Frances Letters

Frances Letters is the author of ‘The Surprising Asians’, studied by a quarter of a million NSW School Certificate English students in the 1960s and 1970s, and ‘People of Shiva: Encounters in India’. After studying in Switzerland to become a teacher of Transcendental Meditation, she taught for several years in Barcelona. Her memoir ‘Razor-wire round our hearts: But truth-telling can help set us free’ will soon be published.

Frances's recent articles

23 February 2025

Could present horror possibly trigger future hope? One unlikely human attribute just might help...

israel-palestine, politics

Amid the hideous chaos erupting around the world at the moment, might there be some possible silver lining? Something existing at a deeper, more fundamental level than all the uproar, wars, terrorism, inflicted hunger, wretched misery? A tiny chink through which we might glimpse, if not a radical solution, at least a glimmer of light? Some hopeful candle flickering in the window?

17 November 2024

A blessed synchronicity: How even memories of war can give hope for peace

politics, religion

Remembrance Day, 11 November: our little Monday afternoon music group. After the morning’s mournful recollections of war, cheerfully we’re comparing notes about our lives, friends, upcoming events in town. Then we settle back in our armchairs, ready for the music. Our hostess, Gretel Kempster, presses the button.

28 December 2023

Hopeful pearls for peace

israel-palestine, politics, topfive

In these sad, anxious times, pearls of hope are rare and truly valuable. Thankfully, here are a couple to contemplate

8 September 2023

Old truths creeping into the light

politics

Recently, while trawling the net, I stumbled upon something startling. As a young man, my great-grandfather had unearthed a hideous crime. Against Aborigines.

9 August 2023

Hiroshima Day: do we really care about the serious possibility of another war?

history

Madrid, 6 August 1973fifty years ago. The son of one of Franco's generals has summoned us, a gang of rowdy friends, to his absent father's luxurious home. Lounging on gold brocade sofas, merrily we smoke dope and drink booze till we're high as larks and tight as owls.

26 March 2023

No. Let's give friendliness a try...

politics, world

Plus a change... Attention! A squadron of fierce red rats is swarming down the map from a blood-red China towards Australia! Eager scarlet claws scrabble at our coastline; greedy little rat-faces snarl with the excitement of it all.