This phrase typically refers to a selected sort of fiction, usually epistolary in nature, the place the narrative unfolds via letters or journal entries. The implied viewers for these writings is somebody the creator hopes is not going to encounter them, suggesting secrets and techniques, confessions, or probably damaging info. For example, a personality would possibly write a collection of letters detailing their struggles, explicitly stating a need that the supposed recipient by no means reads them, thus creating dramatic irony for the precise reader.
The inherent enchantment lies in its voyeuristic high quality and the promise of unfiltered ideas and feelings. Such narratives capitalize on the attract of forbidden information and the psychological rigidity generated by withheld info. Traditionally, literature has employed epistolary types to create intimacy and immediacy, granting readers direct entry to a personality’s inside world. The added layer of secrecy heightens the engagement and creates a compelling studying expertise. The will to safeguard info, whether or not from family members or adversaries, is a standard human expertise, making these tales relatable regardless of their often-dramatic content material.