A love letter from Winston Churchill to his wife, Clementine.
Who better to write the world’s most memorable love letters than the world’s most famous writers? Proving romance isn’t always confined to courtship, we turn to a letter from future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to his wife Clementine, written during Winston’s trip to Germany after one year of marriage:
15 September 1909 Kronprinz Hotel
Wurzburg
My darling, We have been out all day watching these great manoeuvres. . . .
I have a very nice horse from the Emperor’s stable, & am able to ride about wherever I choose with a suitable retinue. As I am supposed to be an ‘Excellency’ I get a vy good place. Freddie on the other hand is ill-used. These people are so amazingly routinière that anything the least out of the ordinary – anything they have not considered officially & for months – upsets them dreadfully….I saw the Emperor today & had a few minutes’ talk with him. He is vy sallow – but otherwise looks quite well. . . . .
We have had a banquet tonight at the Bavarian palace. A crowd of princes & princelets & the foreign officers of various countries. It began at 6 p.m. & was extremely dull. . . .
This army is a terrible engine. It marches sometimes 35 miles in a day. It is in number as the sands of the sea – & with all the modern conveniences. There is a complete divorce between the two sides of German life – the Imperialists & Socialist. Nothing unites them. They are two different nations. With us there are so many shades. Here it is all black & white (the Prussian colours). I think another 50 years will see a wiser & gentler world. But we shall not be spectators of it. Only the P.K. [“puppy kitten” – their nickname for their first child] will glitter in a happier scene. How easily men could make things much better than they are – if only all tried together! Much as was attracts me & fascinates my mind with its tremendous situation – I feel more deeply every year – & can measure the feeling here in the midst of arms – what vile & wicked folly & barbarism it all is.
Sweet cat – I kiss your vision as it rises before my mind. Your dear heart throbs often in my own. God bless you darling keep you safe & sound.
Kiss the P.K. for me all over
With fondest love
W.
Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill’s later fame as wartime Prime Minister has overshadowed his prowess as an artist, historian and writer – regarding the latter, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953. His love affair with the written word was matched only by his devotion to the love of his life, Clementine Hozier – they first met in 1904, were married in 1908, would have 5 children and would still be together at Winston’s death in 1965, aged 90.
Images/Reference: The Library Of Congress.