The Letter (The Christmas Box Trilogy) [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Richard Paul Evans (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 1997

The Letter, the final book of the Christmas Box collection is, most simply stated, the love story of David and MaryAnne Parkin. But it is also everyone's love story, for it is about the storms that all relationships must face when the blissful state of romance vanishes into one of real-life challenges and difficulties. We often forget that it is in the hard times that we truly see what is best in love as well as in life. Though love may be temporarily darkened, true love never gives in, or up, but holds tight to noble ideas, which transcend this earth and all time.

The Letter is also about our pasts and our individual quests to discover who we are. In The Letter, David Parkin sets out on a journey to find his mother, a woman who abandoned him when he was a child. In truth, however, David is searching for himself as he seeks to free himself from the pain of her rejection and his fear that he was somehow unworthy of her love. In a sense, David's search is the same journey we are all pursuing. We are all seeking love.

My hope is that you will feel what I felt as I wrote this book -- the divine nature of loyalty and the understanding of why we must share love whenever and wherever.

One final note. I am saddened to finish the Christmas Box trilogy and to bid good-bye to the Parkin family. I do not know if I shall ever visit them again, but I am glad for this last story -- a story which I think is a fitting sendoff for the characters I've grown to love. I hope that the message you find in their lives is meaningful to your own. And, most of all, that in reading the Christmas Box collection, you, and those with whom you share my books, will never be the same.

With my love, Richard Paul Evans

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Letter, the final episode of Richard Paul Evans's Christmas Box trilogy (The Christmas Box, Timepiece), begins in the winter of 1933. A bent and bereft hag is spotted crouching over the snowy grave of Andrea Parkin, David Parkin's three-year-old daughter who died twenty years prior. When the night watchman approaches the figure and tells her the cemetery is closed, she mysteriously disappears, leaving behind one red rose and a letter. When the child's mother comes to pay respect the following day, she finds the letter and its shocking news. Could David's mother be alive? The search for the answer sends David on a cross-country journey and into the arms of another woman. But the knowledge he gains gives him the strength to make the ultimate sacrifice for his loved ones. The dialogue is at times overly portentous, such as: "'David, what your mother is, or was, has nothing to do with who you are.' David shook his head. 'It has everything to do with who I am. Especially now. My mother's leaving is the reason I cannot forgive myself for losing my daughter.'" And one tires of Evans's three favorite words--"ardent," "gasp," and "cacophony." But fans of his sentimental journeys will want to keep their hankies handy.

From Library Journal

The final chapter in the lives of David and Mary Anne Parkins, introduced in Evans's phenomenal best seller, The Christmas Box, delivers the same heartwarming message of faith and love found in that book. Over the 19 years following the death of their young daughter, a silent rift of grief has grown between the parents. Unable to bear the alienation and sadness, Mary Anne leaves David, whom she still loves, in the belief that he will be happier without her. The remainder of the story centers on David's search for himself and for the mother who abandoned him as a child. Engaging and inspirational, this story is perhaps too edifying for those with more corrupted tastes. Nevertheless, it is sure to have the same popular success as Evans's earlier novels, recommending it for all fiction collections.
-?Sheila M. Riley, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; First edition (October 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684834723
• ISBN-13: 978-0684834726
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,924 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Paul Evans
When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author.

Officially, he was an advertising executive, an award-winning clay animator for the American and Japanese markets, candidate for state legislature and most importantly, husband and father. The Christmas Box was written as an expression of love for his (then) two daughters. Though he often told them how much he loved them, he wanted to express his love in a way that would be timeless. In 1993, Evans reproduced 20 copies of the final story and gave them to his closest relatives and friends as Christmas presents. In the month following, those 20 copies were passed around more than 160 times, and soon word spread so widely that bookstores began calling his home with orders for it.

His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. The Emmy award-winning CBS television movie based on The Christmas Box starred Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas. Two more of Evans's books were produced by Hallmark and starred such well-known actors as James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Naomi Watts, Mary McDonough and Academy award winner Ellen Burstyn. He has since written 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers and is one of the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won three awards for his children's books including the 1998 American Mothers book award and two first place Storytelling World awards. Evans's latest book, The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth, is now available.

Of his success, Evans says: "The material achievements of The Christmas Box will never convey its true success, the lives it has changed, the families brought closer together, the mothers and fathers who suddenly understand the pricelessness of their children's fleeting childhood. I share the message of this book with you in hopes that in some way, you might be, as I was, enlightened."

During the Spring of 1997, Evans founded The Christmas Box House International, an organization devoted to building shelters and providing services for abused and neglected children. Such shelters are operational in Moab, Vernal, Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah and Lucre, Peru. To date, more than 16,000 children have been housed in Christmas Box House facilities.

As an acclaimed speaker, Evans has shared the podium with such notable personalities as President George W. Bush, President George and Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister John Majors, Ron Howard, Elizabeth Dole, Deepak Chopra, Steve Allen, and Bob Hope. Evans has been featured on the Today show and Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Time, Newsweek, People, The New York Times, Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, TV Guide, Reader's Digest, and Family Circle. Evans lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!, July 7, 2000

By 

E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Letter (The Christmas Box Trilogy) (Hardcover)

The last, longest, and best of the Christmas Box trilogy, this book picks up from "Timepiece" and ends with the promise of "The Christmas Box."

Twenty years after Andrea's death, MaryAnne prepares to leave for England-forever. David has emotionally shut himself away after Andrea's death, and she can no longer stand the wreck of their marriage. While visiting her daughter's grave, MaryAnne discovers a letter that may be from David's mother, who ran away to become an actress when he was a child.

After MaryAnne vanishes, the only people David wants to communicate with is his business partner, Catherine the cook, and his old friend Lawrence, who was injured and blinded by racists. But when he goes to a party, he meets a young socialite named Dierdre, who is attracted to him and plans to do something about it.

Soon, David leaves to find out where his mother is, with Dierdre accompanying him. He discovers things about himself, his life, and his marriage, but it takes a tragedy to bring everyone together for the tearjerking finale.

This has more mature themes than before, with mentions of illegitimate children, alcoholism, suicide and Dierdre's pursuit of a married man. All are tasteful and relatively pure, though.

Characterizations are at their best here-David grows and blossoms painfully as he realizes how he has shut everyone out. The reader can feel Lawrence's despair at his blindness and mortality. Dierdre is, fortunately, not portrayed as an amoral homewrecker, but rather as a rather spoiled but kind young woman whose attraction to David grows into real love. MaryAnne is seen less than in the previous books, but we see stirrings of the sad, but beautiful and faithful woman in "Christmas Box."

An underappreciated classic, I'd love to see this made into a movie.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE RICHARD PAUL EVANS!, May 5, 2003

By 

Teresa Blinkenberg "4boys4mom" (Downingtown, PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Letter (The Christmas Box Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Well, I love his books! :) I started with A Christmas Box 8 years ago. It was a gift from a friend when my little boy died. And it gave me such inspiration and hope that I now feel compelled to read every single work that he has written. I have given his books as gifts to friends and I have hooked them all. Continue the great work, Mr. Evans. Thanks for helping me to cry and giving me reason to begin to smile once more. (Terry Blinkenberg)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Story at its Best!, December 30, 2001

By 

Kimberly R. Cole "Kimberly" (Asheville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Letter (The Christmas Box Trilogy) (Hardcover)

Bravo!! "The Letter" concludes the love story of David and Maryanne Parkin. You must read "The Christmas Box" and "Timepiece", to capture the entire story. Set in the 1930's, Evans did a wonderful job portraying this era. The events, the characters, the places, all well written. This series is one of the best I have ever read. David Parkin is a incredible man. Maryanne is a wonderful, understanding, loving person. Together through their loss of their daughter, Andrea, their lives go in different directions. David sets off on a journey to find answers. As he was abandoned by his mother at six years old, his feelings always haunted him. When Andrea dies, he virtually relives the same feelings, even worse, only this time shutting out Maryanne from his heart. Maryanne makes a major decision that will break your heart. Their love for each is so strong and real, you can feel it just by reading this love story. I can't leave out the characters of Catherine and Lawrence as well. Their part through-out the series is very touching and two very dedicated friends to the Parkins. The ending was incredible. I won't say how it ends but only that I wasn't expecting it and I had to have a box of tissues. As Evans bids farewell to the lives of David and Maryanne, so do I. It was an incredible love story. Don't pass this series up.