Ian Mc Kellen reads Kurt Vonneguts inspirational letter to some students

In 2006, a group of students at Xavier High School in New York City were given an assignment by their English teacher, Ms. Lockwood, that was to test their persuasive writing skills: they were asked to write to their favourite author and ask him or her to visit the school. Its a measure of his ongoing influence that five of those pupils chose Kurt Vonnegut, the novelist responsible for, amongst other highlyrespected books, SlaughterhouseFive; sadly, however, he never made that trip. Instead, he wrote a wonderful letter. He was the only author to reply. Sir Ian McKellen joined us at Letters Live at the Freemasons Hall, London to read Kurt s fantastic letter.