""The Familiar Letters of James Howell"" is a collection of letters written by James Howell, a 17th-century English writer and historian. The letters were written to various friends and acquaintances between 1625 and 1665, and provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and political world of the time. Howell's correspondents included politicians, writers, and scholars, and the letters cover a wide range of topics, from literature and philosophy...