Hey there, lovely readers! Today, we’re going on a delightful journey through time to explore some of the most famous love letters ever written. Yeah, you heard that right! These aren’t just any letters – they’re super special ones that people wrote to express their deepest feelings to the ones they adored.
Imagine opening an envelope and reading words so sweet and heartfelt that they make you smile, laugh, or even cry happy tears. Ugh, it’s so wonderful! We’ll peek into the hearts of some of the most famous lovers in history and see how they poured out their love on paper. Ready? Let’s dive in and feel the love!
25 Famous Love Letters In History
Famous letters have since gained widespread attention due to their literary merit, historical significance, or the prominence of the individuals involved. These letters offer us a peek into the intimate moments of historical figures, artists, and writers, reminding us that love, in all its forms, is a universal language. Whether you’re a lover of history, a fan of romance, or simply in search of a touch of inspiration to pen your love notes, this post is your gateway to the passion and vulnerability shared between some of the world’s most iconic lovers. Let’s unfold the pages of history together and rediscover the power of love through the written word.
Letter 1: William Shakespeare
To my Dearest [Recipient’s Name],
When I behold thee, my heart doth skip, much like a joyful lamb in spring. Thy beauty, so radiant, outshines the morning sun, and thy voice, more melodious than the nightingale’s song. In thine eyes, I find the cosmos; in thy smile, the reason for my very existence. If love be a fleeting dream, then let me dream forevermore, for in that dream, it is thee I adore.
Forever thine,
William
Letter 2: Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera (1939)
Mi Diego,
You big, messy, brilliant oaf—I hate how much I love you. I painted you into my canvas again today, all brooding and infuriating. My leg’s aching, my heart’s worse, but you’re the color in my chaos. Come home and kiss me before I set your easel on fire (kidding… maybe).
Tu Frida
Letter 3: Cleopatra to Mark Antony (circa 32 BCE)
My Dearest Antony,
You swaggered into my life with that Roman bravado, and I’ll admit—I was hooked the moment you tripped over my golden rug. (Yes, I saw that, and no, I won’t let it go.) I’m out here ruling an empire, but all I can think about is you—your laugh, your ridiculous war stories, and the way you look at me like I’m the Nile itself. Let’s ditch the politics and sail away somewhere Caesar can’t find us. P.S. Bring wine. I’m not sharing mine.
Yours, Cleo
Letter 4: John Keats to Fanny Brawne (1819) (Famous Love Letter For Him)
Dearest Fanny,
I’m supposed to be a poet, but you’ve turned me into a bumbling fool. I tried to write you a sonnet today—ended up with “Roses are red, I’m a mess, you’re too pretty, I digress.” I’m coughing my lungs out, but I’d trade every breath just to sit with you and argue about who loves who more. Spoiler: It’s me.
Your hopeless romantic, John
Letter 5: Marie Curie to Pierre Curie (1894)
Mon Pierre,
You’re my favorite experiment—unpredictable and brilliant. I was in the lab today, glowing (not just from radium), thinking of your goofy grin. Let’s mix some science and romance—meet me under the stars, no beakers required.
Ta Marie
Letter 6: Cleopatra
To My Noble [Recipient’s Name],
From the fertile banks of the Nile to the sprawling deserts of our lands, it is your love that reigns supreme in my heart. Like the golden treasures of Egypt, our bond is timeless, priceless, and unyielding. I, a queen, find myself willingly enslaved to the passion and desire that you invoke within me.
Forever yours,
Cleopatra
Letter 7: Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred “Bosie” Douglas (1895)
My Dearest Bosie,
You’re a glorious disaster, and I’m a fool for it. I wrote this in a haze of absinthe and adoration—your golden hair keeps sneaking into my plays. Everyone’s whispering about us, but I’d shout it from the rooftops if I could. Let’s run away and live scandalously ever after. Bring snacks.
Your devoted Oscar
Letter 8: Lord Byron to Teresa Guiccioli (1819)
My Wild Teresa,
I’ve seduced half of Europe (allegedly), but you’ve got me tripping over my own boots. I saw you in that red dress last night, and my heart did a jig while my brain wrote bad poetry. Let’s run off to some scandalous villa—bring your laugh, leave the husband. I’ll bring the charm (and maybe a cape).
Yours in reckless adoration, George
Letter 9: Elizabeth Barrett Browning to Robert Browning (1845)
My Darling Robert,
I was perfectly fine hiding in my room with my books until you stormed in with your wild hair and wilder words. Now I’m sneaking this letter past Papa like some lovesick teenager. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways—starting with how you make tea taste like poetry. Get me out of here, will you?
Your Lizzy
Letter 10: Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd (1842)
Dear Mary,
I’m no good at this romance stuff—give me a stump speech any day—but you’ve got me all tangled up. I’d fight a whole war just to see you smile (don’t tempt me). Last night, I tripped over Tad’s toy horse imagining our life together. Marry me quick before I embarrass myself more.
Yours, Abe
Letter 11: Winston Churchill to Clementine (1908) (Famous Love Letter For Her)
My Darling Clemmie,
I’m a gruff old bulldog, but you’ve got me wagging my tail. I was pacing Parliament today, dodging debates, just to scribble this. You’re my anchor in this stormy world—also, you look smashing in that hat. Let’s sneak off for a brandy and a dance.
Your Winnie
Letter 12: Zelda Fitzgerald to F. Scott Fitzgerald (1920)
My Scottie,
You’re out there dazzling the world, but I’m the one dazzled. I twirled in my flapper dress today, pretending you’d catch me like in one of your stories. Come home—I’ve got gin and a wild idea for our next adventure. P.S. You owe me a dance.
Your Zelda
Letter 13: Virginia Woolf to Vita Sackville-West (1927))
My Vita,
I’m supposed to be clever with words, but you’ve got me tongue-tied. I saw you in that garden yesterday, all bold and blooming, and I’ve been a wreck since. Let’s escape to some quiet corner and talk nonsense—or not talk at all.
Yours, Virginia
Letter 14: Ernest Hemingway to Marlene Dietrich (1951)
Dear Marlene,
I’m a grizzled old writer, but you’ve got me soft. I punched out a paragraph today, then scrapped it because it wasn’t you. You’re a shot of whiskey in a world of weak tea. Let’s meet somewhere loud and laugh at it all.
Ernest
Letter 15: Emily Dickinson to Susan Gilbert (1852)
My Sweet Sue,
I’m holed up with my poems, but you’re the rhyme I can’t shake. I baked bread today—burned it, naturally—imagining you’d tease me for it. Sneak over soon; I’ll read you something scandalous by candlelight.
Yours in quiet chaos, Emily
Letter 16: Queen Victoria to Prince Albert (1840)
My Albert,
I’m the queen of everything except my heart—you’ve claimed that throne. I caught myself doodling your name in the margins of some dreary treaty today. Come whisk me away from these stuffy advisors—I’d rather rule with you by my side.
Your Vicky
Letter 17: Pablo Picasso to Marie-Thérèse Walter (1932)
Ma Chérie Marie,
You’re my muse, my madness, my masterpiece. I painted you into three canvases today—still not enough. I’d trade every brush for one of your glances. Sneak away with me; let’s make art no one understands.
Ton Pablo
Letter 18: Eleanor Roosevelt to Lorena Hickok (1933)
My Dear Hick,
You’ve turned my world upside down, and I’m grinning like a fool about it. I was stuck in a meeting today, daydreaming about your letters. Let’s steal a weekend—just us, no politics, maybe pie.
Yours, Eleanor
Letter 19: James Joyce to Nora Barnacle (1909)
My Nora,
You’re my wild Irish storm, and I’m drowning happily. I tried writing today, but all I got was you—your laugh, your fire. I’d walk barefoot to Galway just to hear you call me a fool. Come kiss me senseless.
Jim
Letter 20: Edith Piaf to Marcel Cerdan (1949)
Mon Marcel,
You’re my champion, my heart’s knockout punch. I sang my soul out tonight, but it’s you I’m missing. I’d fight the world to keep you close—bring your gloves, I’ll bring the love.
Ta Edith
Letter 21: Leonard Cohen to Marianne Ihlen (1960)
Dear Marianne,
You’re the song I can’t stop humming. I’m scribbling this on a napkin in some smoky café, picturing your smile. Let’s dance under the stars and forget the world—bring the wine, I’ll bring the words.
Yours, Leonard
Letter 22: Napoleon Bonaparte to Joséphine (1796)
My Sweet Joséphine,
I’m knee-deep in mud and cannon fire, but you’re the real battle I can’t win. I scribbled this between barking orders—forgive the ink smudges. I’m a mess without you. Last night, I dreamed you were dancing with some fancy Parisian fop, and I nearly charged the enemy line just to feel something else. Come back to me, or I swear I’ll conquer every ballroom in France to find you.
Your grumpy Emperor, Napoleon
Letter 23: Beethoven to His “Immortal Beloved” (1812)
My Mysterious Muse,
I’m hunched over my piano, half-deaf and fully lovesick, pounding keys that scream your name—well, they would if I knew it. You’re a melody I can’t catch, a ghost in my heart. I spilled coffee all over my last symphony because I was daydreaming about your smile. Whoever you are, wherever you are, just know I’m writing for you. Send help (or a hint).
Yours in chaos, Ludwig
Letter 24: Catherine the Great to Grigory Potemkin (1774)
My Wild Grigory,
Ruling Russia’s a breeze compared to taming my feelings for you. I was signing decrees today, but all I could think about was your smirk—and that time you “accidentally” stole my favorite horse. Let’s conquer something together—maybe a quiet night, no empires involved?
Your Empress, Katya
Letter 25: Mark Twain to Olivia Langdon (1869)Audrey Hepburn
Dearest Livy,
I’m a scruffy old scribbler, but you’ve polished my heart right up. I tried to impress you with a joke today—bombed spectacularly, but I’d flop a thousand times for your laugh. Marry me, and I’ll write you into every happy ending. P.S. I’m terrible at laundry—help!
Your Sam
Famous love letters from movies
Famous love letters from movies have touched the hearts of audiences for years. Here are some of the most memorable:
“The Notebook” (2004)
Written by: Noah Calhoun to Allie Hamilton
“I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I’ve ever had.”
“Pride and Prejudice” (2005)
Written by: Mr. Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet
“You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
“Dangerous Liaisons” (1988)
Written by: Vicomte de Valmont to Madame de Tourvel
“It is beyond my control.”
“Atonement” (2007)
Written by: Robbie Turner to Cecilia Tallis
“Dearest Cecilia, the story can resume. The one I had been planning on that evening walk. I can become again the man who once crossed the surrey park at dusk, in my best suit, swaggering on the promise of life.”
“Sex and the City: The Movie” (2008)
Written by: Carrie Bradshaw (reading a letter from Beethoven)
“Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”
“Dear John” (2010)
Written by: John Tyree to Savannah Curtis
“No matter where you are in the world, the moon is never bigger than your thumb.”
“Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001)
Written by: Mark Darcy to Bridget Jones
“I don’t think you’re an idiot at all. I mean, there are elements of the ridiculous about you. Your mother’s pretty interesting. And you really are an appallingly bad public speaker. And, um, you tend to let whatever’s in your head come out of your mouth without much consideration of the consequences… But the thing is, um, what I’m trying to say, very inarticulately, is that, um, in fact, perhaps despite appearances, I like you, very much. Just as you are.”
“Her” (2013)
Written by: Theodore Twombly to his OS Samantha
“Dear Catherine, I’ve been sitting here thinking about all the things I wanted to apologize to you for.”
“Shakespeare in Love” (1998)
Written by: William Shakespeare to Viola De Lesseps
“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love.”
“Letters to Juliet” (2010)
Written by: Claire to Lorenzo
“I didn’t go to Lorenzo, Juliet. I should have. I should have. I should have. Love, Claire.”
5 famous love letters in literature
Literature, spanning various eras and cultures, contains many moving love letters. Here are five such famous love letters from various works:
“Persuasion” by Jane Austen
Written by: Captain Wentworth to Anne Elliot
“I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever.”
“Dracula” by Bram Stoker
Written by: Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray
“My dearest Mina, I cannot say why, but I am sad, so sad that if it were not for the firm promise of your love I think I should despair.”
“Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo
Written by: Marius to Cosette
“To see her, to hear her, to touch her, and to tell her so, is for me a burst of light and the very roar of the universe… Your husband loves you, mademoiselle.”
“The Sorrows of Young Werther” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Written by: Werther to Charlotte
“You have been the cause of my delusion, and yet, for my sake, I would that you were really in the state in which I once believed you. Yes! — I would fain have been deceived in my present fears, as I was once in my hopes.”
“Dangerous Liaisons” by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
Written by: Vicomte de Valmont to Madame de Tourvel
“I feel more for you than I should; and I confess to you that this very sentiment, which should persuade you of my sincerity, is the very thing which makes me doubt yours. Can I believe that a virtue as firm as yours has been overthrown in so short a time by a sentiment which is so new to you?”
5 famous French love letters
France, with its rich history of literature and romance, has gifted the world with many passionate love letters. Here are five renowned love letters from or to some of the most famous French personalities:
George Sand (Aurore Dupin) to Frédéric Chopin
“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. If I could live again my life, In the next, I’ll try to make more mistakes. I won’t try to be so perfect, I’ll be more relaxed.”
Heloise to Abelard
This is a classic tale of forbidden love in the 12th century. Heloise was a student of Abelard, and they fell deeply in love.
“I would have had no hesitation, God knows, in following you or going ahead at your bidding to the flames of Hell.”
Gustave Flaubert to Louise Colet
Flaubert, best known for his novel “Madame Bovary”, had a passionate relationship with poet Louise Colet, and their correspondence has been celebrated for its intensity.
“You have become, I hardly know how, an essential part of my inner self… I find, in the love I feel for you, both the sensual passion and the adoration.”
Édith Piaf to Marcel Cerdan
Édith Piaf, the iconic French singer, had a tumultuous love affair with boxer Marcel Cerdan. His untimely death in a plane crash tragically cut short their relationship.
“Every hour of the day and night I always have the same thought: my love, my love.”
Paul Valéry to Jean Voilier (pseudonym of Jeanne Loviton)
The French poet and philosopher Valéry had a profound relationship with Jean Voilier, and their exchange of letters reflects their connection’s intellectual and emotional depth.
“Each of your letters sets fire to my heart and lights up my thoughts. I read you, and I miss you. I re-read you, and I desire you.”
The beauty of these letters lies not only in their poetic language but also in the raw emotions and the historical and personal contexts from which they emerged. They are windows into the hearts and minds of some of France’s most iconic figures, revealing the universal truths about love’s trials, tribulations, and triumphs.
5 famous gay love letters
Throughout history, love letters have been a poignant way for individuals to express their feelings, regardless of gender or sexuality. Some love letters between same-sex have become renowned for their beauty, depth of emotion, and cultural significance. Here are five such love letters written by or between prominent figures:
Virginia Woolf to Vita Sackville-West
Virginia Woolf, the iconic modernist writer, and Vita Sackville-West, a poet and novelist, had a passionate relationship. Woolf’s letters to Sackville-West are both poetic and filled with affection.
“Look here Vita — throw over your man, and we’ll go to Hampton Court and dine on the river together and walk in the garden in the moonlight and come home late and have a bottle of wine and get tipsy, and I’ll tell you all the things I have in my head…”
James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) to Robert Carr
King James’s affectionate letters to his favorite, Robert Carr, have been a source of much historical speculation about the nature of their relationship.
“…I leave out of my letter… because I would not make it too long to be posted on the wall of the bedchamber.”
Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas (Bosie)
Oscar Wilde’s relationship with Bosie was at the center of the trial, leading to Wilde’s imprisonment. Despite the turbulence of their relationship, Wilde’s letters to Bosie are heartfelt and evocative.
“You came to me to learn the Pleasure of Life and the Pleasure of Art. Perhaps I am chosen to teach you something much more wonderful, the meaning of Sorrow, and its beauty.”
Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle
American poet Walt Whitman shared an intimate friendship with a former Confederate soldier, Peter Doyle. Whitman’s letters hint at the depth of their bond.
“My dear boy, I was much cheered up by your letter … I hope we shall yet have some happy hours.”
Tennessee Williams to Frank Merlo
Playwright Tennessee Williams and Frank Merlo shared a long-term relationship. Williams’ letters to Merlo convey his deep affection and concern for his partner.
“I wish I were with you now, darling, and could put my arms around you. I want to kiss you, my sweet. Your own, Tennessee.”
Each of these letters captures moments of deep emotion and affection, transcending time and societal norms and standing as a testament to the universal human experience of love.
5 famous lesbian love letters
Historically, lesbian love letters have been hidden, overlooked, or intentionally obscured due to societal prejudices. However, many of these letters have been recognized and celebrated for their depth of emotion and unique perspectives over time. Here are five such notable love letters or correspondences between women:
Virginia Woolf to Vita Sackville-West
These two literary figures shared a deep emotional bond, and their correspondence was filled with affection, admiration, and passion.
“I just miss you, in a quite simple desperate human way. You, with all your undumb letters, would never write so elementary a phrase as that; perhaps you wouldn’t even feel it.”
Gertrude Stein to Alice B. Toklas
Stein and Toklas were partners for many years, and their relationship was central to the Parisian avant-garde scene.
“I am fondest of all of seeing you and if you loved me and if you do love me Alice I love to think that you are loving me.”
Radclyffe Hall to Evguenia Souline
Hall, the author of the groundbreaking lesbian novel “The Well of Loneliness,” had a deep and passionate relationship with Souline, reflected in their correspondence.
“Ah, my darling, to have you and to hold you and to love you as I would and as I could, that is my dream.”
Katherine Mansfield to Ida Baker
Mansfield, a celebrated short story writer, had a deep emotional connection with Ida Baker, reflected in their letters.
“You are, you know, the most curious combination of the child & the—oh! I don’t know what. There is something ageless & very wise about you. Then there’s your passionate heart & your marvelous power of rapture.”
Patricia Highsmith to Marijane Meaker (also known by pen names Vin Packer and Ann Aldrich)
Both being authors, Highsmith and Meaker had a short-lived romantic relationship. Their letters convey various emotions, from joy and passion to angst and heartbreak.
“I am glum & restless, and miss someone to put my arm around and for her to cut off the circulation of my watch by holding my other hand.”
Each letter provides a window into intimate relationships, sometimes hidden or subtly expressed due to societal constraints. They are enduring reminders of love’s universality and the lengths individuals go to share and express that love, even in the face of adversity.
These letters, whether entirely fictional or inspired by real sentiments, reflect the depths of passion, regret, and the many complexities of love.
5 love letters by famous poets
Many famous poets have penned love letters that beautifully capture the depth and intricacies of the emotion. Here are excerpts from five love letters written by renowned poets to their beloveds:
Pablo Neruda to Matilde Urrutia
“My love, we have found each other thirsty and we have drunk up all the water and the blood, we found each other hungry and we bit each other as fire bites, leaving wounds in us.”
John Keats to Fanny Brawne
“I cannot exist without you. I am forgetful of everything but seeing you again. My life seems to stop there, I see no further. You have absorbed me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I were dissolving. I have been astonished that men could die martyrs for religion… I have shuddered at it. I shudder no more. I could be martyred for my religion: Love is my religion. I could die for that. I could die for you.”
Elizabeth Barrett Browning to Robert Browning
“You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me—my heart was full when you came here today. Henceforward, I am yours for everything.”
Rainer Maria Rilke to Lou Andreas-Salomé
“Oh Lou, your letter has so unspeakably made me happy, I cannot tell you how much. It has been here since yesterday morning; but I was not allowed to have it until this morning. Then, in the first joy of having it, I didn’t think of the post at all, and only wanted to keep it…”
Edna St. Vincent Millay to Arthur Ficke
“I shall be here next summer, or somewhere else close by, or perhaps I shall be dead, or perhaps I shall be simply intoxicated, for all I know or care, for all you care, for all anyone cares; but wherever I am, drunk or dead or alive or in hell, I shall love you. I have loved you. I do love you. I shall never be able to keep from loving you.”
These love letters, penned by poets, convey their emotions and showcase their distinctive writing styles and the lyrical beauty for which they are celebrated.
5 love letters of famous writers
Famous writers, with their innate ability to capture emotion in words, have penned love letters that are poignant testimonies of their feelings. Here are excerpts from five love letters written by renowned authors to their beloveds:
F. Scott Fitzgerald to Zelda Fitzgerald
“You are the finest, loveliest, tenderest, and most beautiful person I have ever known—and even that is an understatement.”
James Joyce to Nora Barnacle
“I am happy today, and write sitting by the window and looking out on the street. First of all, I see you, my love, your bowed head, your felt hat set back on your head and your dark hair. Then I am going to dream awhile.”
Vita Sackville-West to Virginia Woolf
“I am reduced to a thing that wants Virginia. I composed a beautiful letter to you in the sleepless nightmare hours of the night, and it has all gone. I just miss you, in a quite simple desperate human way.”
Ernest Hemingway to Mary Welsh
“I can’t say how every time I ever put my arms around you I felt that I was home.”
Juliette Drouet to Victor Hugo
“I love you, I adore you, my Victor. You are the pulse of my heart, the blood in my veins, the light in my eyes.”
Last Words
Actually, reading those letters felt like a warm hug for the soul, didn’t it? I mean, who knew words could be so powerful and full of emotion? It’s like these letters carry little pieces of the writers’ hearts. Ah, love is just the best!
So, next time you feel like telling someone how much they mean to you, why not try writing them a letter? Yeah, it might seem old-fashioned, but trust me, it’s super cool and really touching. Imagine the smile on their face when they read your words! Oh, and if you ever need some inspiration, just come back and read these amazing love letters again.
Thanks for joining me on this sweet adventure. Keep spreading the love and don’t forget – love letters never go out of style. Until next time, keep your hearts warm and your pens ready. See you soon, my lovely readers!
More Letters:
25 Timeless Victorian Love Letters
15 Historical Classic Love Letters
Table of Contents
