Josephine de Beauharnai married Napoleon Bonaparte in March 1796. She was the recipient of numerous love letters written by him. In one letter from December 1795 Bonaparte writes passionately: ‘I awake all filled with you. Your image and the intoxicating pleasures of last night, allow my senses no rest. Sweet and matchless Josephine, how strangely you work upon my heart . . . Till then, a thousand kisses, mio dolce amor! but give me none back for they set my blood on fire.’
1900s Optical Character Recognition
1800s Ludwig van Beethoven’s ‘immortal beloved’ (July 1812)
1600s Thomas Witherings (died 1651)
1800s Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
1900s Keeping letters private (early 20th century)
1900s Queen Elizabeth’s Letter to President Dwight D. Eisenhower (24 January 1960) Held in the National Archives