Victor Hugo
The shortest correspondence in history is between Hugo and his publisher Hurst & Blackett in 1862. It is said Hugo was on vacation when Les Misérables (which is over 1200 pages) was published. He telegraphed the single-character message '?' to his publisher, who replied with a single '!'.<ref>Walsh, William S: 'Handy-Book of Literary Curiosities, page 600. Philadelphia: J.B. Lipincott Co, 1892.</ref>