The Victorian era was perhaps the golden age of letter writing, an art that has largely now been lost in the face of modern technology and changing codes of conduct. 'The Gentleman's Letter Writer' is at once a testament to the elegance of nineteenth-century communication and an entertaining insight into how carefully the Victorians chose their words - and the potentially disastrous effects if they did so imprudently! Considering such troublesome issues as how to propose to a lifelong female friend, how to get your son into a good school and how to politely wriggle out of the repayment of a debt, it provides excellent examples of nineteenth-century mores as well as a fascinating look at the Victorians' use of the English language.