Love Letters of War: 100 romantic missives from the real men and women of the First and Second World Wars

Imperial War Imperial War Museum

A poignant collection of 100 deeply personal missives, Love Letters of War reveals the personal cost of conflict, and the joyful and heartbreaking moments experienced by lovers in wartime.

With over 7,500 personal letters from the First World War and 12,000 from the Second World War, the archives of the Imperial War Museums shine a light on the intimate lives of the Forces and their loved ones.

Love Letters of War features the transcribed letters of 100 of the most moving, fascinating, heartbreaking and inspiring missives from IWM's collection. This carefully considered selection includes letters from a broad spectrum of society and experience, from unrequited passion, lasting love (with one couple exchanging over 700 letters) and forbidden love between opposing sides, to rare letters surfaced by the IWM's LGBTQ+ network and from collections such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Bringing together research from IWM's expert curator Anthony Richards with items donated by families of the Forces, Love Letters of War is a memorable and nostalgic read laying bare the universal language of love. Personal photographs, items, original letters and drawings accompany the letters, placing them in context alongside thoughtful notes on each selected letter.