Book Description

Celebrate the greatest love stories that have molded the course of history! Romance in its many shapes and forms is celebrated around the world. It is a constant act of affection shown irrespective of age, race, gender or background, and is one way in which we show our humanity. This beautiful visual guide reveals the most passionate and tragic love tales throughout the centuries from people all over the world and includes: • Profiles stories of love and lovers throughout history, from the best-known — like Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Napoleon and Josephine, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono — to less famous but equally powerful examples, like Hadrian and Antinous, Anne Lister and Ann Walker, and Mildred and Richard Loving • Specially commissioned illustrations that represent the individuals involved, with images of letters, paintings and artifacts that tell the story of each love affair • Quotes from love letters, poems, songs and stories by the featured individuals, or about their relationship • Diverse LGBTQ+ love stories, such as Emperor Ai of Han and Dong Xian; Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West; Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener; and Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok Mark Antony's love for Cleopatra led to war between Rome and Egypt, Emperor Xuanzang of Tang relinquished the Mandate of Heaven for Yang Guifei, and the English Reformation was borne out of Henry VIII's passion for Anne Boleyn. These great loves and many others have been celebrated, recorded and forever memorialized to chronicle the wars, peace treaties and politics of our modern world. This inspirational book about love also delves into the popularity of real love stories. It features columns, podcasts and TV shows like the NYT Modern Love column, the appetite for love letters, and the timeless popularity of love and romance with reality-TV programs like Love Island, First Dates and The Bachelor/Bachelorette. This is the perfect purchase for a Valentine’s Day gift or any other special occasion for anyone interested in history, culture and literature. Most importantly, readers who want to learn about relationships that have challenged conventions, the history of LGBTQ+, lovers of romance and trivia, and general knowledge fans.