The history of the world as witnessed through the most inspiring, heartfelt, and impactful letters ever written. For the legions of readers who enjoyed 100 Diagrams that Shaped the World and A History of the World in 100 Object s, here is a new take on understanding world history -- from ancient Greece and Rome through the 21st century -- through 100 of the most important, impassioned, and ultimately world-changing letters ever penned. The 100 letters collected in this beautifully illustrated book demonstrate the power of the written word to inspire, astonish and entertain. The letters range from ink-inscribed tablets that vividly describe life in the Roman Empire to remarkable last wills and testaments, passionate outpourings of love and despair, and succinct notes with deadly consequences. Included are entries that span history: Leonardo da Vinci's résumé with barely a mention of his artistic talents; Henry VIII's love letters to Anne Boleyn; Beatrix Potter's correspondence with a friend's son that inspired Peter Rabbit; the scrawled note that brought about Oscar Wilde's downfall; SOS telegrams from the Titanic; the telegram informing the president about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; Martin Luther King, Jr.'s open letter from a Birmingham jail; Nelson Mandela's letters from prison; as well as notable suicide notes or famous last words by cultural luminaries such as Virginia Woolf, Baudelaire, and Kurt Cobain.