Every story has its own world to get lost in, with characters you'll come to know through their letters, relationships, and private affairs. From historical romance to mystery and adventure, there's always somewhere new to go and someone interesting to meet. Have a look around and see whose story catches your interest.
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In New York, you can know someone's address, their husband, their favorite table, and still have absolutely no idea what happened last summer. Two centuries ago, society was much the same, although people had the advantage of writing their indiscretions on beautiful stationery.
And fortunately for us, someone usually kept the letters.
Petite Histoire publishes original stories by mail, told through the private correspondence, personal papers, and occasional indiscretions of their characters. Choose from these works of epistolary fiction and let us introduce you to a world you'll come to know rather intimately, one envelope at a time.
Each story is a unique, 24-letter experience mailed to you twice a month for 12 months.
I sometimes wonder whether the ease of modern communication has made us a little impatient with the people we love. We can send a thought across the world in a second, then spend the next ten minutes wondering why nobody has answered.
Imagine waiting six weeks.
For much of history, correspondence was a relationship with time as much as with another person. A letter could be written in perfect sincerity and arrive when everything it described had already changed. People fell in love through the post, grew estranged through misunderstandings, and spent entire seasons anticipating news that might have altered their lives.
Our stories borrow something from that experience.
An installment ends, and for a little while you are left with what you know. You may find yourself returning to an earlier letter, reconsidering an otherwise innocent remark, or changing your opinion of someone you were quite certain you understood.
Then, just as you've settled upon a theory, another envelope arrives.
There's something lovely about having a story remain part of your life between the moments you're actually reading it. You carry the characters with you, as you would people you've become acquainted with, and begin looking forward to hearing from them again.
A story mailed in installments means there is always one more coming. I hope you love the experience.
-JS
Author, Creative Director
A gift that keeps in touch.
Give them something to look forward to.
One of the loveliest parts of giving someone a present is imagining the moment they open it. We rather like the idea of getting to do that twenty-four times.
Choose a story for someone you love, and we'll send its correspondence twice a month for an entire year. Each envelope brings another chapter, another little surprise, and a reminder that you were thinking of them, even on the most ordinary of days.
Before
After
We'll send the letters. They can choose whose.
There are some decisions best left to the person who'll be living with them. Which world to spend the next twelve months in is probably one of them.
Our Story Voucher gives someone you love a complete year of correspondence, with the pleasure of choosing the story themselves. They can browse our collection, make their introductions, and begin whenever they're ready.
We'll deliver the voucher to your inbox within minutes, so you'll have something to give now, even if the first letter is still to come.
Your voucher code is sent to the email address provided at checkout, usually within a few minutes. You can forward it to your recipient or include it in a card of your own.
They simply visit Petite Histoire, select whichever story interests them, and enter their voucher code at checkout. The subscription is already paid for, including US shipping, so no additional payment information is required for the standard subscription.
Yes. The voucher can be redeemed toward any available story in our collection when they're ready to begin, even if subscription prices have changed in the meantime.
The voucher covers all twenty-four mailings and their US postage. Our French-made Story Archive is available separately for anyone who would like to keep their complete correspondence together.
Vouchers are intended for new subscriptions and cannot be applied retroactively to previous orders.
The Story Archive
Made in France
Our sturdy metal Archive Box has the sort of timeless appeal that makes you wonder what treasures it might already have held. Inspired by the keepsake tins and correspondence boxes of another era, it's designed to gather and protect your complete collection of letters and ephemera.
Notes from readers who have opened the letters, followed the secrets, and waited for the next dispatch.
John S.
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Mary U.
Share a testimonial about your product or services and highlight your brand's strengths.
Joshua A.
Share a testimonial about your product or services and highlight your brand's strengths.
John D.
Share a testimonial about your product or services and highlight your brand's strengths.
The wonderful thing about historical fiction is how often it sends you looking for the truth. What did people wear, how did they fall in love, and what was really happening in the world beyond their drawing rooms?
Our Reading Room brings the history behind each story to life through engaging essays, archival discoveries, and hands-on creative information.
Designed for curious readers of every age, it's also a lovely resource for teachers and homeschooling families, turning each installment into an opportunity to explore history, literature, art, and the customs of another era.
A few practical matters.
We'd love for you to join us, and we imagine you might have a few questions before your first letter arrives. Whether you're curious about the experience, wondering how the mailings work, or planning a rather thoughtful gift for someone you love, we've gathered everything you might like to know before getting started.
Have more questions?
Experience
It's a complete work of original fiction delivered to you as physical correspondence over time. Our stories use the epistolary form, meaning the narrative unfolds through letters and other documents written by the characters themselves. It's particularly appealing to readers who enjoy historical fiction, romantic intrigue, and becoming thoroughly absorbed in another world.
Choose a story and receive twenty-four physical mailings over twelve months, delivered twice monthly. Each installment continues the narrative through letters and other printed correspondence.
Certainly. Every subscription begins with the first letter, regardless of when you join.
Every installment includes part of the story presented as printed correspondence, sometimes accompanied by period-inspired papers, documents, or keepsakes. The exact contents vary according to the story and the events taking place.
For anyone who enjoys a little romance, history, or becoming involved in someone else's affairs. Our stories are written to appeal to a broad audience, from adult readers to families discovering historical fiction together. Teachers and homeschooling families will also find historical essays and creative learning activities in our Reading Room. For younger readers, we recommend reviewing each story's themes before subscribing.
The first two mailings are yours to decide. If the story hasn't captured your interest, you can switch to another available series or request a refund of your remaining subscription balance.
Each of our three stories is entirely independent, so you can begin with whichever period or cast of characters interests you most. Within a series, however, the letters are intended to be read in the order they arrive. Certain details become rather important later on, and we'd hate for you to miss them.
No. Some series contain codes, clues, or details that reward close attention, but these elements do not prevent you from understanding the narrative unless a story is specifically described as an interactive mystery.
No. The story is complete without any response from the reader.
Practicalities
Each story is purchased as a complete twelve-month subscription, including all twenty-four mailings. You'll find the price on each story's page, with US postage included. There are no additional monthly payments or automatic renewals.
You choose the date of your first mailing at checkout, and we'll take care of the correspondence from there. A new installment is sent twice monthly over twelve months, until the complete story is yours. See our mailing schedule for the full calendar.
Even modern postal services have their occasional adventures. If a mailing hasn't arrived two weeks after its expected delivery, contact us and we'll arrange a replacement without charge.
Each story consists of twenty-four mailings delivered twice monthly over twelve months. Once the final installment has been sent, your subscription is complete and does not automatically renew.
No. Your subscription concludes with the final mailing. You can begin another story whenever you wish.
Gifting
Yes. The correspondence can be sent directly to the recipient. Available gift presentation and scheduling options are shown during purchase..
Some choices are best left to the recipient. Our Story Voucher covers a complete year of correspondence and allows them to choose whichever story catches their interest. The voucher arrives in your email within minutes, making it particularly convenient for those rather last-minute occasions.
Certainly. Choose a mailing date that suits the occasion, whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or an anniversary known only to the two of you. Just remember that the post has its own schedule, so we recommend allowing a little extra time if you're hoping for delivery by a particular day.
Not a thing. We never include prices, invoices, or receipts in the envelopes. Gift subscriptions also include a complimentary printable card, so you'll have something lovely to give while the first letter makes its way through the post.