Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars: War Letters.

Andrew Carroll, ed. 2001. Various readers. Narrated by Harry Smith. Abridged. 4 tapes, 6.5 hrs. Simon & Schuster Audio. 0-7435-0842-4. $26.00. Cardboard, plastic; content notes. SA

This collection of personal letters written by service men and women, family members, friends, sweethearts, celebrities, and people from every walk of life grew from the efforts of the author and the Legacy Project. The collection's goal is to remember Americans who have served this nation and to preserve their letters for posterity. There are letters of reassurance, letters of condolence, letters of explanation, letters of criticism, love letters, patriotic letters, and even those that were sent to "Dear John" and "Dear Jane." The earliest letters come from the Civil War era, followed by letters from every 20th-century war in which American soldiers served. Each is prefaced with scene-setting introductory remarks and followed with a postscript tying up loose ends.

Television journalist Smith's familiar voice is an even-toned presentation supported by a superb group of readers that includes Tom Brokaw, Edward Herrmann, and Rob Lowe. None is disappointing. Each reader makes the correspondent come alive and the content ring with sincerity. Although most letters are from faceless heroes (which in no way decreases their importance), there are also some from well-known personalities. Prof. John E. Boyd Jenkintown, PA