Unveiling the Secrets of 18th-century French Love Letters

Scores of French love letters from the mid-18th century, sent to French sailors during the Seven Years War, have been opened and studied for the first time since they were written. The letters offer rare insight into the lives of families affected by war, revealing how they dealt with the challenges of distance and uncertainty. The letters, written by common people, shed light on the experiences of lower-class individuals, such as sailors' and fishermens' wives, who are often missing from historical records. The letters also highlight the difficulties of long-distance communication in the 1750s and demonstrate the power of collective resilience in times of crisis.