Spanning two decades, from 1968 to 1989, the letters—written as jeux d'espirit and presented in the same spirit—touch on Thomson's life, compositions, and writings; Gertrude Stein and Marcel Duchamp; music criticism; travel, food and wine; the local musical scene; and plans (sometimes fulfilled, sometimes not) for concerts and recordings. The record Thomson's correspondence with composer and writer Charles Shere, soprano Margery Tede, and other San Francisco friends. Editorial annotations place the letters in context.