Love Letters of Great Men

When Carrie Bradshaw in the "Sex and the City" movie began reading the book Love Letters of Great Men, millions of women wanted to get their hands on the book. Of course, what could be more romantic than an entire book of love letters, written by men! 

Unfortunately the "Love Letters of Great Men" book was not real, of course, intrepid authors immediately went out to WRITE the book. 

In any case, the love letters that spawned this whole rush are real, including the Beethoven one quoted by Big at their wedding ceremony. Here are the actual love letters by great men for you to enjoy and treasure!

Beethoven - Love Letters of Great Men 

July 6, in the morning 

My angel, my all, my very self - Only a few words today and at that with pencil (with yours) - Not till tomorrow will my lodgings be definitely determined upon - what a useless waste of time - Why this deep sorrow when necessity speaks - can our love endure except through sacrifices, through not demanding everything from one another; can you change the fact that you are not wholly mine, I not wholly thine - Oh God, look out into the beauties of nature and comfort your heart with that which must be - Love demands everything and that very justly - thus it is to me with you, and to your with me. But you forget so easily that I must live for me and for you; if we were wholly united you would feel the pain of it as little as I - My journey was a fearful one; I did not reach here until 4 o'clock yesterday morning. Lacking horses the post-coach chose another route, but what an awful one; at the stage before the last I was warned not to travel at night; I was made fearful of a forest, but that only made me the more eager - and I was wrong. The coach must needs break down on the wretched road, a bottomless mud road. Without such postilions as I had with me I should have remained stuck in the road. Esterhazy, traveling the usual road here, had the same fate with eight horses that I had with four - Yet I got some pleasure out of it, as I always do when I successfully overcome difficulties - Now a quick change to things internal from things external. We shall surely see each other soon; moreover, today I cannot share with you the thoughts I have had during these last few days touching my own life - If our hearts were always close together, I would have none of these. My heart is full of so many things to say to you - ah - there are moments when I feel that speech amounts to nothing at all - Cheer up - remain my true, my only treasure, my all as I am yours. The gods must send us the rest, what for us must and shall be -

Your faithful LUDWIG. 

Voltaire - Love Letters of Great Men 

The Hague 1713 

I am a prisoner here in the name of the King;

they can take my life, but not the love that I feel for you. 

Yes, my adorable mistress, to-night I shall see you, if I had to put my head on the block to do it. 

For heaven's sake, do not speak to me in such disastrous terms as you write; you must live and be cautious; beware of Madame your mother as of your worst enemy. 

What do I say? 

Beware of everybody; trust no one; keep yourself in readiness, as soon as the moon is visible; I shall leave the hotel incognito, take a carriage or a chaise, we shall drive like the wind to Sheveningen; I shall take paper and ink with me; we shall write our letters. 

If you love me, reassure yourself; and call all your strength and presence of mind to your aid; do not let your mother notice anything, try to have your pictures, and be assured that the menace of the greatest tortures will not prevent me to serve you. 

No, nothing has the power to part me from you; our love is based upon virtue, and will last as long as our lives. 

Adieu, there is nothing that I will not brave for your sake; you deserve much more than that. 

Adieu, my dear heart! 

Arout (Voltaire) 

Napoleon - Love Letters of Great Men 

To Viscountess Josephine de Beauharnais 

December 1795 

I awake full of you. Your image and the intoxication of last night give my senses no rest. 

Sweet, incomparable Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart. Are you angry? Do I see you sad? Are you worried? My soul breaks with grief, and there is no rest for your lover; but how much the more when I yield to this passion that rules me and drink a burning flame from your lips and your heart? Oh! This night has shown me that your portrait is not you! 

You leave at midday; in three hours I shall see you. 

Meanwhile, my sweet love, a thousand kisses; but do not give me any, for they set my blood on fire.