Exploring the Complexity of Love Through Historical Letters
The British National Archives is showcasing the multifaceted nature of love in its exhibition titled “Love Letters,” which spans five centuries. This collection includes letters that delve into various aspects of love such as longing, jealousy, and joy, illustrating the dynamic and sometimes tumultuous nature of human emotions.
Curator Victoria Iglikowski-Broad emphasized that these documents reveal “legendary romances from British history” involving figures from royalty to spies, as well as everyday individuals. She noted, “We’re trying to open up the potential of what a love letter can be… Expressions of love can be found in all sorts of places, and surprising places.”
The exhibition features a diverse range of expressions, from 20th-century classified ads seeking same-sex relationships to correspondence between sweethearts during wartime, and even a medieval song about heartbreak. Among these, one standout piece is a letter from Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, to Queen Elizabeth I. Written shortly before his death in 1588, it highlights the closeness between the “Virgin Queen” and the man she considered “your poor old servant.” This letter was discovered at the queen’s bedside at her death, underscoring its significance.
Family Ties and Sacrifices
The notion of love extends beyond romance in this exhibition. A handwritten will by Jane Austen from 1817 bequeaths nearly everything to her sister Cassandra, demonstrating deep familial bonds. Additionally, a 1956 letter from the father of notorious London gangster twins Reggie and Ronnie Kray pleads with a court for leniency, claiming “all their concern in life is to do good to everybody.”
The exhibit also portrays sacrifices made for love, as seen in an 1851 plea from Daniel Rush, a 71-year-old weaver, who begged authorities not to separate him from his wife by sending them to workhouses. This is juxtaposed with King Edward VIII’s 1936 abdication document, in which he relinquished the throne to marry Wallis Simpson, the woman he loved.
Iglikowski-Broad remarked, “There is a lot of connection in these two items even though on the surface they seem very different… the sacrifice is actually worth it for love.”
Some letters capture love lost, like a 1944 letter from British intelligence officer John Cairncross to his former girlfriend Gloria Barraclough. Cairncross, who was later revealed as a Soviet spy, reflected on their past, wondering, “Would we have broken off, I wondered, if we had known what was coming?”
Royal Affairs and Heartbreak
The exhibition also highlights passionate and tragic royal romances. One poignant story involves Lord Alfred Douglas pleading unsuccessfully with Queen Victoria to pardon his lover Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned for gross indecency following the exposure of their relationship by Douglas’ father.
Another compelling letter from 1541 is by Catherine Howard, King Henry VIII’s fifth wife, to her secret lover Thomas Culpeper, warning him to exercise caution. Catherine ended her letter with, “yours as long as life endures,” but both were executed for treason shortly thereafter when their affair was discovered.
A rare letter by Queen Henrietta Maria to King Charles I, referring to him as “my dear heart,” is part of the collection. This letter was found among Charles’ belongings after a defeat during the English Civil War. Eventually, Charles was tried and executed in 1649. As historian Neil Johnston observed, “This is a little gem within the disaster of the English Civil War.”
The “Love Letters” exhibition opens to the public on Saturday and will run until April 12, with free admission.
