Love Letters of Great Men

by Ursula Doyle (Introduction)

Remember the wonderfully romantic book of love letters that Carrie reads aloud to Big in the recent blockbuster film, Sex and the City ? Fans raced to buy copies of their own, only to find out that the beautiful book didn't actually exist. Howe

Genres: Nonfiction, Romance, Poetry, History, Classics, Love, Literature

156 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dannii Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I'd like to start this review by stating that I do not like romance in fiction! I tolerate it as a sub-plot and it has been known to warm the coldness of my heart in exceptional cases, (here's looking at you, John Green) but as a main theme I find it comes across as too contrived and artificially formulated. This book, for that reason, was not placed highly on my reading list. Curiosity and good reviews won me over and I decided to give it a go. I was not disappointed.

This book, full of declarations of love in the form of letter, as the title so obviously suggests, I found so utterly and achingly pure and beautiful that I wanted to continue turning the pages forever. Alas, it is a short book (at only 144 pages), but perhaps that is part of its charm? Perhaps I would never have decided to read it if confronted with a tome of romantic declarations? Perhaps it would have become so overpoweringly sweet as to overwhelm the simplistic and pure beauty of it? Who knows. As it stands, its size and its utter delightfulness managed to elicit the correct response of smiles and 'ahhs' and spread a warmth inside of me that leads to this sickly review being tapped out almost euphorically in its wake.

This book is a collection of letters from (you guessed it) great men from throughout history to their love, or in some cases loves plural. Each letter is preceded by a short description of who the great man and the object/s of his affection were and a different side to these well-known names is revealed.

The letters are a mixture of witty and petulant and illicit and mundane, which proves to lessen the fairytale image often conjured of ancient love and heightens the realness of it. It enhances the often overlooked fact that these men lived. It brings a kinship between the men of the past and those of the present despite, no, because of, their various forms of correspondence and how they chose to articulate the desires of their souls.

Reading it made my own heart pine for men I have never known with words that were not penned for me. Their declarations are joyous, proud and earnest and are offset beautifully by moments of normalcy amongst their fiery proclamations. They are often lovely but sometimes infuriating to read - these men can be so petulant and demanding! This not only puts the letters into context, but it brings them into focus: it makes them less like testimonies of love and more like proof of life. It is proof that these men were not just two-dimensional history book 'characters'. It is proof that love was no greater or less fickle then, as it is now. It is proof that this book represents something real.

I want to end this review with an extract from my favourite letter as it highlights all this book means for me. The letter is question is a charming correspondence from Danial Webster to Josephine Seaton, a lady who left her bonnet at his house:

"I have demanded parlance with your Bonnet: have asked it how many tender looks it has noticed to be directed under it; what soft words it has heard, close to its side; in what instances an air of triumph has caused it to be tossed; and whether, ever, and when, it has quivered from trembling emotions, proceeding from below. But it has proved itself a faithful keeper of secrets."

This has proven itself my favourite passage as, aside from its undoubted wit, excellent writing and genius creativity, it all derived from an ordinary moment lost among all the other ordinary moments throughout time. And it is these 'ordinary' moments that makes life and love and this book what it is - real.

[Yoana · Rating 3 out of 5]

These letters and the short biographical notes reveal some interesting, sometimes amusing details about famous people's private lives, such as the fact that Mozart and his wife both loved scatological jokes; Robert Burns was a dog (he got two women pregnant while carrying on with his "main", I guess you'd say, mistress; one of the pregnant women was the mistress's maid); Napoleon Bonaparte seems to have been very insecure about his wife's love for him and tortured over it; Charles Darwin made a pro-/con list when he considered marriage, "better than a dog anyhow" was on the pro- side and "not forced to visit relatives" in the con side (he subsequently sounded very happy with his choice though, even though he married his first cousin); Robert Browning's love for Elizabeth Barrett started as a fan's admiration; Mark Twain's in-laws had been conductors on the Underground Railroad; Alfred Douglas did not abandon Oscar Wilde after his process, on the contrary, he campaigned in the press against the sentence and petitioned the Queen for clemency.

The letters start with Pliny the Younger and then span the period between the 17th century and the 1910s. No matter the time period, you can recognise the ecstasy and the agony of love, as we've felt it in our own lives. I also recognised a number of games and tricks, including some pretty dishonest and downright abusive ones, that men seem to have been using for centuries:

You're out of my league, but I'm a nice guy, give me a chance:

Were I to consult my merits my humility would chide any shadow of hope; but after a sight of such a face whose whole composition is a smile of good nature, why should I be so unjust as to suspect you of cruelty.

George Farquhar to Anne Oldfield, 1699

Negging:

It is true that you are not handsome, for you are a woman and think you are not: but this good humour and tenderness for me has a charm that cannot be resisted.

Alexander Pope to Martha Blount, 1714

Disregarding consent:

I am vain enough to conclude that (like most young fellows) a fine lady's silence is consent and so I write on –

Alexander Pope to Teresa Blount, 1716

my whole existence is devoted to her, even in spite of her. [...] My duty is to keep close to her steps, to surround her existence with mine, to serve her as a barrier against all dangers [...]

Victor Hugo to Adele Foucher, 1820

Emotional manipulation, guilt-tripping:

Do not put yourself out; run after pleasures; happiness is made for you. The entire world is too glad to be able to please you, and only your husband is very, very unhappy.

Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine, 1796

Resorting to insults when he doesn't get his way, sour grapes:

Thou art horrid, very awkward, very stupid, a very Cinderella.

Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine, 1796 (8 months after their wedding)

For a few years you may flutter in some frivolous circle. But the time will come when you will sigh for any heart that could be fond and despair of one that can be faithful. [...] then you will recall to your memory the passionate heart that you have forfeited, and the genius you have betrayed.

Benjamin Disraeli to Mary Anne Wyndham Lewis, 1839

Jealousy and control:

Dear little wife, I have a number of requests to make. I beg you
[...]
(3) not to go out walking alone - and preferably not to go out walking at all,
[...]
(5) I beg in your conduct not only to be careful of your honour and mine, but also to consider appearances. Do not be angry with me for asking this. You ought to love me even more for thus valuing our honour.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Constanze Mozart, 1789

How have you passed this month? Who have you smil'd with? [...] For myself I have been a Martyr the whole time [...] You may have altered - if you have not - if you still behave in dancing rooms and other societies as I have seen you - I do not want to live - if you have done so I wish this coming night may be my last.
I cannot live without you, and not only you, but chaste you, virtuous you.

John Keats to Fanny Brawne

Threats:

Josephine, beware, one fine night the doors will break open and I will be there.

Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine, 1796

There were also some truly touching, sweet, lovely intimate exchanges, such as Schiller's trembling hopefulness that his beloved may return his feelings and his selfless and genuinely respectful explanation as to why he hadn't dared reveal his heart sooner:

Could I not become to you what you were to me, then my suffering would have distressed you, and I would have destroyed the most beautiful harmony of our friendship through my confession.

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller to Charlotte von Lengefeld, 1789

And Pierre Curie's charmingly awkward courtship of Maria Sklodovska:

I thought of asking your permission to meet you by chance in Freibourg.

Pierre Curie to Maria Sklodovska, 1894

Charles Darwin's astute observation of the disrespect many men habitually showed for their wives and his witty mockery of it:

I want practice in ill-treatment of the female sex,–I did not observe Lyell had any compunction; I hope to harden my conscience in time: few husbands seem to find it difficult to effect this.

Charles Darwin to Emma Wedgwood

Lieutenant John Lindsay Rapoport, a soldier in WWI, in contrast to a lot of men in this volume, had full security in his beloved's feelings and faithfulness and no desire to control her. It's a lovely letter and all the more tragic for being the last thing he ever wrote - he was posted missing a month later and never found.

One thing I am [as] sure of as that I exist: that is that I have all your heart and all your love. So I just want you to enjoy yourself - I love you so much. Have a topping time on the river and at shows, etc, with your friends, won't you?

Lieutenant John Lindsay Rapoport to his fiancee

Walter Bagehot's description of being in love is something I keenly recognise:

a wild, delicious excitement which I would not have lost for the world. [...] everything has a gloss upon it.

Walter Bagehot to Elizabeth Wilson, 1857

Robert Browning's letter to his future wife on the morning of their wedding (when she was 40 and he was 34) is worth quoting from:

You will only expect a few words. What will those be? When the heart is full it may run over; but the real fulness stays within... Words can never tell you... how perfectly dear you are to me - perfectly dear to my heart and soul. I look back in every one point, every word and gesture, every letter, every silence - you have been entirely perfect to me - I would not change one word, one look. [...] I am all gratitude - and all pride... that my life has been so crowned by you.

Robert Browning to Elizabeth Barrett, 1846

As well as Mark Twain's wonderfully affectionate words to his wife, eloquent with his apparently deep and lasting lover for her:

Livy darling,
Six years have gone by since I made my first great success in life and won you, and thirty years have passed since Providence made preparation for that happy success by sending you into the world. Every day we live together adds to my confidence, that we can never any more wish to be separated than that we can ever imagine a regret that we were ever joined.

Mark Twain to Olivia Clemens, 1875

I do hope you are all well and having as jolly a time as we are, for I love you, sweetheart, and also, in a measure, the Bays [his small daughter's word for "babies"].

Mark Twain to Olivia Clemens, 1878

And finally, this lovely confession by Nathaniel Hawthorne to his wife rings so true and sums up love for me:

I think I was always more at ease alone than in anybody's company, till I knew thee.

Nathanial Hawthorne to Sophia Hawthorne

[Ika Natassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

And to quote Richard Steele (1707): “Methinks I could write a volume to you; but all the language on earth would fail in saying how much and with what disinterested passion I am ever yours.”

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a collection of love letters but the history about the love affairs informing the letters, are even more interesting than the letters themselves.

The men writing the letters, also not too shabby: from Nathaniel Hawthorne to John Keats and Ludwig Van Beethoven. Most of the stories accompanying the letters are heartbreaking--drastic life decisions made from fleeting love affairs. A few were inspirational, like the journalist, Richard Steele's, who wrote his wife more than four hundred letters before and during their marriage. Though endearing, the letters are sometimes overtly sentimental and even slightly comical.

Take these words, for example, from Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife, Josephine:

I do not love thee any more; on the contrary, I detest thee. Thou art horrid, very awkward, very stupid, a very Cinderella. Thou dost not write me at all, thou dost not love thy husband; thou knowest the pleasure that thy letters afford him...

What a letter tantrum from the great general and Emperor of France.

As much as I loved reading about the poet, John Keats, and the reactionary critics he shared with William Hazlitt (oh the joys of literary criticism), I also loved reading Keats' letters to the great love of his life, Fanny Brawne:

I believe you have liked me for my own sake and for nothing else. I have met with women whom I really think would like to be married to a Poem and to be given away by a Novel.

William Hazlitt's letter was also a favorite, though I can't tell which one was more sad, the letter or the story behind the letter. Hazlitt, an admirable essayist, ("On The Pleasure of Hating" is one I've studied for its surprising mixture of ambiguity and clarity) fell in love with a twenty-three year old while he was still married. He wanted a divorce but remarriage after a divorce was only allowed in Scotland, so he went to Scotland. While waiting on the process, his young lover started a relationship with someone else and the devastated Hazlitt anonymously wrote a book about the experience but his critics ousted him as the author and it shattered his career.

These are lines from the melancholic but heartfelt letter he wrote to his fleeting lover:

When I think of the thousand endearing caresses that have passed between us, I do not wonder at the strong attachment that draws me to you, but I am sorry for my own want of power to please. I hear the wind sigh through the lattice and keep repeating over and over to myself two lines of Lord Byron's tragedy-
So shalt thou find me ever at thy side
Here and hereafter, if the last may be
applying them to thee, my love, and thinking whether I shall ever see thee again.

2.5 stars

[Carmo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Livrinho engraçado. É curioso ver como eram os grandes cérebros da musica, das letras, da ciência nos bastidores de alcova.
O nosso Eça era divertidíssimo, Mozart foi uma desilusão, temos um frade com apetites muito pouco católicos, Napoleão falava de guerra, alguns eram mulherengos e correspondiam-se com várias mulheres ao mesmo tempo, Mark Twain correctissímo, Oscar Wilde e Victor Hugo elegantes e eloquentes, Beethoven arrebatador. Há muitos mais, todos a destilar paixão. O numero de mulheres casadas envolvidas é surpreendente.
Gostei de as ler, remontam a uma época em que falar de amor não parecia ridículo e são seguramente mais românticas que um SMS cheio de abreviaturas ou bonequinhos.
No final do livro, uma página em branco devidamente preparada para a nossa própria carta de amor.
...
Hum...

Alguém tem por aí a morada do George Clooney?

[Inès · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t know all the great men in this book, but I liked the extra context we got. You get a glimpse of who they were. More importantly you knew exactly who the letters were for and their relationship.

[Lee Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yuck. As the author of this book points out, people seem to complain of how *cynical* everyone is today, especially as far as love goes. "Romance is dead, blah blah blah..." After reading the letters collected here, I humbly disagree. Though we still have a long way to go in terms of equality, at least in today's age, women are more likely to be treated as human beings, and not objects. I get that these men were just "products of their time," but just as Doyle is unwilling to overlook/ignore Chesterton's Antisemitism, as am I unwilling to overlook these men's disgusting habits of objectifying and manipulating the women they supposedly love.

There were a few winning qualities: I found the little biographies before each letter interesting, though there was some wording I wish Doyle would've changed (i.e. when a wife cheated on her husband, it was an "affair," but when a man cheated with a married woman it was "love"), but otherwise I found them interesting, and Doyle's neutrality didn't seem to overly-romanticize the more unhealthy relationships. I like that Doyle did not exclude Wilde's homosexuality as well. I was afraid for a moment, as she went on about his marriage, that she was going to ignore that portion of his life completely and instead deliver some letters from his early courtship with his wife (if those even exist?); but no, she only included the letters he wrote to his male partner. And of the letters, Wilde's were perhaps the most respectful of their subject (Twain's too, and the last letter in the book from the soldier who told his girlfriend she was free to have a life while he was at war).

The rest... Ugh, just UGH. Alexander Pope explicitly writes that he takes a woman's silence as her "consent." Several of the men refer to the women as prizes to be "won." Laurence Sterne called his "beloved" a slut. One of the men (and by this point I was so fed up with this, I didn't note which) referred to a woman as a literal "object" that he desired. Darwin wrote about how he wanted a nice "soft wife" to look pretty "on the sofa," like some decoration -- and not, y'know, a human being. Napoleon threw tantrums because his wife -- GOD FORBID! -- had a social life and didn't sit around waiting for him to return from battle. Nearly every letter made me want to throw up.

What makes me so sad is that this book is called "LOVE Letters of Great Men." It romanticizes the abusive, manipulative, dehumanizing behavior that these "great" men exhibit. In Sex and the City, Carrie sits and sighs over these letters. Perhaps it was poor choice on Doyle's part, in arranging this book, but none of these letters should be read as romantic. The men come off as possessive and creepy. The women don't seem to have any agency. It makes me sad.

Perhaps I'm biased. I'm lucky to be in a relationship where we respect each other, where we give each other distance, let each other spend time with our friends, and don't get unreasonably jealous if those friends are of the opposite sex. We understand that our lives don't revolve around each other, and expecting them to would be harmful. But we still cherish every single second we get to spend together, and we trust each other. That, I believe, is love. Not this whole "WAH WAH ME ME ME, LOVE ME, OR ELSE I'LL JUST POSITIVELY KILL MYSELF, DON'T EVEN LOOK AT ANOTHER MAN" bullshit. That's obsession. That's abuse. If you're in that kind of relationship, if you romanticize your partner's "ownership" of you, please seek help and love yourself.

[Tracey Allen at Carpe Librum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle is a collection that includes personal and private letters from some great names in history and literature, including:

- King Henry VIII (writing to Anne Boleyn)
- Mozart (writing to his wife)
- Napoleon writing to his wife Josephine
- Beethoven (writing to his Immortal Beloved)
- Mark Twain (writing to Olivia Langdon)
- Oscar Wilde (writing to Lord Alfred Douglas)
and more!

A short introduction is given to each letter which was concise and welcome background setting the scene.

Some of the letters were beautifully written, some poorly written (but all reproduced in type font, so don't worry, you don't have to read their handwriting) and some just down right possessive. I'm talking about you Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Page 37):

But I should not like you to take long walks without me. I entreat you to follow my advice exactly, for it comes from my heart.

So, it turns out Mozart was possessive, jealous and just a tad bossy. Who knew?

For more insights into the love lives of 41 men from history, check out Love Letters of Great Men by Ursula Doyle.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though I expected the letters in this collection to be love letters, I must admit that I was overwhelmed with how gag-worthy many of them were. Too much frill and fuss, not enough content in most of the included letters. I mostly enjoyed the small biographies about each 'great man' chosen, as it gave a rare insight into the men behind their professions and accomplishments. I did, however, LOVE Napoleon's letters to Josephine - the sweet anger and no bullshit attitude in them were a nice break from the rosy red, the-sky-is-the-limit, letters. Go Napoleon :)

[Jacquelyn (O Emme He) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was just a collection of Love letters from influential men throughout history and a little background about them and their sweethearts. There were letters from Charles Darwin, Mozart, Beethoven, Lord Byron, and many more.The best ones in my opinion were Daniel Webster and Ludwig van Beethoven. There was nothing particularly wrong with this book. I just think it wasn't my cup of tea. When I originally bought this, I think I was expecting something different or maybe just excited to get the book from The sex and the City movie.

upon reread (2020): Feel the same way

[Ophilia Adler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for more romantic stories or letters from great men in the history.
But most letters where complains about how their lady or romantic partner didn't aswer them and how hard their trip/war was without hearing their kind words.

I dont mind complaining but I felt like it was very little love and cutness as i was hoping when i picke dit up. So it took me awhile to read it.

[Radwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

English review below.

مجموعة رسائل "غرامية" لشخصيات مشهورة مثل بيتهوفن وموزارت ونابليون بونابرت وكيتس وفيكتور هوغو وغيرهم كتير، تتنوع كمية الرسائل ما بين رسالة واحدة طويلة أو بعض الرسائل القصيرة، وأغلبها موجهة إلى امرأة واحدة وفي بعض الحالات بيذكروا كذا رسالة لكذا امرأة مختلفة. الكتاب خفيف وفكرته ظريفة، بس كان عندي بعض المشاكل معاه.

أغلب الرسائل لم تكن شاعرية بما فيه الكفاية، يعني مراسلة عادية أحيانا، وكمان واجهت صعوبة مع التفكير التقليدي الذكوري اللي يتعارض حاليا مع تفكير النسوية. كمان أغلب الرسائل كان الرجال بيرسلوها أثناء زواجهم هم أو المرأة اللي بيراسلوها من شخص آخر، ونادرا ما كانت الرسائل بين شخصين بينتهي بيهم الحال مع بعض، كل دي أسباب خلتني مقدرش أقيم الكتاب بأكتر من كده، رغم أني من محبي الرسائل الغرامية، ولكن الرسائل دي مكانتش زي ما كنت متوقعة أو آمل منها.

ِA collection of "love" letters for famous people like Beethoven, Mozart, Napoleon, Keats, Victor Hugo and many more. The letters varies between one long letter or a couple of short ones, and most of them are dedicated to one specific woman, but others have several correspondences with several women. It's a light and fluffy book, but I had some issues with it.

Most letters weren't "romantic" enough, at most it was a flirtatious correspondence, also I had a problem with the male dominant nature of these "supervising" figures which doesn't sit well with my feminist thinking. Also most of the letters were preludes or committed during adultery as most men and the women they corresponded with were married to other people or at least with other people and lot of them didn't even end up together. So, despite being a lover of love letters, these weren't what I hoped for.

The cover is pretty though.

[Jessie Pietens · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was - quite literally - short but sweet. The book is beautifully designed. It had some lovely letters, also some that weren't too interesting in my opinion. Doyle wrote very helpful little biographies of the authors of the love letters, which really added to the experience of reading them. I particularly loved the letters by Henry VIII, Oscar Wilde and Pierre Curie and the letters by Mozart definitely made me giggle. It was a nice and light read, so if you're in the market for something sweet and light, you might really enjoy this.

[ดินสอ สีไม้ · Rating 3 out of 5]

มีทั้งฉบับที่ชอบและไม่ชอบปนๆ กันไป
เสียดายที่ไม่ค่อยรู้จักเจ้าของจดหมายบางฉบับ
เลยอ่านแล้วไม่ค่อยอิน

สังเกตได้ว่า จดหมายหลายฉบับ เป็นการลักลอบส่งให้คนที่ไม่ใช่คู่สมรสของตัวเอง
ซึ่งแปลก ที่มันมีอยู่เยอะมากกว่าที่ควร
จดหมายหลายฉบับ เน้นความหวานที่ผิดธรรมชาติ อ่านแล้วเลี่ยนๆ
บางฉบับก็มีทั้งตัดพ้อต่อ���่า สาปแช่งก็มี
ไม่รู้ว่าเจ้าของจดหมายแต่ละฉบับ (ซึ่งล้วนเป็นคนสำคัญของโลกทั้งนั้น)
จะคิดยังไงเนอะ ถ้ารู้ว่าจดหมายรักของตัวเองจะถูกนำมาเปิดเผยในเวลาต่อมา
คงจั๊กกะจี้พิลึก!

[Iva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, touching and moving insight into people's lives and loves also it's a historical document of the time when it was written and sent, Having all that in mind I am a grateful "peeping Tom" and would highly recommend this book as an act of curiosity you can get away with. Longer review soon!

[Debpriya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives you all the feels, I wish we still had this culture of writing letters especially love letters to each other to convey our feelings. I firmly believe when you write someone a letter, you give them a part of you to keep forever.

A must read.

[Buba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish men still continued to write love letters.

[Inês · Rating 4 out of 5]

O nascimento deste livro tem uma história muito curiosa e que realmente demonstra o poder da influência do público; grandes fãs de Sexo e a Cidade certamente lembrar-se-ão de um momento em que a Carrie e o Mr. Big liam um para o outro um livro que compilava cartas de amor de celebres figuras da História e da cultura. A cena foi um sucesso tão grande que, no dia seguinte, todas as livrarias norte-americanas acusaram uma afluência inesperada do público da série a pedir para encomendar o mesmo livro. O detalhe curioso: o livro não existia.

Foi o que motivou Ursula Doyle a satisfazer as massas e realmente compilar cartas de amor das mais variadas figuras que marcaram a História, arte e cultura. Neste livro pequeno e de rápida leitura, cada carta apresenta uma breve descrição biográfica do redator e um contexto de como, porquê e para quem essa carta foi redigida. De Napoleão a Mozart, passando até por Pierre Currie, o mais fascinante destas cartas é que não encerram só romantismo: há testemunhos de paixão, ciúme, desilusão, obsessão, mágoa, admiração e tristeza. No fundo, nestas simples cartas de amor, conhecemos um lado muito mais humano de personalidades que se destacam e permanecem na nossa memória por outros feitos. Mas para alguém, eles eram simplesmente... humanos. Alguns, o seu amor. Noutros, um homem perdidamente ciumento e manipulador.

Mais do que um livro sobre amor, acho que é um livro sobre a Humanidade das emoções, onde nem o mais poderoso imperador consegue escapar. Sendo eu uma grande defensora da palavra escrita para os outros, passei toda a leitura a torcer para que as cartas de amor nunca morram, mesmo que o digital esteja mais vivo do que nunca. Dei por mim a fazer algo que nunca faço nos livros: sublinhar.

Algumas das cartas que mais gostei foram as de Alexander Pope, Denis Diderot, Schiller e Napoleão.

[Jen B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the book that Carie read from in the movie, Sex and the City, while in bed with Big... and in real life the book didn't exist until moviegoers and fans stormed bookstores looking for it.

A collection of love letters from "great" men, this book is exactly what it says it is. Editor Ursula Doyle writes in the introduction, "It could be argued that the flowery declarations were more for show (and, in some cases, posterity) than the genuine expression of genuine feeling - that they grew from convention rather than conviction" and "So while it is to be hoped that this collection entertains, moves and sometimes amuses its readers, it might also serve to remind today's Great Men that literary genius is not a requirement for a heartfelt letter - or text message or email - of love."

I couldn't agree more. Reading these letters, today, reminds me that how we express love has changed, but that the effort of expressing it is what counts. Few of these letters engaged me as a reader, but I could see value in reading these expressions from the past, between lovers, married persons, and admirers.

[iulia Lambrino · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read I must say. A collection of powerful and sentimental letters that lets you enter different times and spaces, from luxury upper-classes in London to horrifying landfills dominated by battles.

I see this book not only as an excursion through different places around the world, but also an excursion through different times; emphasising how the meaning of love changed, how societies changed and how they evolved by only the simple changes in expressing feelings or addressing to oneself.

I really recommend this book, not only for the strong emotions that are transmitted through the letters but also as an act of leisure and meditation. I must say it was a truly enlightening book that was instantly placing me into a relaxed and pace-full state of mind.

My favourite letters were the ones from Mark Twain to his wife, as well as the last ones from soldiers of the war-the truly Great Men.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story Time:
I don't know if any one remembers this but a few years ago in the first Sex and the City movie. Carie reads love letters from a book called "Love Letters of Great Men". It sounded like such a great book to have. But sadly it appeared that this book didn't exist.
Nowadays there are many different versions of this book. But for me (living in Belgium) they were unreachable. The book was waaaay to expensive (talking 50 bucks) or they didn't ship it to where I live!
But yesterday I finally found it!! I was at a book event where they sell slightly damaged books for cheap prizes and suddenly it was there!

Actual Review:

Of your beloved

L

Ever thine.
Ever mine.
Ever ours.

-Beethoven, Love Letter

First of all I have to admit that I don't know all the famous people that are in this book. But that's probably more due to my lack of interest in philosophy than the writer.

They added a nice touch by giving some background info on the relationship or which stadium of life the different letters were written in.

Some were really funny. There's one inside from Daniel Webster who writes a letter to a woman who forgot her hat at his place after a dinner party.

This is probably a book that is perfect to give as a gift to someone you love because it's so adorable but not too much and too cheesy!

[Jona Toto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was inspired by “Sex and the City “ on this. Sure, Romance in Non Fiction is not my thing. Although i did like some of the letters…

[Vijai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Believe it or not, back when I was young and innocent enough to have a steady relationship with an amazing woman, I had written love letters to her. Now, that we've moved on and laugh at each other about the things we did in our little puppy-love saga, the most she laughs at is about my love letters. 'Whafuck?' I thought to myself one day and decided to read what some "great" men had written to their angels. To benchmark, you know.

Well, it does my heart good that when in love these "great" men wrote as corny and cheesy love letters as I did.

You might enjoy this book if you are romantic and all but if you aren't, which is like me - battered, wizened and polished by age and experience - brace yourself for a massive cringe'athon.

[Rides and Strides · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not all the great men in this collection wrote great love letters, although undoubtedly, some of the passion must have been lost in translation and/or lack of context. My favourite has got to be Daniel Webster's simple yet affectionate letter to a young woman who had left her bonnet at his house: "I gave it my parting good wishes; hoping that it might never cover an aching head, and that the eyes which it protects from the rays of the sun, may know no tears but those of joy and affection."

Cynical as some of us like to claim we are, perhaps there's always a little part of us that yearns for old-fashioned romance.

[Claire - The Coffeeholic Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

OKay, some great men (poets, musicians, warriors and authors) of yesteryears had proven that they had been hopeless romantics too. But not all of them were as prolific as we thought them to be. Like for example, Mozart, though he was great composing lyrics, his letter for his wife was rather not all it was cracked up to be. And then there's Napoleon who always thought about war and women, the eloquent Oscar Wilde and so many more.

I thought this book was kind of funny and at the same time, poetically engaging. Makes you appreciate the lines and quotes and terms of endearment more than what we usually write nowadays. It was a good read while it lasted.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book. The first entry is a letter of Pliny the Younger to his wife, which I had actually read in Latin with my Latin 3 class the day before I first picked this book up and looked at it. Anyway, some of these are truly eloquent, others simply of great historical interest. I am flattered that my own love letters are somewhat better than those of some of these "great men."

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but couldn't rate it higher simply because I mean it is just a collection of love letters. Some made me laugh out loud. Some of the history was interesting. Some of the letters were a bit dry.

[Zoi Gkatziona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found all the biographical notes included quite interesting. This cute booklet sheds light on the sentimental world of all these more or less known to me men. That's very interesting, too. But so much romance? I got a little bored!

[zaira. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este libro ha sido una preciosidad :3
De principio a fin, lo he disfrutado tanto.
Cada una de las cartas me hacía sentir como la destinataria ♥

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

men absolutely begging women to love them… it doesn’t get better