“Man (or Woman) of Letters” — Connecting Through Writing — Figures
“Man of Letters” is the more dated word for an educated and knowledgeable person. These days not just men. Two figures stand out from a central internet information hub, namely Wikipedia: Erasmus of Rotterdam and Shirin Ebadi, former female judge in Iran and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Both of them can be called sophisticated, well-read and knowledgeable.
The phrase also makes quite clear what the main occupation of such people is: They read — and they write.
The phrase ‘man of letters’ originally was coined around Erasmus’ time. Women hadn’t the possibilities for education and learning they have these days in many countries.
Reading and writing are scholarly occupations in such a context. They need calm and peace of mind. It can mean, just as it does that for artists in some cases, that people like their respective places of refuge.
Any country in this world knows them — and the percentages among a population are often similar, if possibilities to learn and study are similar as well: 10–20 % are academics and those working for and with the artistic community and market are around 5 % (middle of Europe, average).
Giuseppe Verdi, world-famous and acknowledged composer of the
19th century in one of his letters put it this way about his estate Sant’ Agata in Roncole in the country, in Italy, where he led a secluded life for most of his lifetime:
“What harm is it if I keep apart, if I see fit not to visit titled people? If I don’t take part in the festivities, the pleasures of others? If I manage my property myself, because it is a pleasure and a recreation for me?”*
People like that know what they are doing. And the proof of it often can be found in their writing…
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(*Letter to Antonio Barezzi, January 21, 1852; quoted from: Verdi, the man in his letters, 1813–1901, ©Vienna House, New York, 1942, renewed 1972)
