It is really a classic idea: love letters. But in the book, Love Letters of Great Men, famous men in American and world history are laid bare with the publication of their letters to the special woman in their hearts.

These men, from Mozart to Mark Twain, who have regaled millions over hundreds of years with genius musical compositions, to penning classic literature, are shown in a new light in this book.

The title of the book was originally shared in the chick flick, Sex in the City. Reading it to her soon-to-be groom, the character played by Sarah Jessica Parker reads about the vulnerable gushings of love and romance from Napoleon to Charles Darwin to Henry VIII.

The main catch was, there was no such book. For the purposes of the movie, the book was made up.

But, sure enough, following the movie, fans everywhere were rushing out to buy a book that didn’t exist. Book sellers found themselves turning away people asking for the Love Letters of Great Men.

Alas, enter the free market economy and opportunity. A British publisher decided to make the nonfiction book reality.

Edited by Ursula Doyle, the letters come in a larger font, not typical of most books or traditional novels. At first I thought I had gotten a “large print” version, but it turns out to be quite handy.

These are snippets of romance that are great for reading one at a time, in any order. So the larger typeset is convenient and makes it easier to read.

Of the impressive names from history in the book, there is a vulnerable, poignant nature to men that I wouldn’t expect to go on and on about a woman.

You might be surprised at which men from history are the best lovers through the written word. And in this read, I felt a new appreciation for the old fashioned art of letter writing, particularly love letters.

Not only did it make me want to encourage the love in my life to write me one accordingly, but it educated me on slower times in history, more complicated times in history, and the sweet desperation love can bring.

This delightful read will help you in understanding the man in your own life as well, as you will see, that perhaps men, whether famous, epic or the one you married, aren’t really quite so different, after all.