"I'm writing to you," or epistolary genre

Epistolary communication of people, that is, the exchange of letters, exists for more than a thousand years. Needing to communicate with loved ones living far away, people wrote letters, first on parchment or papyrus, then on paper. Formation of correspondence began in the sixteenth century, but this communication became especially popular in the nineteenth century, when each country acquired a postal service. People started To exchange vast messages, in which they described their thoughts and feelings in detail. From these epistolary epistolary genres, called the Greek word "epistol" - "letter".

The genre of the work in the letters is very peculiar and differs significantly from other literary genres and styles. Any epistolary work is based, first of all, on the personal experience, feelings and experiences of the author. Specifically, not only the content of the novel composed of letters, but also its form. Epistolary style is easy to recognize by its characteristic features only. Almost always the narrative in such novels goes on behalf of the author, the story is presented consistently and concisely and includes detailed conclusions. The design of this narrative is also special. It is divided not into chapters, but into letters. Each letter begins with the date and address to the addressee, and ends with farewell words. Roman-correspondence is distinguished by a special, author's style. All addresses to the addressee are written with a capital letter, and the welcome or farewell phrase ends in An occlusive sign or a point, depending on the attitude of the author to his addressee. The general syntax of letters also corresponds to the individuality of the author.

Usually each part of the epistolary work is a monologue of the author, addressed to the interlocutor, however some monologues are sometimes diluted and animated by dialogues heard and retold by the author. The content of letters can be both professional and purely domestic. Epistolary genre has become a source of word combinations and syntactic constructions, called epistolarisms. If you carefully consider the epistolary work, you can find in it the rudiments of many other literary styles.

The works of the epistolary genre include not only novels composed of correspondence. To this style belongs any work written in the form of a message. This includes, for example, autobiographies, diaries and memoirs, which also differ in author's style.

In Russia the epistolary genre also originated in the sixteenth century. The first such work is the correspondence of Ivan IV the Terrible and Prince Kurbsky. This genre is not neglected by many of the classics of our literature. Both Karamzin, Pushkin, and Dostoevsky were the authors of the works in the epistolary style. So, "Letters of the Russian traveler" Karamzin wrote, traveling in Germany. In the work to which the Russian historian has shaped the form of letters to friends, not only is European life described, but also the foundation of a new literary style - sentimentalism. Pushkin also loved this genre. For example, "The Captain's Daughter" is written in the form of one large letter. From the correspondence of Varenka Dobroselova and Makar Devushkin there is also the novel Poor People written by Dostoyevsky. Epistolary genre, represented by great writers, became one of the "pillars" of Russian literature.