Is there a way to configure Apple email so that a person can return to a recently read email, similar to the way a person can easily get back to an internet page, rather than re-negotiate the path through folders?

Thanks

Under Lion and hopefully under Snow Leopard for you...

Click on the + sign at the lower left or go to Mailbox -> New Smart Mailbox...

then set the option to "Date Last Viewed"

Perfect....and flexibility in setting conditions. Great. Thanks.