Timeless Love: Historic Love Letters Penned by Famous Hearts

1790s - General Napoleon Bonaparte To Joséphine Bonaparte "A few days ago I thought I loved you; but since I last saw you I feel I love you a thousand times more. All the time I have known you, I adore you more each day; that just shows how wrong was La Bruyére's maxim that love comes all at once. Everything in nature has its own life and different stages of growth. I beg you, let me see some of your faults: be less beautiful, less graceful, less kind, less good."

Count Leo Tolstoy to Valeria Arsenev “I already love in you your beauty, but I am only beginning to love in you that which is eternal and ever precious - your heart, your soul. Beauty one could get to know and fall in love with in one hour and cease to love it as speedily; but the soul one must learn to know.”

Ernest Hemingway (American Novelist) to Mary Welsh, April 16, 1945 “Dearest Pickle, So now I’m going out on the boat with Paxthe and Don Andres and Gregorio and stay out all day and then come in and will be sure there will be letters or a letter. And maybe there will be. If there aren’t I’ll be a sad s.o.a.b. But you know how you handle that of course? You last through until the next morning. I suppose I’d better figure on there being nothing until tomorrow night and then it won’t be so bad tonight. Please write me Pickle. If it were a job you had to do you’d do it. It’s tough as hell without you and I’m doing it straight but I miss you so [I] could die. If anything happened to you I’d die the way an animal will die in the Zoo if something happens to his mate. Much love my dearest Mary and know I’m not impatient. I’m just desperate. Ernest”

From Charlie Parker (Famous American Saxophonist) to his Long-term Girlfriend Chan Woods.“To you;The way I thought was wrong, having not known, it was right. Here is the proof of my feelings, Don’t hate me, love me forever: Beautiful is the world, slow is one to take advantage. Wind up the world the other way. And at the start of the turning of the earth, lie my feelings for thou.To youShame on me.I love you.”

From Elzie Segar (The Cartoonist of Popeye), to his Then-Girlfriend(Future Wife) Myrtle Johnson“GEE!! I WISH MYRT WAS HERE CHESTER, ILL. OCT. 8-16 DEAREST MYRTLE:- I SURE AM THINKING OF YOU, AND I’M DOGGONE LONESOME. THINK I’LL JUMP OFF THE CLIFF AND END IT ALL. “LOVE SICK EH?” ALL I GOTTA DO DOWN HERE IS SHAKE HANDS AND TELL ‘EM HOW I MAKE A COMIC. HOPE YOU’RE WELL. ALSO HOPE YOU’RE THINKING OF ME. GOO BI LOTSALOVE YOUR “LIL”

From Jimi Hendrix (American Guitarist) to a girlfriend he called, “LITTLE GIRL”.“Little girl….. happiness is within you….so unlock the chains from your heart and let yourself grow- like the sweet flower you are….. I know the answer - Just spread your wings and set yourself FREE Love to you forever Jimi Hendrix”

From Johnny Cash (American Singer-Songwriter) to his wife June:“Hey June, That's a really nice June. You’ve got a way with words and a way with me as well. The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don’t go out there and sing them anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout. Love John”

From Ludwig Van Beethoven to an unidentified “IMMORTAL BELOVED” (1812)“Even in bed my ideas yearn towards you, my Immortal Beloved, here and there joyfully, then again sadly, awaiting from Fate, whether it will listen to us. I can only live, either altogether with you or not at all. Yes, I have determined to wander about for so long, far away, until I can fly into your arms and call myself quite at home with you, can send my soul enveloped by yours into the realm of spirits - yes, I regret, it must be. You will get over it all the more as you know my faithfulness to you; never another one can own my heart, never - never! O God, why must one go away from what one loves so, and yet my life in W. as it is now is a miserable life. Your love made me the happiest and unhappiest at the same time. At my actual age I should need some continuity, sameness of life - can that exist under our circumstances? Angel, I just hear that the post goes out every day - and must close therefore, so that you get the L. at once. Be calm - love me - today - yesterday. What longing in tears for you - You - my Life - my All - farewell. Oh, go on loving me - never doubt the faithfullest heart of your beloved Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”

Oscar Wilde (Irish Poet)To Lord Alfred Douglas, While being on trial for his relationship with men. “My Own Boy, Your sonnet is quite lovely, and it is a marvel that those red rose-leaf lips of yours should be made no less for the madness of music and song than for the madness of kissing. Your slim gilt soul walks between passion and poetry. I know Hyacinthus, whom Apollo loved so madly, was you in Greek day. ”

Rukimini to Lord Krishna (Stated in Bhagavata Purana) “Oh Most Beautiful One of all the Worlds, I heard about Your qualities. For all who listen and whom You have entered through the openings of their ears, You thus remove the distress of their bodies. To those who have eyes, the sight of Your beauty constitutes the complete fulfillment of their life’s purpose. Therefore I have without any shame devoted my mind to You Acyuta!”