Examples of romantic letters from history

You will be struck by the depth of expression in the story's romantic correspondences. Imagine Napoleon's indelible affection for Josephine despite the chaos of war, or Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning weaving their love with poetic mastery. Oscar Wilde's letters to Lord Alfred Douglas reveal such deep but forbidden love. Abigail Adams' writings to John Adams weave love with political determination, while Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West defy norms, their words a dance of literary and emotional fusion. Each letter encapsulates a universe of passion and devotion, offering a glimpse into hearts laid bare through time. You are just a few steps away from discovering more about these extraordinary exchanges.

Napoleon to Josephine: Enduring Love

I no longer love you; on the contrary, I detest you. You are a wretch, really perverse, really stupid, a real Cinderella. You never write to me, you don't love your husband; you know the pleasure your letters give him, and yet you can't even get half a dozen lines down in a moment.

What do you do all day long, Madam? What kind of such vital business deprives you of time to write to your faithful lover? What thought can be so intrusive as to push aside the love, the tender and constant love you promised him? Who can this wonderful new lover be that takes away your every moment, decides your day and prevents you from devoting your attention to your husband? Beware Josephine; one fine night the doors will be destroyed and there I will be.

Truly, my love, I am worried about not hearing from you, write me a four-page letter immediately with those delightful words that fill my heart with emotion and joy.

Napoleon's letters to Josephine reveal a passion that defied the tumult of their times. In the midst of military campaigns and a changing political landscape, his words to her were a refuge, a stark contrast to his public life as commander and ruler. Imagine him, weary from battles and the burden of leadership, finding solace in drafting his feelings for Josephine. His letters were not just notes; they were lifelines, filled with longing and an everlasting love.

You would see how he wrote about his victories and challenges, but he always brought his heart to her, to Josephine. His words transcended ink on paper: they were his commitment, his refuge. Even as he navigated the complexities of power, his letters were personal, sincere, and forthrightly honest. They showed a man who could conquer nations but was himself overwhelmed by his affection for Josephine.

Through his words, you feel the intensity of his love, so deep that neither the chaos of war nor political machinations could scratch it. His letters offer you a glimpse into a heart that, despite its armor of armor and authority, beat vehemently with love, unstoppable and pure.

Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning: Passionate Poets.

Finally, no one will be able to separate us.
I won the right to love you,
openly, with a love that others even call a duty....
However, even if it were a pity,
I would still love you

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett's letters to Robert Browning reveal a romanticism deeply rooted in their shared passion for poetry. Imagine being in a time when Victorian values shaped all expression, yet here you are, immersed in the passionate exchanges between two literary giants. Their letters are not just notes; they are poetic metaphors woven into the fabric of their love, defying the norms of their time.

Through Elizabeth's words, we sense the struggle, her desire not only for love but also for creative recognition amidst restrictive social norms. Browning's responses reflect this sentiment, offering not only affection but also validation. He sees her not only as a beloved, but as a poet in her own right.

Their correspondence dances between admiration and an almost rebellion in the co-creation of poetry. Each letter they exchange is a sign of their mutual inspiration, where Victorian restraint collides with the irrepressible passion of the heart. Immerse yourself in these letters; they are not just readings. They are an experience, a whisper to the soul about the timeless dance of love and art.

Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas: A Forbidden Relationship

My dearest boy,
This mine is to reassure you of my eternal love for you. Tomorrow everything will be over.
If prison and dishonor will be my destiny, think that my love for you and the idea, the more even than divine conviction, that you will reciprocate me, will sustain me in my unhappiness and enable me, I hope, to bear the pain patiently. Since the hope, or rather the certainty, of meeting you again somewhere is the purpose and encouragement of my present life, ah! I must continue to be in the world for this.
The dear ... came to see me today. I gave him several messages for you. He told me one thing that reassured me: my mother does not need anything. I have always provided for her and the idea that she might suffer some deprivation made me unhappy. As for you (gracious Christ-hearted boy), please, as soon as you have done all you can, leave for Italy, regain your peace of mind and write those poems that only you know with that unique grace of yours. Do not expose yourself to England, for any reason.
Oh if one day in Corfu, or some other enchanted island, there were a small house where we could live together!
Life would be sweeter than ever.
Your love has great wings and is strong, Your love reaches me through prison bars and comforts me, Love is the light that illuminates my hours.
Those who do not know what love is, I know they will write, if fate is adverse to us, that I have been a bad influence on you. If so, you will have to write in turn that it is a falsehood.
Our love was always beautiful and noble, if I was the victim of a terrible tragedy, it was because the nature of this love was not understood.
In this morning's letter you say something that gives me courage. I have to remember it. You write that it is my duty to you and to myself to live in spite of everything. I believe that is true. I will try to do that.
I want you to keep Mr. Humphrey informed of your movements, so when he comes he can tell me what you are doing. I think the lawyers can see the prisoners quite often. That way he can communicate with you.
I'm glad you left. I know what it must have cost you. But it would have been agony for me to know you were in England when your name came up during the trial. I hope you have copies of all my books; mine have been sold.
I hold out my hands to you. May I live to touch your hands and hair. I think your love will watch over my life. If I should die I want you to live a peaceful life somewhere, surrounded by flowers, books, paintings and lots of work.
Try to get in touch soon. I am writing this letter to you in the midst of great suffering; this very long day in court has made me exhausted.
Dearest boy, sweetest of all men, most beloved and lovely. Oh wait for me! Wait for me!
I am now, as always since we met, with eternal love devotedly yours,
Oscar.

While Elizabeth and Robert's letters intertwined poetry and romance, Oscar Wilde's correspondence with Lord Alfred Douglas navigated the dangerous waters Of a love be deep than forbidden. You find yourself immersed in a world in which every letter Wilde wrote was not only an expression of affection but also a risky challenge to Victorian secrecy. Imagine the courage it took to declare one's love at a time when such feelings could not only provoke society's rejection but also serious legal consequences.

Their exchanges, rich in eloquent desires e intellectual entanglements, were imbued with the danger of discovery. Every word you read from Wilde to Douglas pulses with the tension of forbidden love, their language dances around the unspeakable, each letter is evidence of their emotional prowess. Feel the weight of the challenges they faced, the heavy reality hanging over their every whispered word and feeling of love.

Reflect on this: their love, although considered illicit by the laws and norms of their time, stimulated some of the most passionate writing in the field of romantic literature. Despite the threat of ruin, Wilde's words to Douglas remain, to this day, a powerful reminder of the enduring power of love Against the tides of adversity.

Abigail Adams to John Adams: Revolutionary Novel.

Dearest friend
The day; perhaps the decisive Day on which America's fate depends has arrived. My bursting heart must find vent in my pen. I have just learned that our dear friend Dr. Warren is gone but has fallen fighting gloriously for his country, saying it is better to die honorably in the field than to hang ignominiously on the gallows. Great is our loss. He distinguished himself in every endeavor by his courage and fortitude, animating the Soldiers and leading them by example. A special account of these terrible but I hope glorious days will be conveyed to you, no doubt in the most exact manner.

The race is not of the swift, nor the battle of the strong, but the God of Israel is the one who gives strength and power to his people. Trust in him at all times, you men open your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us. Charlestown is reduced to ashes. The battle began on our entrenchments on Bunkers Hill on a Saturday morning about 3 o'clock and is not yet over and it is 3 o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday.

It is predicted that they will come out tonight beyond the Gluing and a terrible battle will ensue. Almighty God cover the heads of our countrymen and be a shield for our dear friends. How many have fallen we do not know: the constant roar of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot eat, drink or sleep. May we be supported and sustained in the terrible conflict. I shall remain here until my Friends deem it safe, and then I shall have secured a retreat with your Brothers who have kindly offered me part of his house.1 I cannot bring myself to write further for the moment. I will add more as I get further news.

Tuesday afternoon
I am so agitated that I have not been able to write since Saturday. When I say that ten thousand reports go by as vague and uncertain as the wind I believe I am telling the Truth. I cannot give you any authentic account of last Saturday, but you will not be without intelligence. Coll. Palmer has just let me know that he has a transportation opportunity. However erroneous this scribble may be, it will go. I wrote you last Saturday morning.2 In the afternoon I received your kind favor of June 2, and which you sent me from Capt. Beals at the same time. I earnestly pray that you may be supported in the arduous task before you. I wish I could contradict Dr. Death's report, but it is a lamentable truth, and the tears of multitudes pay tribute to his memory. Those favorite verses [of] Collin continually ring in my ears

How the brave ones sleep who sink to rest,

With all the wishes of their country blessed?

When the cold spring with dewy fingers

He returns to the deck with his Hallowed mold

She will dress a sweeter sod

Of how many fantasies feet have ever trod.

From fairy hands their bell is rung

With invisible forms their funeral lament is sung

Their honor comes a gray pilgrim

To Bless the Grass that Wraps Their Clay

And freedom can take shelter for a while

Dwelling there a weeping Hermit.

I welcome the prospect of abundance that you inform me of, but I cannot say that we have the same pleasant view here. The drought is very severe and things do not look good.

Mr. Rice and Thaxter, Uncle Quincy, Colonel Quincy, Mr. Wibert all wish to be remembered, as does our entire family. Nabby will write to you on the next transport.

I must conclude, as the Deacon awaits. I did not pretend to be perticular about what I heard, because I know you will gather better information. People's spirits are very good. The loss of Charlstown touches them no more than a drop in the ocean. They are sincerely yours.

Source of the letter

Often, you will find that the letters from Abigail Adams to her husband John Shine with the fervor of an America nascent, weaving love and radical zeal into every line. Their correspondence is not only an exchange of tender affections but a narrative of a political partnership during the tumult of the war. You see, Abigail was not just a wife on the home front; she was a confidante and political adviser, her insights immersed in realities Of wartime communications.

Imagine her, pen in hand, thoughts racing as the battles took place thousands of miles away. Her words provided John with a connection to the domestic world, but were permeated with keen observations on strategy and governance. 'Remember the Ladies', she famously wrote, a gentle but firm reminder that her support was contingent on recognition of her and her peers' contributions and rights.

Through their letters, we witness a love that transcends personal affection and explore mutual respect and shared ideals. Each letter not only bound them together amid the convulsions of war, but also pushed forward their vision for a new society. In these writings, their hearts and minds met, strengthening their resolve and deepening their bond.

Virginia Woolf to Vita Sackville-West: Literary Love Letters

Milan [published in Trieste]
Thursday, January 21, 1926

I am reduced to something that Virginia wants. I have composed a beautiful letter for you in the sleepless hours of the nightmare night, and it all disappeared: I miss you, in a human, simple, desperate way. You, with all your unmuted letters, would never write a sentence as basic as that; maybe you wouldn't even hear it. Yet I think you would notice a small gap. But you would coat it with such an exquisite sentence that it would lose some of its reality. Whereas with me it is rather stark: I miss you even more than I could have believed; and I was prepared to miss you very much. So this letter is really just a cry of pain. It is amazing how essential you have become to me. I suppose you are used to people saying these things. Damn you, creature Spoiled; I won't be able to make you love me more by betraying me like this... But oh my darling, I can't be clever and standoffish with you: I love you too much for that. Too true. You have no idea how standoffish I can be with people I don't love. I have taken it to a fine art. But you broke my defenses. And I'm not particularly resentful of that....

Please forgive me for writing such an unfortunate letter.

V.

Woolf to Sackville-West

52 Tavistock Square
Tuesday, January 26

This morning your letter arrived from Trieste: But why do you think I don't hear, or make sentences? "Lovely sentences" you say deprive things of reality. Just the opposite. Always, always, always I try to say what I feel. You'll believe then that after you left last Tuesday, exactly a week ago, I went to the slums of Bloomsbury, to find a barrel organ. But it didn't make me cheerful -- and nothing important has happened since -- Somehow it's dull and damp. I've been boring; I've missed you. I miss you. I will miss you. And if you don't believe that, you're a owl And a donkey. Adorable phrases? ...

But of course (to return to your letter) I always knew about your coldness. Only I said to myself, I insist on kindness. With this purpose in view, I arrived at Long Barn. Open the first button of your shirt and you will see, nestled inside, a lively squirrel from the most curious habits, but still a darling creature-

Changing perspective, you will find the letters between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West permeated by a deep literary passion. These correspondences, rich in emotion and intelligence, reveal a connection that transcends conventional gender roles, challenging social norms with every written word. Their literary styles, different but harmoniously intertwined, serve as evidence of their exploration of both the personal than of the poetic.

You see, Virginia and Vita were not just exchanging letters; they were They exchanged parts of their souls, nudes on paper, wrapped in eloquent prose. Each letter was a canvas on which they painted their thoughts, fears and desires, often reflecting the complexities of their identities and the society in which they lived. These were not simply romantic letters; they were innovative acts, expressions of love and intellectual partnership that challenged the rigid expectations of their time.

Exploring their scriptures further, you will notice how the Virginia's fluid narrative voice complements the with Vita's bold and vivid expressions, creating a dialogue that is both intimate that wide. Their exchange not only influenced their literary works, but also carved out a space in which they could truly be themselves, unconstrained by the restrictive norms of the time. Through their words, they created a world of their own -- a world in which literature and love are eternally intertwined.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did these letters influence society's views on relationships?

These letters fostered cultural changes by showing greater emotional expression in relationships. They encouraged you to appreciate intimacy and authenticity, influencing the way society views and values personal connections and emotional openness in relationships.

Have any of these letters ever been censored or banned?

Yes, some letters have been censored or banned because of their explicit content or radical ideas, affecting how you might express or understand intimacy, shaping social norms around private and public expressions of love.

Have any of these couples written any works together?

You are curious about co-authoring couples. Indeed, co-authorship offers rich benefits but also brings challenges in literary collaboration. It is a dance of minds, each step synchronized with love and intellectual partnership.

How were these letters preserved and discovered?

You would be fascinated by how these letters have been preserved through meticulous archival methods and the moving stories of discovery, revealing secrets of the past to ignite our hearts with their timeless expressions of love.

Did some descendants comment on these famous reports?

Yes, many descendants have confided in interviews, offering valuable family insights that illuminate the timeless love stories of their ancestors. Their comments add a deep personal layer to our understanding.