Greetings from across the Atlantic. I am hoping to find a couple of like-minded correspondents in the UK or elsewhere in Europe who enjoy the uncommon pleasure of exchanging actual letters. I'm somewhat of an Anglophile, so a British correspondent would be especially welcome, but I'm open to friendships throughout the world.
Part of my motivation is love of the written word in physical form. I collect and use both fountain pens and typewriters, and appreciate good stationery. It seems a shame to have all these wonderful writing tools without more opportunity to use them! And there's something particularly satisfying about receiving a letter in the post.
A little about me: I'm an academic with a background in history and formerly taught at a university. (Perhaps those days in the archives reading handwritten diaries and letters did something to me). Now I work in legal education. I have a longstanding interest in history, law, literature, and the life of the mind generally. But I promise not every letter needs to read like a dissertation.
Beyond that, I'm an enthusiastic bibliomaniac and like to write about what I'm reading. I love classical music as well as New Wave 1980s, the arts (especially 19th and early 20th century paintings and prints) and I am an amateur photographer, both film and digital. I have many old cameras and a few digital ones, and I develop my own black and white film. I enjoy learning about classic men's clothing and style (including wristwatches and fragrances, etc.), along with the small pleasures and curiosities of everyday life. I like to cook, also, and sometimes my wife even likes what I make!
I'm particularly interested in corresponding with other gentlemen who might welcome a pleasant, platonic acquaintance through letters. I'm happily married and have a number of female friends, but I value the idea of cultivating some male friendships based on shared interests and exchange of ideas from opposite sides of the world. Age isn't especially important, although life experience can be wonderful to share. I'm not necessarily looking for someone who shares all my interests. I think the pleasure of correspondence can include discovering new subjects and seeing the world differently. Whether it's writing about a book, an exhibition, an interesting event, or simply ordinary details of daily life, I would welcome the exchange.
No expectation of a rigid schedule either, just some thoughtful letters exchanged a nice pace.
If that sounds appealing, please feel free to message me. And here's to keeping the art of letters alive.
(EDIT NOTE - I write in cursive!)