Love LettersTimeless Expressions of Devotion by

Ludwig van Beethoven to his Immortal BelovedJohn Keats to Fanny BrawneVictor Hugo to Adele FoucherAlfred de Musset to Baroness Aurore DudevantCharlotte Bronte to Professor Constantin HegerPierre Curie to Marie Sklodowska Curie Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. to Eleanor Roosevelt

Designed and Edited by Annie Beth Ericsson

love eternal

Ludw

ig van

Beeth

oven

1812This love letter, along with two others dated from

July 6 and 7, were found in the desk of Ludwig van

Beethoven upon his death in 1827. He wrote them

from the Bohemian spa of Teplitz, having met

with the woman in Prague or Vienna in the weeks

before, and hoped to meet with her again soon.

No one has been able to ascertain the identity

of Beethoven’s mysterious “Immortal Beloved,”

because the letters were never addressed and

even may never have been sent. While Beethoven

was rumored to have loved many women, the true

“Immortal Beloved” that haunted him forever may

never be known.

There are few love stories more pure or tragic than

that of John Keats, the great English poet, and

his girl next-door, Fanny Brawne. At first, Fanny

perplexed and exasperated Keats, but he soon grew

to be dazzled by her charm and kindness. They con-

sumed each others’ time and thoughts, and wrote

extensive love letters during the few years that

they were together. Fanny even agreed to marry

the young poet as his career blossomed and he fell

deeper in love with her. Sadly, their romance was

cut short with the ill health of John Keats from

tuberculosis at age 25. Fanny stayed loyal by his side

until his death, and she kept his correspondance for

the rest of her life.

love innocent

John

Keat

s1819

Victo

r Hugo

love secret 1821Victor Hugo, the French Romantic poet, playwright

and novelist, did not have an easy time marrying

his future wife, Adele Foucher. Though she was his

childhood sweetheart, their families, particularly his

mother, disapproved of the match. The two wrote

secret letters to each other for three years until, with

the death of his mother, they were free to marry

and love openly.

1833

Alfre

d de M

usset

love confessedAlfred de Musset was a popular French poet, novel-

ist and dramatist. He wrote this letter to Baron-

ess Amantine Aurore Dudevant, a French writer.

Amantine was more famously known as George

Sand, a male alias she used to publish her work. A

fiercely independant woman known for insisting on

being treated as “one of the boys,” Amantine had

left her husband and was in a period of “romantic

rebellion”. She and Alfred met when they sat beside

each other at a dinner function in 1833, immediately

falling in love. Their short, blissful passion gave way

to a tumultuous affair in Venice that lasted until the

autumn of 1834.

1845

Cha

rlotte B

ronte

love unrequitedCharlotte Bronte, the English novelist, was men-

tored by Professor Constantin Heger. When she

travelled alone to Brussels to take up a teaching

post at his boarding school, she became lonely and

desperately attached to Prof. Heger. While much of

her love was kept a secret, she did write revealing

letters to him. He ripped the letters at some point

and threw them away, but his wife, aware of the situ-

ation, retrieved them from the wastepaper basket

and carefully glued them back together. Years later,

Heger kept the letters, but there is still no evidence

that Charlotte’s love was ever returned by him.

1894love platonicPierre Curie, the French physicist, met his soulmate

and partner, Marie, when he was an instructor at the

Sorbonne. Their mutual interest in magnetism, bi-

cycle trips and travelling abroad struck up an instant

friendship between the two. While their respect was

mutual, Pierre made several unsuccessful propos-

als before she finally returned his affections. Once

they married, the two scientists were an inseparable

match, researching together and eventually winning

the Nobel Prize.

Pierr

e Curi

e

1943love committed

Theo

dore R

ooseve

lt Hr.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr., the eldest son of the great

President Teddy Roosevelt, accomplished much in

his own right, with his wife, Eleanor, by his side.

Eleanor’s love kept her fighting for Theodore to not

be overshadowed by his father - from their wedding

day to their anniversary, 33 years later. Theodore

fought in World War I and World War II, followed

by Eleanor, a YMCA volunteer. The two succeeded in

politics and business, and raised a family along the

way. Years later, their love for each other was stron-

ger, braver and more committed than ever before.

© 2009, design by Annie Beth Ericsson

All images and writing are in the public domain