How does an epistolary novel tell a story through letters?

An epistolary novel tells a story through the medium of letters written by one or more characters. By allowing characters to express their thoughts and feelings directly, this form provides an intimate perspective without the apparent interference of the author.12

Key features of this narrative method include:

• Subjectivity and Dimension: Because the story is told through the characters' own words, it offers a subjective view that serves as a forerunner to the psychological novel. Presenting events from multiple points of view adds depth and verisimilitude to the narrative.1
• Dramatic Immediacy: The letter format conveys the shape of unfolding events with a sense of urgency and directness.1
• Structural Limitations: While the method grants characters autonomy, it can feel as though a divine editor is organizing the letters into a specific pattern. Additionally, because the narrators are characters within the story, the information available to the reader is limited to what those specific characters experience or know.3

Modern adaptations have evolved to include journals, diaries, emails, and text messages, maintaining the power to grant direct communication with fictional characters.2