Volume VIII,2 of the historical-critical edition of Droste-Hülshoff's writings contains the commentary on her letters from 1805 to 1838. The multiplicity of cross-references and information gives a detailed insight not only into the author's literary intentions but also into the mentality of the epoch. Alongside the commentaries on the letters the volume also supplies 150 potted biographies of all Droste's correspondents, plus brief overviews of the course taken by the correspondence in each case. The volume closes with an extensive index.