Five Famous Love Letters
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we find ourselves returning to one of the most intimate forms of expression: the love letter. Throughout history, everyone from star-crossed lovers to legendary figures has reached for pen and paper to express what’s in their hearts. Beyond words on a page, these are promises, secrets, and dreams set down to last.
Once written, these letters begin a life of their own. Over time, they become mementos and lasting records of devotion. Spoken words fade, but a letter can deliver a feeling across distance and time. Whether pressed into clay or traced in ink, love letters are where deep emotion finds its way into words.
We’ve gathered five of these famous love letters to share with you—and maybe inspire one of your own, right here at The Fifth.
Unknown Sumerian Woman to King Shu-Sin
The world’s earliest known love poem, often described as the earliest love letter, comes from ancient Mesopotamia and dates to the reign of King Shu-Sin (circa 2037–2029 BCE). Inscribed in Sumerian cuneiform on a small clay tablet, it is a passionate poem spoken by an unnamed woman, possibly a priestess or a ceremonial bride, and was likely recited or sung as part of a sacred marriage ritual honoring the goddess Inanna.
More than 4,000 years later, her voice remains rich with admiration and desire. The tablet itself is preserved and on display at the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul, within the Mesopotamia Hall.
One modern translation reads:
“Bridegroom, dear to my heart,
Great is your beauty, sweet as honey.
Lion, beloved of Inanna,
Great is your beauty, sweet as honey.
You have captivated me; let me stand trembling before you.”
Frida Kahlo to Diego Rivera
The relationship between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera was anything but ordinary. They met in 1928 when Kahlo sought Rivera’s guidance as an artist, and what began as admiration quickly morphed into all-consuming love. Their relationship spanned decades, two marriages, several affairs, and endless artistic collaborations. And through it all, they stayed deeply connected. When they were apart, Kahlo wrote Rivera letters of longing and devotion, demonstrating that nothing could shake their bond between them, even amid the turmoil.
“There is much life in me — when it was always checked in moving toward you — I realized it would die if it could not move toward something … I chose coming away because here at least I feel good — and it makes me feel I am growing very tall and straight inside — and very still — Maybe you will not love me for it — but for me it seems to be the best thing I can do for you — I hope this letter carries no hurt to you — It is the last thing I want to do in the world.”
Oscar Wilde to Lord Alfred Douglas
There’s a love story as tragic as it is passionate: Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas. They began meeting in the 1890s when Wilde was at the peak of his literary fame, and their relationship soon became the scandal of London’s top social circles. But in an era when same-sex love was a crime, their affair became a scandal and then led to Wilde’s imprisonment. Even when separated, Wilde’s letters to Douglas were filled with longing and devotion, proving that love doesn’t always follow an easy path.
“Everyone is furious with me for going back to you, but they don’t understand us. I feel that it is only with you that I can do anything at all. Do remake my ruined life for me, and then our friendship and love will have a different meaning to the world. I wish that when we met at Rouen we had not parted at all. There are such wide abysses now of space and land between us. But we love each other.”
Johnny Cash to June Carter
Johnny Cash and June Carter had the kind of love story that country songs are written about — literally, because they wrote them. They met while touring in the mid-1950s, and after years of chemistry it was in 1968 that June finally accepted Johnny’s marriage proposal. Through all the highs and lows, their love was a constant, and Cash’s birthday letter to June is a beautiful reminder of how love deepens over the years.
“Happy Birthday Princess, we get old and get used to each other. We think alike. We read each other’s minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted. But once in a while, like today, I meditate on it and realise how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me. You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much.”
Leonard Cohen to Marianne Ihlen
Leonard Cohen met Marianne Ihlen on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. As Cohen’s partner and muse, Ihlen was a central figure in a bohemian, expat artist community, describing her own “art” as her life and her dedication to supporting others. Their relationship would become one of the greatest creative and emotional periods of his life, inspiring songs like So Long, Marianne, Bird on the Wire, and Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.
Over the years, Cohen wrote Marianne dozens of tender and unguarded letters. Each shared the same intimacy that would later echo through his music. This is from Cohen’s final letter to Ihlen, written shortly before she died in July 2016. Cohen himself would pass away just over three months later:
“Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, Be calm–love me–today–yesterday–what tearful longings for you–you–you–my life–my all–farewell. Oh continue to love me–never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours.”
Romance is all about the memories we create, the words we hold onto, and the time we share together. At The Fifth, we believe every love story deserves a setting just as extraordinary.
This year, we’re celebrating the season of love with an experience designed for two. Indulge in champagne on arrival, daily American breakfast at Café Carmellini, and a choice of our signature Martini or Tea Ritual — exclusively available through our #1 on Fifth offer.
