of a book that includes many book reviews and reading suggestions, some of which I must add to be TBR (and hope it doesn’t topple over!). The Correspondent is absolutely deserving of the accolades it has received, and I recommend it as a gentle, yet moving and thought-provoking read.
Sue for the TripFiction Team
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