Classic and Contemporary Poems, Letters and Prose on the Wonderful (But Troublesome) Theme of Love
A glorious cloth-bound collection of poetry, prose, letters and lyrics penned by the finest writers in the English language, about the most important emotion on earth.
An exquisite collection of the very best writing on love.
THE LOVE BOOK presents a new anthology of writing on all aspects of the most important emotion on earth. There’s true love, unrequited love, erotic love, platonic love, thwarted love, comic love, mourned love and just about every other type of love, explored here in poetry, prose, letters and lyrics from the greatest writers in the English language.
In one fabulously comprehensive volume, Allie Esiri brings together texts ancient and modern, from William Shakespeare to Sharon Olds, Catullus to Carol Ann Duffy, the bible to Bob Dylan; she offers us sonnets for wooing, lamentations for loss and perfect passages for weddings. Full of classics and all-time favourites, THE LOVE BOOK also includes lesser-known marvels, such as Mozart’s love notes, Sappho’s lesbian odes and a letter from Napoleon.
Forget corny greeting cards and chocolate box cliché, this is the literature of love at its finest. Beautifully presented and helpfully divided into themed sections, it’s an indispensable collection for anyone who’s ever had a heart.
“A sumptuous collection of poetry and prose”
Herald
“If you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift, you can't do better than this”
Mail on Sunday
“Filled with stories, poems and letters about the L word, it'll make you feel all warm and fuzzy”
Sainsbury's Magazine
“An inspired selection of classic and contemporary poetry and prose on amatory themes, in a beautifully designed cloth-bound volume”
Juanita Coulson, Lady
“This is not just another collection, this is an Esiri collection – a reverently considered and gracefully realised book that allows the greatest loves of all time to live on in its pages”
Georgia Mizen, The Upcoming
“This passionate, funny, intimate and magical book captures love in all its random, brutal, wonderful shapes and sizes.”
Richard Curtis
“This book is full of medicine for the soul. Buy it , read and your heart will be glad. ”
Helena Bonham Carter