The great interest that epistles generate today stems primarily from the fact that this is a form of literature that is no longer produced, and that they sometimes reveal the most intimate content of certain works. Here, above all, lies their greatest appeal: through letters, we can discover an author who may only reveal himself in the deeper layers of his work, but whose understanding is essential. It happens, however—and it is regrettable to note this—that we do not always find the sincerity we seek in the letters. And we clearly realize that they were written with a view to later publication. The style, thus, loses its appeal; an uncomfortable feeling arises that we are being deceived. And our interest wanes…