On the eve of Valentine's Day, we decided to remember the stories of the great novels of the 20th century - those that shocked the world and, to one degree or another, influenced modern society. The most touching and passionate, happy and unhappy novels of famous people, stories of mutual love and ostentatious prosperity, marriages of people equal in their greatness and the most famous misalliances.
Wallis Simpson - Edward VIII of England
The story of the most famous misalliance in modern history received incredible resonance, as the English monarch Edward VIII(1894-1972) became the first and only king in English history to voluntarily abdicate the throne. The reason was a passionate love for a twice-divorced American woman.It was not even a scandal - it seemed that the end of the world had come and the collapse of moral and ethical standards and foundations of secular society.
The heir to the world's main monarchy was 36 years old when he met Mrs. Wallis Simpson(1896-1986), née Warfield. The woman was married for the second time and lived in London with her husband, a wealthy entrepreneur. Ernest Simpson.
The fateful meeting took place in early November 1930, when the Simpsons were invited to a dinner party where the Prince of Wales was to be present. Legend has it that the English prince was enchanted at first sight, even though Wallis was not even a beauty. According to the stories of her contemporaries, she was an unremarkable person at first glance, but in her interactions she had an amazing charm.
Amazingly, the lovers did not hide their feelings, even despite Edward’s status and Wallis’s marital status. They appeared together on the streets, social events and in restaurants. The royal family did not even think that this shameful hobby would last long. But when it became clear that the affair was dragging on, attempts were made to hide the details of the prince's relationship from the public.
In January 1936, King George V of England died and Edward assumed the throne. At the same time, Wallis filed for divorce. Neither the royal family nor parliament wanted to hear about Edward’s legal union with an American. Edward was given a choice: either the throne or Wallis. His choice was clear: the price for love was the abdication of the English throne.
On December 10, 1936, Edward VIII made his famous speech to the people: “You all know the circumstances that forced me to abdicate the throne. But I want you to understand that in making this decision I have not forgotten my country and empire... But you must also believe that it is impossible for me to fulfill my duty as a king as I would like to, without help and support of the woman I love..."
The couple lived happily ever after, traveled, and wrote memoirs. Their family idyll lasted until 1972, when Edward died of cancer.
Vivien Leigh - Laurence Olivier
The most famous couple of British stage and film actors Vivien Leigh And Laurence Olivier challenged the Puritan England of the 30s when she stopped hiding her whirlwind romance. The difficulty of the situation was that both were married. The spouses did not give them a divorce, and the need to live in sin, deception and an atmosphere of universal condemnation forced Vivien Leigh give frank interview magazine "Times", where she honestly outlined the details of her personal drama. The public unexpectedly went to meet the public's favorites who were leaving for America - it was there that Vivienne won her right to play Scarlett O'Hara in the film adaptation « Gone with the wind» .Vivien Leigh And Laurence Olivier were not just movie stars, but intellectual actors who received the status of great performers. Both shone in theater and cinema, and their love story unfolded on stage and in life - unlike most acting couples, they worked well together on camera and on stage. Thus, they played together in the film Fire Over England (1937) and the classic film version of Lady Hamilton (1941), where Lawrence played the role of Nelson and Vivien played Emma Hamilton. . Moreover, they were united great amount joint theatrical works. Their tandem was recognized in their homeland as the most outstanding theatrical duet. Lawrence was called “the king of actors,” and Vivienne became a national treasure after receiving two Oscars for her roles as Scarlett in Gone with the Wind and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. . Her international fame was gaining momentum. The image of the first world beauty and the main British actress, as well as a marriage that was called the happiest among acting unions - all this seemed like a dream come true for millions of viewers.
But there was no happy ending in this love story. The bright life of two wonderful actors was not so cloudless. As you know, Vivienne was an incredible woman inner strength who achieves what she wants at any cost. All biographers vied with each other to tell how she twice made fateful promises to herself. For the first time - without anyone yet famous actress who saw the famous Laurence Olivier. After the first meeting, Vivien decisively told everyone she knew that she would marry him. At the time it seemed pure madness. The second time she made a loud promise was on the eve of the filming of Gone with the Wind, when the most ambitious film casting in US history was gaining momentum. The first Hollywood beauties dreamed of playing Scarlett; no one believed in the success of the visiting Englishwoman. “Larry won’t play Rhett Butler, but I’ll play Scarlett!” - Vivien announced then.
They said that Vivienne was more practical in all matters than Larry, but, like a true woman, she created the impression that all decisions were made by her husband. A strong character, however, was also her problem - like many great actresses, she had an extremely flexible psyche. Each absence of her husband for filming could end in depression for her, and work on the role could result in attacks of obsession. Her genius, turning into whims and capricious attacks, began to irritate her husband.
After 17 years spent together, Lawrence left her, unable to withstand another attack of hysteria. The actress was already seriously ill. Many fans of the actress consider Olivier, first of all, not a brilliant actor, but a cowardly traitor - depression aggravated the course of the disease, and Vivien Leigh died of pulmonary tuberculosis in the summer of 1967 at her home in Iten Square in London.
Eva Duarte - Juan Peron
Evita- a household name in Argentina and the most famous first lady of the twentieth century. Second wife of the 29th and 41st president Juan Peron, Eva Duarte was an example of an ideal communicator, diplomat and ideological inspirer the first person of the state.
She was born into a poor family and devoted her whole life to the struggle for better living conditions. Legend has it that the young actress and the colonel became lovers on the very first day they met. Peron, who initiated the military coup, might not have had so many ambitions if not for Eva, who made him believe that he would definitely become the head of government. Peron appeared openly with his young girlfriend, shocking the officers with his relationship with the actress.
After Peron's arrest, October 17, 1945 happened - this date went down in the history of Argentina as the day of “the liberation of Peron by the people.” 5 thousand workers and their families gathered in Buenos Aires's May Square in front of the presidential palace, demanding "the return of the colonel." After such support, Peron began to prepare for the presidential elections, having previously married Eva, who immediately left her job in cinema and joined the headquarters of his closest aides. Peron relied on feminist slogans, and therefore wanted a wife next to him, a presidential candidate, who personified the increased role of women in the modern world.
Eva turned out to be so energetic that she began to play one of the main roles in the government under Peron, although she did not officially hold any position. She founded charitable foundation named after herself to help the poor and since 1949 has become one of the most influential people in Argentina. In addition, she was the right hand and adviser to Juan Peron, although she gradually came to the fore in their tandem. The charismatic Evita very quickly turned into a cult personality, her popularity was supported by propaganda - Eva, despite her closeness to power, was an idol of left-wing youth, like Che Guevara. Assessments of her life and personality are contradictory, but it is Eva Peron who is considered responsible for attracting women to the social and political life of Latin America.
Eva Peron died at 33 from uterine cancer. After her death, Juan Peron was destined to once again become president of Argentina. Notably, his next wife, Maria Estela Martinez de Peron, a former nightclub dancer, became the first female president in history after his death.
Grace Kelly - Prince Rainier
There was no great love in this union. However, the history of the relationship between the most mysterious actress in Hollywood and the Prince of Monaco is written into history greatest novels XX century.
Favorite actress of the “king of horror” Alfred Hitchcock, Grace Kelly was different from most Hollywood stars. She behaved and looked like a true princess thanks to her Nordic appearance and reserved manners, although, as often happens, behind the beautiful façade hid an amorous and passionate nature, prone to both adventurous short relationships and calculated profitable relationships. Beautiful, cold, and seemingly inaccessible, Grace Kelly misled men - it seemed that a more inaccessible star simply could not exist. However, there were legends about the actress’s promiscuous relationships behind the scenes - she could give herself to an ordinary cameraman from the set on the first day of meeting her, while accepting the advances of the Iranian Shah. Many biographers seriously talk about the actress's nymphomania and a slight mental disorder associated with playing inaccessible Snow Queen. So, during filming, she always entered into love affairs with partners on the set, and on the set of the film “High Noon”, not only her partner Gary Cooper, but also the director of the film, Fred Zinneman, became her lovers.
The aura of purity and purity that Grace Kelly cultivated in her image worked for her - in Hollywood they gave her the nickname “Miss High Society” and believed that she should only marry a real prince. Angelic appearance and the right image did the trick - it was she who was wooed to marry the Prince of Monaco Rainier III.
An epochal acquaintance that changed the fate of an entire state happened in 1955. Rainier III had long been looking for a worthy wife, since the fading economy of the bankrupt state of Monaco required drastic measures. Marrying a famous Hollywood beauty with a good reputation could attract investment and arouse tourist interest in the region. All that remained was to choose a bride. Grace Kelly seemed like the perfect option - impeccable manners, classic elegance, gentle eyes. After a short romantic correspondence, the young people agreed on a wedding.
Monaco is not a state where marriage with a star would be considered a wild misalliance. Prince Rainier was a good politician, and therefore his plan to attract an Oscar-winning Hollywood beauty to the royal wedding became one of the most successful PR moves in history. The fairytale wedding that took place in 1956 not only revived interest in Monaco, but turned the region into one of the most prestigious on the planet.
The country idolized its new princess- Grace gave Monaco heirs and new economic opportunities. A flood of tourists and investment has transformed the troubled region into a thriving financial center. Grace's life resembled a fairy tale: couture outfits, filming in palaces for glossy publications, international visiting trips.
But in reality, everything was not so rosy. Grace, who managed to curb her temper and passionately embraced her new image, suffered from Rainier’s difficult character, and social duties made her forget about personal things. After forty-five, the princess began to have health problems - she began to gain weight. Beloved children - two daughters and a son - grew up and turned into scandalous heroes of gossip columns. Grace was horrified to recognize in her untamed daughters, who ran away from home, neglected social duties and had affairs with bodyguards, her younger self, suppressing her instincts in the name of a new role that would write her name in history.
In 1982, Grace Kelly lost control of her car and was involved in a car accident. Her daughter, who was also in the car, escaped with minor fright. The princess's injuries turned out to be incompatible with life - the next day, by decision of Prince Rainier, the life support machine was turned off.
Reporters still consider Kelly's death not as clear-cut as it seemed from the outside.
Maria Callas - Aristotle Onassis
A story of passionate love and humiliation - this is how one can characterize the romance between the great opera diva and the richest man in the world in the mid-twentieth century.
Greek ship owner Aristotle Onassis- a cult personality, a billionaire who prefers to communicate with representatives of the elite different countries- he was a dear guest at receptions and social events of any level. He surrounded himself with the most beautiful women from influential circles, whom, however, he often used for his own purposes - to achieve personal or business goals. He experienced a real feeling only once - in 1959, when he met a young opera singer Maria Callas ( Maria Callas)
, whose talent was applauded by the whole world.
Callas (real name Cecilia Sophia Anna Maria Kalogeropoulos) was born into a family of Greek immigrants in the United States. She married very successfully and was happy in her marriage - her husband was a wealthy Italian industrialist Giovanni Battisto Meneghini, a great opera connoisseur who fell in love with the singer at first sight. He became for Maria not only a faithful husband, but also a devoted manager and generous producer, who sold his business for her sake and lived only in her interests.
Onassis noticed Maria Callas at a ball in Venice, later went to her concert, and then invited her and her husband to his legendary yacht “Christina” - the main symbol of unprecedented luxury of the time. The Greek tycoon, who was also married, was stunned by the singer's magnificence; for the first time in his life, passion was stronger than the voice of reason. Maria Callas, who made a career out of being a huge, obese woman, had by that time lost more than 30 kg and was in excellent physical shape.
The events that unfolded on the luxury yacht "Christina", cruising along Mediterranean Sea, amazed the public. Forgetting about decency, Onassis and Callas not only began an affair in front of their spouses and guests, but also demonstratively reveled in their love - they danced to the music on the deck and disappeared all night long until the morning.
Discouraged, Meneghini could not find a place for himself and felt like a real fool. Even then, he hoped for the prudence of his wife and was ready to forgive the holiday romance, but the lovers did not think of leaving. Onassis and Callas began to live together. Having achieved his goal, Onassis turned from an ardent lover into a rude and oppressive roommate who was in no hurry to register the relationship. Maria's pliability and sacrificial love gave rise to Onassis's unpunished cruelty towards her - he began to insult her in front of friends, openly cheat on her and even raise his hand against her. Callas endured it without complaint, which provoked even greater attacks of aggression from her lover.
The opera diva, blinded by love, stopped giving concerts and tried to cultivate sacrifice in herself - she decided to devote herself to love, even if it cost her to give up her self-esteem. She lost her voice and withdrew into herself, even the memories of her magnificent triumph at La Scala did not give her peace - she lived in the hope of once again experiencing the feelings that she experienced on the yacht Christina. .
In October 1968 Greek billionaire Aristotle Onassis married the widow of the US President Jacqueline Kennedy. His partner, Maria Callas, found out about this from the newspapers. The blow was so strong that she withdrew into herself and did not leave her apartment. A little more than a month passed when Onassis, realizing his mistake, rushed to Paris, begging his former lover for forgiveness. Aristotle tried to assure Mary that marriage to Mrs. Kennedy was an image deal for him, a PR stunt that had nothing to do with normal human relationships.
Former US first lady Jackie Kennedy turned out to be a cold, energetic and calculating woman - she devoted herself entirely to consumption. There were legends about Jacqueline's extravagance: she bought hundreds of creations by famous couturiers and left them unpacked in closets, constantly traveled around the world and spent such sums on entertainment, furs and diamonds that even the fantastically rich Onassis clutched his heart. Jackie literally bought designer items in stores. Being a recognized style icon, she allowed herself to experiment - she appeared in public in short skirts and transparent dresses, and social life occupied her much more than the illness and suffering of her elderly husband. When he died in a plane crash The only son billionaire Alexander, Onassis almost went crazy - everything in his life lost its meaning. He lived out his last years, finding peace only in communication with his beloved and all-forgiving Maria.
He died in a Paris hospital on March 15, 1975. Next to him was Maria Callass, and Jackie was in New York at that time - having learned about Onassis's death, she calmly ordered a collection of mourning dresses from Valentino.
Elizabeth Taylor - Richard Burton
Relationship Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and a British character actor Richard Burton, which has made a brilliant career in Hollywood, is called nothing less than the “novel of the century.” Firstly, both of them were stars of the first magnitude, and the era of the paparazzi was just emerging - and it was their love story that became the main news feed of the era. Secondly, the romance of the two stars was not just stormy, but itself worthy of film adaptation: love to the point of frenzy, quarrels, fights, separations and reunions - the lovers married twice and divorced twice, starred together in Oscar-winning films, proudly posed on the red carpet and they destroyed rooms in expensive hotels in a fit of drunken quarrels. This lifestyle and the close attention of the world community allowed them to become the first classic celebrities - with exorbitant raiders and millions in fees, as well as the most expensive collection of jewelry that the generous Richard gave to Elizabeth after every quarrel.
Elizabeth Taylor is one of the true Hollywood legends and the most famous actresses of all time. Before meeting Richard, she did not yet have a reputation as a dramatic actress - a fatal beauty, she was already married for the fourth time at that time (there were eight marriages in her life, two of which were with Barton) and was considered an eccentric star. Barton, with his incredible dramatic role, had a reputation as a character actor on stage and in life - temperamental and aggressive, he loved to drink and did not try to seem at all politically correct.
A whirlwind romance, followed by the whole world, happened on the set of the film “Cleopatra” in Rome in January 1962. Compared to the scale of that action, the story of modern Jolie and Pitt looks like a timid parody of the majestic epic - Hollywood shot the most expensive film in history (40 million of those old dollars), where the main roles are Cleopatra and Mark Antony - played by the stars who laid the foundation for the gossip column genre, million-dollar fees, diamonds as gifts, yachts and the front pages of newspapers dedicated to the ups and downs of the relationship between the main film couple of the century.
By 1961, thirty-seven-year-old Welshman Barton was being called "British Brando." He was happily married to actress Sybil Wallace, and the couple had two children. Twenty-nine-year-old Taylor was married to singer Eddie Fisher. The passion that flared up on the set consumed the actors so much that they did not even make an effort to hide their love and did not listen to anyone - they continued to kiss when the love scene had already been played and the director said: “Stop!”, They made love wherever it was possible perhaps they indulged in drunkenness and debauchery and drowned in the abyss of sinful passion.
The uproar created by the newspapers led to the Vatican officially condemning Liz and Richard's relationship. They tried to separate, but they were irresistibly drawn to each other.
In his letters, which have now become a bestseller, Barton, blinded by love, wrote: “In my poor and painful youth, I dreamed of only such a woman. And now, when from time to time the dream returns to me, I reach out my hand and realize that it is here, next to me. If you haven't met or known her, you've missed out on a lot in your life."
Ultimately, they both divorced their legal spouses and married in 1964. Barton showered his wife with diamonds and instilled in her confidence that she had the potential to be a profound dramatic actress. They demanded millions in fees from film bosses and in every possible way created the legend of great stars of the first magnitude.
In the second half of the sixties, their famous films were shot - “The Taming of the Shrew”, “The Comedians”, “Boom”, “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”. For the last film, Elizabeth received her second Oscar. In their personal lives, two brilliant dramatic actors experienced painful love on the verge of frenzy, attacks of jealousy and addiction to alcohol. “Maybe we loved each other too much... I never thought this was possible,” Liz Taylor wrote in her diaries. And in July 1973, she suddenly announced: “Richard and I are separating for a while. Maybe we love each other too much... Pray for us!” The divorce took place in June 1974.
Life apart turned out to be unbearable - 16 months spent as if in delirium ended with a re-wedding. The second marriage lasted from October 1975 to July 1976.
Richard Burton died of a heart attack on August 5, 1984. His death was a terrible tragedy for Elizabeth, despite the fact that at that time she already had another lover. Elizabeth Taylor herself, despite her illnesses and ailments, died at the age of 79 in March 2011. The published letters of Richard Burton, who turned out to be an incredible writer, formed the basis of the book "Fierce Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Marriage of the Century"(Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century). Today, major Hollywood directors are fighting for the right to film this story, and the best Hollywood actors- to play lovers of the brightest drama of the twentieth century.
Frank Sinatra - Ava Gardner
For America Frank Sinatra not only “the most popular singer of the century,” but also a real legend and symbol of the era of show business and the golden era of Hollywood with all its attributes - classic glamor, gangsters, millionaires and the aura of greatness and inaccessibility of idols. A Sicilian, a friend of the mafia, he was named the most desirable man of the 20th century. His biography, in which incredible creative victories were combined with friendship with presidents and politicians, crime bosses and the first beauties, is one of the brightest pages of world culture.
As for the great story of his love, there was only one. While all the women in his life were passable, including such Hollywood beauties as Marilyn Monroe And Lana Turner, his passion for one woman shocked him so much that the great Sinatra lost his voice, went on a drinking binge and tried to commit suicide.
Her name was Ava Gardner. An actress, one of Hollywood's brightest stars of the 1940s and 1950s, an incomparable beauty and a woman of incredible temperament, she was famous for her magnetic effect on men. There were legends about the power of attraction of this fatal beauty. The great Hemingway himself called her his muse and favorite actress. At the time of meeting Sinatra, she had been married twice and was experiencing a dizzying affair with a multimillionaire Howard Hughes who first encountered such a wayward woman. The fan indulged all the beauty’s needs: airplanes, diamonds, outfits.
Frank was married and had three children. He did not consider family an obstacle to a stormy relationship, but a passion of such strength turned out to be more important than the desire for home comfort.
They met in 1950 at the premiere of the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" The state in which Sinatra was after this meeting is described by his friends and biographers as insanity. “She slipped something into my glass!” - he justified himself. The feeling that captured the main star of the era destroyed him: Sinatra suffered, suffered, went crazy with love and jealousy. It was difficult for him to compete with Hughes in giving expensive gifts, and his signature methods of wooing Ava did not work. Frank's friends didn't recognize him - he either beamed with delight when Ava agreed to have dinner with him, or he walked like a beaten dog when she stopped taking him seriously. “I have got you under my skin” - Frank Sinatra wrote these words of the famous song in one breath late at night, dying of love for Ava Gardner.
Their best songs he wrote while in a state of love fever, which did not let him go for a minute - a ballad "Stupid, I wanted you" was the product of his sensual attack.
Sinatra knew how to love to the point of frenzy and madness, and the proud but passionate Ava was impressed by this way of expressing feelings. When she gave in under his pressure, their bright romance was called by contemporaries nothing more than a “bullfight of love” between two bright personalities and idols of the era. The clash of two southern temperaments resulted in such a passion that consumed both. Generous, bright, big-hearted Frank evoked feelings in Ava that she did not receive from Hollywood bosses and wealthy admirers. They were both witty, energetic, impetuous and emotional, they coincided in everything - in their love of strong drinks, delicious food, nightly boxing matches and love on the verge of frenzy. It was the energy of true love and passion that was impossible to resist.
At the same time, Frank and Ava met secretly - for the press and society, he was Nancy's husband, and she was dating Hughes. A chance photo of a reporter who caught them together created a lot of noise. Avoiding a scandal, Ava flew to Spain, and Frank, who decided that he had been abandoned, lost his voice from grief. He flew to her on the other side of the world, but there she was waiting for him new blow- his beloved woman began an affair with a bullfighter. He almost took his own life, but Ava stopped him, promising to return. And she deceived again - her affair with Richard Green ended for Sinatra with an overdose of sleeping pills. And Ava gave in. The long-awaited wedding took place in Philadelphia. Several years of absolute happiness became Sinatra's reward for suffering.
However, even in family life Frank and Ava continued to torment each other with jealousy, quarrels and stormy showdowns. Frank worshiped Ava like a goddess, kept photographs of her in his office, followed her and lost his health in his paranoid desire to possess her completely.
Such obsession cannot keep you in suspense forever - love of such intensity does not stand the test of time. But even after their divorce in 1957, Frank and Ava continued to meet secretly from time to time - the paparazzi kept catching them in godforsaken hotels under the cover of darkness.
After Ava, Frank had many women, beautiful and famous, but he never again experienced anything even remotely reminiscent of the all-consuming love that happened in his life. Ava passed away in 1990 at the age of 68. Sinatra lived to be 82 and passed away in 1998.
Alain Delon - Romy Schneider
This love story seemed real and sincere, but the ideal romance of European stars did not stand the test of fame, promiscuity and ambition.
Beginning of life Romy Schneider, the best actress in the world according to French and Austrian viewers, was cloudless and promised only happiness and prosperity. It was impossible to imagine what a nightmare her life would turn out to be.
Romy Schneider And Alain Delon met on the set of a film "Christina" in 1958. By that time, the Austrian actress, European cinema star and heir to the famous dynasty of aristocratic actors was already in a position where she could afford to choose her partners. Her choice fell on an unknown French actor.
They did not have love at first sight - well-mannered and intelligent Romy considered her colleague too young, handsome and dressed up. Alain found his partner completely unattractive. The romance broke out unexpectedly for everyone, since the young people had nothing in common. He is a cynical and cruel street child who came out of poverty, she is an intelligent girl from a good family, a symbol of the bourgeoisie that he so despised. He rejected any moral principles and understood freedom as complete indifference to the problems of other people, while she tried to follow bourgeois principles and could not afford much due to the concepts of decency and duty.
Passion consumed Romy so much that she went to Paris for her beloved. Her principles and way of life, dreams of family and children evoked only contemptuous laughter from Delon. He openly called her a bourgeois and emphasized in every possible way that he was free from conventions and obligations. They were irresistibly drawn to each other, but there was never harmony, understanding and respect in this relationship. While most considered this romance a misalliance, Delon himself was pointedly rude to Romy, making it clear who needed this relationship more.
The media adored the little angel Romy and condemned the adventures of her companion, but in their desire to make his every step public, they literally killed the actress. The tabloid press tracked every step of Delon and Schneider, wrote about all his adventures and ridiculed the naivety of Romy, who forgave the groom for his infidelities and spree. Romy Schneider's humiliating fate was to endure and be ridiculed. She could not leave due to lack of experience, because of great love and a truly naive belief that everything would work out - Delon knew how to convince her that tomorrow everything would certainly be different. Meanwhile, he not only destroyed her self-esteem with betrayals and deceit, but gradually moved on to rough treatment and assault.
This dragged on for more than five years. The passionate, painful relationship, full of ambiguity and humiliation, was broken off by Delon himself. His career took off, their joint film roles turned out to be unusually successful - the relationship they experienced at the breaking point of feelings helped the couple play the forbidden love of brother and sister in a theatrical production Luchino Visconti. Delon was accepted into the theatrical environment, he began to receive serious fees, crowds of fans appeared in his life and that “Dolce Vita” that accompanies the life of every beautiful and successful young actor. The radiant little Romy, who helped him become a star, instilled a love of literature and helped him form his own acting method, had no place in this new life. It was at this time that Romy Schneider became not just a living actress, but a deep, characterful one with a strong dramatic temperament.
Delon said goodbye to her through a note with the wording “We only met at airports.” It was his style - cold, cynical, distant. Nothing personal. Soon he married an actress Natalie Barthelemy.
Romy Schneider was dying without him. She struggled with her feelings for the man and with the feeling of deepest rejection. Over the years spent with Alain Delon, one of the best dramatic actresses in Europe completely forgot how to love herself. In the spring of 1966, she married again. For Romy's sake, her chosen playwright Harry Mayen left the woman with whom he lived for 12 years. Romy wrote in her diary: “The years spent with Alain were wild, crazy. With Harry, I finally calmed down." In this union, she was looking for respect rather than love.
Perhaps the story of her life would have been different if not for Delon’s fateful call in 1968. He convinced Romy and the producers that he only saw her as his partner in the film “Swimming Pool.” Bogged down in scandals and unsuccessful projects, Delon, experiencing the collapse of his family life, needed a high-profile successful project to improve his affairs. He needed Romy Schneider not only as a beauty and a great actress - the story of their long-standing relationship was the best PR move. The current status of a faithful wife and mother added spice to the situation.
The film was an explosion and many people bought it. European countries. Newspapers circulated photographs of Romy and Alain passionately kissing, who were experiencing a relationship renaissance in the luxurious resort of Saint-Tropez, playing six years after the breakup. The mature beauty of yesterday's cutie Romy was stunning - it seemed that she had never been more beautiful and convincing. Alain Delon achieved his goal and disappeared from her life again.
Harry Mayen was never able to forgive his wife for this; their relationship began to crack. He quit his job and started drinking. Romi fell into severe depression and also became addicted to alcohol. A terrible period began in her life. Divorce, new marriage, suicide ex-spouse. She withdraws into herself and refuses a number of offers, including “A Man and a Woman”, “Last Tango in Paris”, but flies to the other side of the world, to Mexico, to film a third-rate film with Delon and shocks everyone with candid shootings in Playboy magazine . The biggest tragedy in the actress's life happens after her divorce from her second husband - as a result of a tragic accident, her 14-year-old son David dies after running into a metal fence. Distraught, Romy closed herself off and communicated only with Delon. She drank a lot and simply faded away in front of everyone.
She died on the night of May 29-30, 1982. Everyone knew about the tragedy of the life of the great actress, and no one could believe that her, 44-year-old, heart had given out. The newspapers came out with the headlines “Romy Schneider committed suicide.” Later it was officially announced that Romy’s heart simply could not stand it. All of Europe mourned its beloved actress. But Alain Delon remained true to himself and sent a dubious appeal to the magazine “Paris Match” entitled “Farewell, my doll.”
“The day I stop trusting you will be the last day of my life,” this line from the film "Christina" Romi repeated this in real life. She trusted Delon until the end of her days.
Michael Douglas - Catherine Zeta-Jones
The scale of passions of modern Hollywood is difficult to compare with the golden age, but in its recent history there are novels worthy of special mention. Love story Michael Douglas And Catherine Zeta-Jones has long been perceived by skeptics as a demonstration of the saying about “a demon in the ribs” - the age difference of 25 years and the blooming appearance of a rising Hollywood star did not give reason for optimistic forecasts.
Michael Douglas, who belonged to the famous Hollywood acting dynasty, was never number one in the unofficial ratings, but was always among the main stars. In his professional life, everything was as it should have been - from the role of a hero-lover and an action-adventure hero in the style of Indiana Jones, he turned to psychological thrillers, the peculiarity of which was a strong erotic element. He received two Oscars and recognition, and later the status of a sex symbol - after his role in the cult "Basic Instinct" With Sharon Stone. In short, his professional life was a success. In his personal life, he maintained the appearance of prosperity in a 23-year marriage and was sometimes seen in affairs that did not bring him satisfaction.
British beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones starred mainly in second-rate films. She no longer wanted to become a star - until the age of 27, the actress continued to be the heroine of B-category films. The accidental success of the mini-series “Titanic” with her participation helped the producers of the film notice the beauty "Mask of Zorro" With Anthony Hopkins And Antonio Banderas. And, as often happens, the next morning after the premiere the girl woke up famous. On the very day of the film's premiere, she met the star Douglas, who became so excited at the sight of the sultry beauty that he began to talk outright nonsense. The seasoned 56-year-old actor fell in love so much that he did not even think of offering the young actress the humiliating role of a mistress - all his strength was aimed at conquering the woman who drove him crazy. It was also symbolic that Katherine and Michael were born on the same day - September 25 - with a difference of 25 years.
Despite the fact that Hollywood laughed at the habits of macho Douglas and called him an “erotic playboy” behind his back, there was not a drop of vulgarity or well-established schemes in this relationship. Michael understood that after the success of the film “The Mask of Zorro” there would be a whole series waiting for such a beauty good offers, which means fame and all the attributes that accompany it: fans, millions in fees, photo shoots, social events. He chose to act quickly in order to be the first to get a girl who was just getting used to Hollywood.
He courted beautifully, in an old-fashioned, selfless way, convincing not only Katherine, but the whole world that this love meant too much to him. Douglas became noticeably younger - his love obsession gave the actor a second youth. After five months of siege, Katherine surrendered. Paparazzi photographs of a couple in love on the actor's yacht in Mallorca spread all over the world. Everyone was expecting a scandal, but the couple announced that they were going to get married. The scandal, however, happened: Michael Dinara's wife refused to give an official divorce until her unfaithful husband paid her $60 million from his 225 million fortune. For the sake of his desire to marry Katherine, the actor paid a huge compensation. In addition, blinded by love, Douglas gave the bride a unique ring with a 10-carat diamond surrounded by another 28 diamonds, and agreed to a prenuptial agreement, according to which he agreed to pay his wife in case of divorce. ex-lover$3.2 million for each year of their marriage.
One of the most luxurious weddings in the history of Hollywood took place on November 18, 2000 at the New York Plaza Hotel. OK magazine paid $1.6 million for the right to film this celebration. Among the guests were Jack Nicholson,Sharon Stone,Brad Pitt,Sean Connery,Anthony Hopkins,Steven Spielberg and even general secretary UN Kofi Annan. The bride wore a designer dress from Christiane Lacroix, decorated with diamonds.
A marriage that was predicted to fail continues to surprise skeptics. He is stable and prosperous - the couple has two children together; Katherine, while pregnant, won an Oscar for her role in the musical "Chicago"; Michael, thanks to the support of his wife, coped with cancer, although he suffered greatly. Rarely does a misalliance become so strong union. And he is the only one in the history of modern Hollywood that can be called a stronghold of family values.
Incredible facts
Do you believe in true love? What about love at first sight? Do you believe that love can last forever? Perhaps the love stories below will help you strengthen your faith in this feeling or renew your faith in it. These are the most famous stories love, they are immortal.
1. Romeo and Juliet
These are probably the most famous lovers in the whole world. This couple has become synonymous with love itself. "Romeo and Juliet" is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The story of two teenagers from two warring families who fall in love at first sight, then get married, and later risk everything for their love. Willingness to give your life for your husband or wife is a sign of real feeling. Their premature departure brought the feuding families together.
2. Cleopatra and Mark Antony
The true love story of Mark Antony and Cleopatra is one of the most memorable and intriguing. The story of these two historical characters was subsequently recreated on the pages of William Shakespeare's work, and filmed by famous directors more than once. The relationship between Mark Antony and Cleopatra is a true test of love. They fell in love at first sight.
The relationship between these two powerful men put Egypt in a very advantageous position. But their romance extremely outraged the Romans, who feared that as a result of it the influence of the Egyptians would significantly increase. Despite all the threats, Mark Antony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while in battle against the Romans, Mark received false news of Cleopatra's death. Feeling empty, he committed suicide. When Cleopatra learned of Antony's death, she was shocked and then also committed suicide. Great love requires great sacrifices.
3. Lancelot and Guinevere
The tragic love story of Sir Lancelot and Queen Guinevere is probably one of the most famous of the Arthurian legends. Lancelot falls in love with Queen Guinevere, wife of King Arthur. Their love grew very slowly, since Guinevere did not let Lancelot close to her. In the end, however, passion and love overcame her, and they became lovers. One night, Sir Agravain and Sir Modred, King Arthur's nephew, who led a group of 12 knights, burst into the queen's room, where they found the lovers. Taken by surprise, they tried to escape, however, only Lancelot succeeded. The queen was captured and sentenced to death for adultery. However, a few days later Lancelot returned to save his beloved. This whole sad story divided the Knights of the Round Table into two groups, thereby weakening Arthur's kingdom significantly. As a result, poor Lancelot ended his days as a humble hermit, and Guinevere became a nun, and remained so for the rest of her life.
4. Tristan and Isolde
The tragic love story of Tristan and Isolde has been retold and rewritten numerous times. The action took place in the Middle Ages during the reign of King Arthur. Isolde was the daughter of the King of Ireland, and had just become engaged to King Mark of Cornwall. King Mark sent his nephew Tristan to Ireland to escort his bride Isolde to Cornwall. During the journey, Tristan and Isolde fall in love with each other. Isolde still marries Mark, but the love affair continues after her marriage. When Mark finally learned of the betrayal, he forgave Isolde, but exiled Tristan from Cornwall forever.
Tristan went to Brittany. There he met Isolde of Brittany. He was drawn to her because she looked like his true love. He married her, but the marriage did not turn out to be genuine because of his true love to another woman. After he fell ill, he sent for his beloved in the hope that she would come and be able to cure him. There was an agreement with the captain of the ship he sent that if she agreed to come, then the sails of the ship upon return would be white, if not, then black. Tristan's wife, seeing the white sails, told him that the sails were black. He died of grief before his love could reach him, and soon after Isolde also died of a broken heart.
5. Paris and Helen
Told in Homer's Iliad, the story of Helen of Troy and the Trojan War is a Greek heroic legend that is half fiction. Helen of Troy is considered one of the most beautiful women in all of literature. She married Menelaus, king of Sparta. Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, fell in love with Helen and kidnapped her, taking her to Troy. The Greeks gathered a huge army led by Menelaus' brother, Agamemnon, to bring Helen back. Troy was destroyed, Helen returned safely to Sparta, where she lived happily throughout her life with Menelaus.
6. Orpheus and Eurydice
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is an ancient Greek myth about desperate love. Orpheus fell very much in love and married Eurydice, a beautiful nymph. They loved each other very much and were happy. Aristeas, greek god land and agriculture, became interested in Eurydice and actively pursued her. Fleeing from Aristeas, Eurydice fell into a nest of snakes, one of which fatally bit her on the leg. The distraught Orpheus played such sad music and sang so sadly that all the nymphs and gods cried. On their advice, he went to underworld, and his music softened the hearts of Hades and Persephone (he was the only person, who dared to take such a step), who agreed to the return of Eurydice to the earth, but on one condition: upon reaching the earth, Orpheus should not look back and look at her. Being extremely alarmed, the lover did not fulfill the conditions, turned around to look at Eurydice, and she disappeared a second time, now forever.
7. Napoleon and Josephine
Having married her for convenience at the age of 26, Napoleon clearly knew who he was taking as his wife. Josephine was older than him, a rich and prominent woman. However, over time, he fell deeply in love with her, and she with him, however, this did not stop both of them from cheating. But mutual respect kept them together, the passion that burned everything in its path did not fade and was genuine. However, in the end they parted because Josephine was unable to give him what he wanted so much - an heir. Unfortunately, their paths diverged, however, throughout their lives they kept love and passion for each other in their hearts.
8. Odysseus and Penelope
Few couples understand the essence of sacrifice in a relationship, however, this Greek couple understood it best. After they were separated, 20 long years passed before their reunion. Shortly after marrying Penelope, war required that Odysseus leave his new wife. Although she had little hope of his return, Penelope still resisted the 108 suitors who sought to replace her husband. Odysseus also loved his wife very much and refused the sorceress who offered him eternal love and eternal youth. Thus, he was able to return home to his wife and son. So believe Homer, who said that real love worth the wait.
9. Paolo and Francesca
Paolo and Francesca are the heroes of Dante's famous masterpiece "The Divine Comedy". This is a true story: Francesca was married to a terrible man, Gianciotto Malatesta. However, his brother, Paolo, was the complete opposite, Francesca fell in love with him and they became lovers. The love between them became even stronger when (according to Dante) they read the story of Lancelot and Guinevere together. When their affair was discovered, Francesca's husband killed them both.
10. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler
"Gone with the Wind" is one of the immortal literary works. Margaret Mitchell's famous creation is permeated with love and hate in the relationship between Scarlett and Rhett Butler. Proving that timing is everything, Scarlett and Rhett never seemed to stop "fighting" each other. Throughout this epic story, this violent, volatile passion and their tumultuous marriage took place against the backdrop of the events of the Civil War. Flirty, fickle and constantly pursued by fans, Scarlett cannot decide among the numerous contenders for her attention. When she finally decides to settle on Rhett, her fickle nature pushes him away from her. Hope finally dies when their romance is never rekindled, and Scarlett says at the end: “Tomorrow is a new day.”
11. Jane Eyre and Rochester
In Charlotte Brontë's famous novel, loneliness is cured by being alone and having each other's company. Jane is an orphan who takes a job as a governess in the house of the very rich Edward Rochester. The couple quickly became close, as Rochester had a rough appearance turned out to be a tender heart. However, he does not reveal his penchant for polygamy, and on their wedding day Jane discovers that he is already married. Heartbroken, Jane flees, but then returns after a fire destroys Rochester's home, killing his wife and leaving him blind. Love triumphs, lovers are reunited and live out their days in each other's company.
12. Leili and Majnun
Renowned classic of Persian poetry and one of the most famous poets of the medieval East, who complemented Persian epic poetry colloquial speech and realistic style, Nizami of Ganja became famous after he wrote his romantic poem “Leyli and Majnun”. Inspired by an Arabian legend, Layla and Majnun is a tragic tale of unattainable love. For many centuries it was told and retold, and the main characters were depicted on ceramics and written about in manuscripts. Leili and Kays fell in love while studying at school. Having noticed their love, they were forbidden to communicate and see each other. Qais then decides to go into the desert to live among animals. He often goes undernourished and becomes very emaciated. Due to his eccentric behavior, he becomes known as Majnun (madman). In the desert, he meets an elderly Bedouin who promises him to win back his Leili.
The plan fails, and Leili's father continues to refuse to let the lovers be together because of Majnun's insane behavior. Soon he marries her to someone else. After the death of Leili's husband, the old Bedouin facilitates her meeting with Majnun, however, they were never able to completely get on the same page and understand each other. After death they were buried next to each other. The story is often interpreted as an allegory of the soul's desire to connect with the divine.
13. Heloise and Abelard
This is the story of a monk and a nun whose love letters become world famous. Around 1100, Pierre Abelard went to Paris to study at the Notre Dame school. There he gained a reputation as an outstanding philosopher. Fulbert, a high-ranking official, hired Abelard as a tutor to his niece Heloise. Abelard and Heloise fell in love, conceived a child, and married secretly. However, Fulbert was furious, so Abelard hid Heloise in a safe place in the monastery. Believing that Abelard had decided to abandon Heloise, Fulbert had him castrated while he slept. Heartbroken, Eloise became a nun. Despite all the troubles and adversities, the couple continued to love each other. Their emotional love letters were published.
14. Pyramus and Thisbe
A very touching love story that will not leave anyone indifferent who reads it. Their love was selfless, and they were sure that even in death they would be together. Pyramus was very handsome man and from childhood he was friends with Thisbe, a beautiful maiden from Babylonia. They lived in neighboring houses and fell in love with each other as they grew older. However, their parents were strongly against their marriage. One night, just before dawn, while everyone was sleeping, they decided to sneak out of the house and meet in a nearby field near a mulberry tree. Thisbe came first. While she was waiting under the tree, she saw a lion approaching the spring located near the tree to quench his thirst, his jaw covered in blood.
Seeing this terrifying sight, Thisbe rushed to run to hide in the depths of the forest from the lion, but on the way she dropped her scarf. The lion followed her and came across a handkerchief, which he decided to taste. At this time, Pyramus approached the place, and seeing a lion with bloody jaws and with the scarf of his beloved, he lost the meaning of life. At that moment he stabs himself with his own sword. Unaware of what had just happened, Thisbe continued to hide. After some time, she came out of hiding and discovered what Pyramus had done to himself. Realizing that she has nothing to live for, she takes her lover’s sword and also kills herself.
15. Elizabeth Bennet and Darcy
In fact, Jane Austen embodied two attributes of human nature, pride and prejudice, in her heroes Darcy and Elizabeth. Darcy belongs to high society, he is a typical educated representative of the aristocracy. On the other hand, Elizabeth is the second daughter of a gentleman of very limited means. Mr. Bennett is the father of five daughters who received the right to grow up the way they want, who did not receive school education and were not raised by a governess.
Elizabeth's very indulgent mother and irresponsible father never thought about the future of their daughters, believing that it was self-evident that they would be fine. “Everything is fine” in the understanding of the girls’ mother meant marrying a rich and prosperous man. For a man of Mr. Darcy's social status, the shortcomings of Elizabeth's family were very serious, and absolutely unacceptable to his polished and refined mind. He falls in love with Elizabeth, but she turns him down, but later she realizes that she cannot love anyone but Darcy. The story of their unification and the birth of love is very interesting.
16. Salim and Anarkali
Every lover knows the story of Salim and Anarkali. The son of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar, Salim, fell in love with an ordinary but very beautiful courtesan Anarkali. He was captivated by her beauty, so it was love at first sight. However, the emperor could not come to terms with the fact that his son fell in love with a courtesan. He began to put pressure on Anarkali, using all sorts of tactics to make her fall in the eyes of the loving prince. When Salim found out about this, he declared war on his father. But he failed to defeat his father's gigantic army; Salim was defeated, captured and sentenced to death. At this moment, Anarkali intervenes and gives up her love in order to save her beloved from the clutches of death. She was buried alive in a brick wall in front of Salim.
17. Pocahontas and John Smith
This love story is a famous legend in American history. Pocahontas, an Indian princess, was the daughter of Powhatan, who was the leader of the Powhatan Indian tribe, who lived in what is now the state of Virginia. The princess first saw Europeans in May 1607. Among everyone, she paid attention to John Smith, she liked him. However, Smith was captured by members of her tribe and tortured. It was Pocahontas who saved him from being torn to pieces by the Indians; later the tribe accepted him as one of their own. This incident helped Smith and Pocahontas become friends. After this incident, the princess often visited Jamestown, conveying messages from her father.
John Smith, seriously injured after an accidental gunpowder explosion, returned to England. After another visit, she was told that Smith was dead. Some time later, Pocahontas was captured by Sir Samuel Argall, who hoped to use her as a link between him and her father so that the latter would free the English prisoners. During her captivity, she decides to become a Christian and, taking the name Rebecca, is baptized. A year later she married John Rolfe. Having gone to London after a certain time, she and her husband met his old friend John Smith, after 8 long years. This was their last meeting.
18. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal
In 1612, teenage girl Arjumand Banu married 15-year-old Shah Jahan, ruler of the Mughal Empire. Then she changed her name to Mumtaz Mahal, bore Shah Jahan 14 children and became his beloved wife. After Mumtaz died in 1629, the grieving emperor decided to create a worthy monument in her honor. It took 20,000 workers, 1,000 elephants and almost 20 years of work to complete the construction of this monument - the Taj Mahal. Shah Jahan never completed the construction of a black marble mausoleum for himself. Overthrown by his own son, he was imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra, where he spent lonely hours looking across the Yamuna River at the monument of his beloved. He was subsequently buried next to her at the Taj Mahal.
19. Marie and Pierre Curie
This is a story about partnership in love and science. Unable to continue her studies in Poland because universities did not accept women, Marie Skłodowska-Curie came to Paris in 1891 to attend the Sorbonne. Marie, as the French began to call her, spent every free moment in the library or laboratory. The hardworking student one day caught the eye of Pierre Curie, the director of one of the laboratories in which Maria worked. Pierre actively courted Maria and proposed to her several times to marry him. Finally, in 1895, they got married and began working together. In 1898, the couple discovered polonium and radium.
Curie and scientist Henri Becquerel received the Nobel Prize in 1903 for their discovery of radioactivity. When Pierre died in 1904, Marie promised herself to continue their work. She took his place at the Sorbonne, becoming the school's first female teacher. In 1911, she became the first person to win a second Nobel Prize, this time in chemistry. She continued to experiment and teach until her death from leukemia in 1934, driven by the memory of the man she loved.
20. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
This is a love story Queen of England, who mourned her dead husband for 40 years. Victoria was a lively, cheerful girl who was interested in drawing and painting. She ascended to the English throne in 1837 after the death of her uncle King William IV. In 1840 she married her cousin Prince Albert. Although Prince Albert was initially disliked in some circles for being German, he later came to be admired for his honesty, hard work and devotion to his family. The couple had 9 children, Victoria loved her husband very deeply. She often used his advice in state affairs, especially regarding diplomatic negotiations.
When Albert died in 1861, Victoria was devastated. She did not appear in public for three years. Her prolonged seclusion drew public criticism. There were several attempts on the queen's life. However, under the influence of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Victoria returned to public life, opening Parliament in 1866. However, she never stopped mourning her beloved husband, wearing black robes until her death in 1901. During her reign, which was the longest in English history, Britain became a world power on which “the sun never sets.”
Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, takes deep roots into our entire being and often continues to turn green and bloom.
even on the ruins of our hearts.
Victor Hugo
On the eve of the coming spring, let's talk about the most famous love stories of worthy people.
Romeo and Juliet - eternal love
“There is no sadder story in the world than the story of Romeo and Juliet...” Why great love These two children, by our standards (Juliet was 13, her beloved Romeo was two or three years older) became a symbol of love of all times and peoples. What is the power and strength of this feeling of a timeless river?
It is possible that it was sung in the wonderful style of the great playwright William Shakespeare, or perhaps because love was a victim of the eternal squabbles of adults, the voluntary death of the heroes made the crowd shudder and melted the enmity of the hearts of the warring families of Montagues and Capulets... Who knows...
And even if the authenticity of the events described in the tragedy has not been confirmed, who will doubt the reality of the story, because the names Romeo and Juliet have become common names for beautiful, faithful love, and to this day they evoke admiration and admiration for two young hearts.
The love story of Odysseus and Penelope
Another no less famous love story from ancient times, sung by the ancient Greek - the great Homer. It is based on the marital relationship of Odysseus and his wife Penelope - an example of rare sacrifice in the name of love and a woman’s ability to wait in spite of everything...
Odysseus, like a true warrior, leaves his young wife after the wedding and goes to war.
Penelope waited for his return for twenty long years, raised her son alone and during this time rejected marriage proposals from 108 men who, citing the death of her husband, sought to take his place.
Penelope and Odysseus were no less faithful in their naval battles, trials and wanderings, maintaining fidelity and chastity to his wife. Thus, having met a beautiful witch who tried to seduce him and offered him eternal youth in exchange for his love for her, the hero of Hellas resisted the temptation. And the unfading light of his distant love Penelope helped him in this. And only 20 years later, loving hearts were reunited despite all adversity.
Love To Kings of Great Britain Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
But here is a completely modern love story, worthy of talking about.
In 1930, the Windsor Palace in Great Britain stunned the world with exciting news: the heir to the royal throne, Edward VIII, had abdicated power. The reason was love for a young American and, moreover, a married woman, Wallis Simpson, who was far from being of royal blood.
The royal court was indignant and gave the heir a choice: either power or love for a commoner. Edward VIII, without hesitation, chose fiery love for a woman.
Having divorced their first husband, Walliss and Edward got married and lived for thirty-five years away from their homeland, keeping their love that was so dear to them.
“Love never dies,” wrote 84-year-old Wallis after the death of her husband. “It changes its course, it becomes softer and wider... Love is work. Women must bring their wisdom to the altar of family happiness...”
Alexander Griboedov and Nina Chavchavadze love story
This worthy love of our compatriot writer Griboyedov for his wife: fleeting happiness in a few months and 30 years of mourning, as a symbol of fidelity and eternal love Georgian woman to Russian writer.
33-year-old Alexander Griboedov, as an ambassador of the Russian Empire, was sent to Persia. On the way, he visited the house of his longtime friend, Prince Alexander Chavchavadze. And from the first minutes his heart was conquered by the daughter of the owner of the house - fifteen-year-old beauty Nina. And the young princess could not resist the avalanche great feeling to the Russian writer: “Like a ray of sunshine burned me!” she confessed to her friend.
Having gotten married in the fall, the newlyweds went to Persia, and in January of the following 1829, Alexander was brutally killed by a crowd of Islamic fanatics. So short was the moment of captivating love.
Nina Chavchavadze-Griboyedova did not remarry and for almost 30 years, until the end of her days, she did not stop mourning. “The Black Rose of Tiflis” - that’s what they called her in the city, she wrote on her husband’s tombstone:
“Your mind and deeds are immortal in Russian memory, but why did my love survive you?”
The burials of the Griboedovs are located nearby, in the city pantheon of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.
You can list and list beautiful stories as a triumph of great love. It's easy to love someone who shares your feelings. Where does love come from and what does it feed on when it is not divided, and sometimes even rejected? However, this does not make the feeling weaker, but perhaps, on the contrary, even more piercing and stunning in its strength.
Elbert Einstein and Margarita Konenkova
The story of this unusual relationship is not a romantically filled hymn of devoted love; it is interesting only because it reveals the only love of a brilliant scientist, which broke his heart.
Einstein fell in love with Margarita Konenkova (nee Vorontsova), the wife of a famous Russian sculptor, at the age of 56, as soon as he saw her. How different young Margarita was from his clumsy wife Elsa with a blurry figure and an exhausted face, whom he never loved, like his first wife Mileva, a Serbian! And here is the chiseled waist, beautiful breasts, graceful position of the hands - for the sake of preserving this beauty, the woman refused to have children. Her sculptor husband adored and idolized her and silently accepted her decision.
Konenkov the sculptor and his muse-wife Margarita Konenkova.
At first, Margarita treated Einstein as just another amusement; accustomed to constantly cheating on her husband with other men, she prepared herself for another flirtation. But she soon realized that she frozen heart begins to melt from hitherto unknown fiery feelings for the great genius.
A year later, Einstein's wife, Elsa, dies, and the shackles of marriage no longer fetter his love for Margot. Both of them don’t even try to hide her frequent visits to Princeton to the scientist’s mansion. And only Margarita’s husband does not seem to notice anything or pretends not to notice.... He is afraid of losing his Margarita - his muse and inspiration. And her caresses and tenderness were enough for many... Incredibly talented, smart, beautiful, she, like a lioness, easily conquered more and more new hearts, becoming the bohemian of America.
This relationship for three lasted a long time. While communicating, Margarita not only truly loved the founder of the theory of relativity, but also her homeland, the USSR, she carried out tasks of the NKVD and learned from him all the secrets of the development atomic bomb. When Einstein found out about this, he couldn’t even yell at his beloved, he just went to the FBI to ask for mercy for his beloved and helped her return to her homeland.
IN last years before parting Margarita and Albert.
Upon the return of the Konenkov family to the USSR, the love relationship was put to an end. From that moment on, life for Einstein lost all meaning. He flatly refused to comply with doctors' orders for surgery on his heart, which was no longer able to withstand the cruel finale of separation.
Moreover, the authorities forbade Margarita's correspondence with Einstein, which caused incredible suffering for Albert. He wrote to her throughout the remaining years, but did not even have the opportunity to send letters. Even dying, 76-year-old Einstein could not send a farewell letter to his only beloved, with love in his heart for whom he left this world.
Without much torment, Margarita accepted the news of the death of her distant friend, although she was far from indifferent to him. Soon her husband, a sculptor, also died, and fate treated her incredibly cruelly in her declining years. Aged and unkempt, she lived in oblivion in her house-workshop, often falling into oblivion. Only the memories of her bright, only love for a man with eternally disheveled hair and a thick mustache brought her joy... She was dying of hunger, there was no one next to her except the devoid of virtue, an arrogant and cruel housekeeper who became the mistress here...
In 1980, in the center of prosperous Moscow, the body of an emaciated, once beautiful woman was taken out of a dirty apartment, with taps on her hand. last minutes gold watch - a gift from the Great Einstein. He personally put them on the wrist of the woman dearest to him when they parted.
Ivan Turgenev and Polina Viardot
The great Russian writer Ivan Turgenev and the famous opera diva of Spanish origin “with a French conscience and spirit,” as the newspapers of those times called her, Polina Viardot-Garcia are a vivid example of a dramatic love full of suffering throughout the writer’s life. Their relationship can rather be characterized as follows: one loved, the other only allowed herself to be loved... but there is no doubt that the friendship was sincere and strong.
In the outwardly inconspicuous, slightly stooped woman with bulging eyes, there really was something rough, gypsy, inherited from her Spanish father, singer Manuel Garcia. But according to contemporaries, as soon as the first notes fell from her voice, a spark ran through the audience, ecstasy seized those listening, and the appearance of the singer herself no longer mattered. Fascinated by the performer's voice, people fell into a kind of prostration, and there could not be one among them indifferent to this person.
Besotted at the first meeting by Polina’s enchanting voice, the Russian writer lost his head, and experienced a similar state for four whole decades until the last days of his life.
Viardot, being married to a man 20 years older than herself, felt only warm sympathy for Turgenev, the commonality of views and interests, the unity of spirit attracted him to him, and then she brought him closer to her, brought him into her home as a friend, a family member , beloved...
Polina Viardot-Garcia not only illuminated the writer’s soul with love, became his muse for many years, inspired his creativity, helped him with translations into French, honing his style, but was also by his side until his last days, dying of cancer far from his homeland. But Ivan Turgenev chose to love with unrequited love and be with her all his life, never having his own family and children.
Poor artist Niko Pirosmani and French actress Margarita
Ah, Margarita again...
“A million, a million scarlet roses...” - who doesn’t know the chorus of this song about the incredibly poignant and unrequited love of a poor artist for a visiting actress. It is also based real events. Niko Pirosmani is a Georgian artist from a simple family, who lost his parents at an early age, was in constant need, he did not even have the opportunity to buy canvases, and he placed all his creations on walls, boards, and oilcloth on the table. He often made a living by making signs for drinking establishments.
The beautiful French actress Margarita toured the provincial town in which Niko lived and worked, and at the same time the heart of the aspiring artist. Pirosmani fell in love with her passionately, from the first minutes, with all his gut, but, unfortunately, this love did not evoke a reciprocal feeling. The poor artist's heart burned in the flames of passion.
On his birthday (it was spring), Niko Pirosmani filled several carts with fresh flowers and brought them to the windows of the house where Margarita was staying. Armfuls of lilacs, white acacia and snow-white roses (not scarlet) filled the streets of Tiflis with an incomprehensible aroma and lay on the square like a thick floral blanket. It remains a mystery where the artist got these flowers...
Margarita’s heart, touched by the spectacle, trembled, she went out, kissed Niko and that’s it... The next day, the actress left the city forever. They didn't see each other again...
Nikola Pirosmanishvili did not become a great artist during his lifetime, his direction of primitivism in painting was not understood, he died at the age of 56, in complete poverty, until his last days, keeping the image of his beloved Margarita in his heart... The artist's works are kept in museums around the world.
Love is a great force that can transform the whole world, make a person better, stronger, higher, it is timeless. According to Turgenev:
“Only by her, only by love does life hold and move.”
And let it singe your wings with its flame at least once in your life! And may you be lucky in love!
And may you be lucky in love!!! Maybe you will be interested in reading about Valentine's Day, about falling in love and love in our lives in the article ( 1
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Love is the most extraordinary feeling in the world. Throughout human history, it has inspired poets, writers and singers, and sometimes love has even served as a reason for crimes and wars between entire countries. Our selection today includes ten of the most famous couples whose love stories led to tragic consequences. Some of them are reliably existing historical characters, others we know about mostly from legends and myths.
10 PHOTOS
According to legend, Paris was a Trojan prince, and Helen was the wife of Menelaus, the ruler of Sparta. Not finding mutual understanding with her husband, to whom she was forcibly married, Elena fled from Sparta along with the handsome Paris. However, in the midst of preparations for the wedding, Menelaus arrived with his troops at the walls of Troy, and a war began in which many Trojans died, including Paris. Elena had to return back to Sparta.
According to Greek myology, Orpheus was a talented singer, and Eurydice was his wife, who was once bitten by a snake and died. After this, Orpheus, unable to live without his beloved, descended into the mythical kingdom of Hades. He so charmed the inhabitants of the Underworld that Hades agreed to let Eurydice go, but on the condition that Orpheus should not look back until they left the realm of the dead. But Orpheus could not stand it and turned around to see if Eurydice was following him, and she was taken back - to the kingdom of Hades.
The love story between the Roman general Mark Antony and the Egyptian queen Cleopatra is widely known for its dramatic ending. Both lovers committed suicide after their troops were defeated in battle against Caesar's army.
Characters of a medieval legend who fall in love with each other, despite the fact that Tristan's uncle, Mark, is supposed to marry Isolde. Nevertheless, Isolde was married to Mark, and Tristan was married to the daughter of the King of Britain, Isolde Belorukaya. The story ended with Tristan being wounded by a poisoned weapon, and Isolde, who did not have time to say goodbye to him, soon died of grief. In the ranking of free audiobooks “Romance Novels,” the novel Tristan and Isolde is one of the most popular.
According to legend, Guinevere, the wife of King Arthur, was madly in love with Lancelot, one of the knights of the Round Table. When Arthur learned of this, the bitter rivalry between him and Lancelot destroyed the unity of the knights. In the end, Arthur was killed, and Guinevere went to a monastery out of grief.
The most famous love story, written by the famous Shakespeare, tells the story of the relationship between young lovers from two warring Italian families. How the story ended is probably known to everyone - Romeo poisoned himself, thinking that Juliet had died, and she, finding him dead, killed herself with a dagger.
Shah Jahan and his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal were happy together for a long time until Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to their 14th child. Devastated by grief, Shah Jahan could not come to his senses for a long time, but found some consolation in the construction of a luxurious mausoleum in memory of his wife. This mausoleum still stands today and is known as the Taj Mahal.
The relationship between Napoleon and his wife Josephine, according to eyewitness accounts, was very stormy, and eventually led to divorce. However, when Napoleon was dying, the last words of the emperor were addressed specifically to Josephine, his first wife. The love between the young king and the widow, who was 12 years older than him, caused outrage and protest from both the public and Alexander’s mother. However, he did not listen to anyone’s advice and insisted on getting married. It all ended with the royal couple being killed by a group of military officers dissatisfied with their rule.
American robbers who organized a gang responsible for several armed robberies and murders. Despite their criminal activities, according to eyewitnesses, Bonnie and Clyde loved each other deeply and were inseparable. The gangster love story ended very badly - the police shot at their car from an ambush, as a result of which both died on the spot.
Eternal? In the context of modern realities, these questions sound very rhetorical.
Meanwhile, love is the brightest and strongest feeling.
And now we will tell you the most famous love stories that will prove this to you.
1. Romeo and Juliet
The most popular couple in the whole world, which has become synonymous with the word “love”. "Romeo and Juliet", a tragedy from the pen of William Shakespeare, about two teenagers from warring families who fall in love with each other. For the sake of their feelings, they decided to sacrifice their own lives, which finally reconciled the warring families.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra fell in love at first sight. Since they were quite influential people, Egypt only benefited from their romance, but the Romans, on the contrary, were afraid of the growing influence of the Egyptians. Despite everything, Cleopatra and Mark Antony entered into. One day, while fighting against the Romans, Mark was informed of Cleopatra's false death. Unable to find the strength to live on, he committed suicide. Upon learning of the death of her lover, Cleopatra also committed suicide.
Sir Lancelot fell in love with Queen Guinevere, wife of King Arthur. Their passion flared up very slowly, but one day they were caught by surprise in the queen's bedroom. The escape attempt failed, or rather, only Lancelot escaped. The queen was sentenced to death for treason. However, Lancelot saved her from certain death. At the same time, the Knights of the Round Table split into two groups, weakening the influence of King Arthur. The lovers had to part – Lancelot ended his days as a hermit, and Guinevere became a nun.
The story of the unhappy love of Tristan and Isolde also took place during the reign of King Arthur. Isolde, daughter of the King of Ireland, became engaged to King Mark of Cornwall. Tristan, King Mark's nephew, was to accompany Isolde to Cornwall. However, young people fall in love with each other. But, despite this, the royal wedding still took place, although the intrigue with Tristan continues after. The deceived king eventually discovers his wife's affair, but forgives her, exiling Tristan from Cornwall.
In Brittany, Tristan met Isolde, who was very similar to his beloved. He married her, although the marriage could not be called happy. One day he became very ill and sent for his beloved, in the hope of healing. He agreed with the captain of the ship that if Isolde arrived, he would raise white sails, if not, then black ones. However, Tristan's wife deceived him, saying that the ship's sails were black. Tristan died of grief without waiting for his beloved, and soon she died of a broken heart.
Helen of Troy is one of the most beautiful women in world literature. She married the king of Sparta, Menelaus. However, she was kidnapped by Paris, the son of King Priam of Troy, and taken to Troy. For the sake of the liberation of Helen, a huge army headed by the brother of Menelaus headed to Troy. Troy was destroyed, and the beautiful Helen returned to Sparta, to her happy family life with Menelaus.
The love story of Orpheus and Eurydice is an ancient Greek myth about the desperate and courageous love of a man for a nymph. They lived in love and harmony until Eurydice began to be pursued by Aristaeus, the Greek god of earth and agriculture. Fleeing from his pursuit, Eurydice fell into a snake's nest, where she was fatally stung. Orpheus, distraught with grief, sang sad songs that moved both the gods and the nymphs to pity. They advised him to go down to the kingdom of the dead, where his music moved Hades and Persephone to pity. They agreed to return Eurydice to earth, but set a condition - Orpheus should not turn around and look at her. But he was unable to fulfill this condition, and she disappeared again, forever.
Napoleon married Josephine for convenience when he was 26 years old. She was older than him and much richer. However, after some time, the couple fell in love with each other, although they indulged in infidelity. They stayed together due to mutual respect, but separated due to Josephine's infertility.
Sacrifice in relationships is not for everyone. 20 years passed after the separation and before the new reunion. for long years. Soon after the wedding, Odysseus went to war. Despite dwindling hopes for her husband's return, Penelope refused her suitors exactly 108 times, just as Odysseus resisted the charms of the witch who promised him eternal youth. After 20 years, Odysseus returned to his wife and son and the family was finally reunited.
Francesca, being married to the terrible man Gianciotto Malatesta, fell in love with his brother, Paolo. However, soon the deceived husband found out about everything and killed both of them.
10. Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell is about the love and hate between Scarlett and Rhett Butler. They quarreled, then made up, only to quarrel again. Scarlett can't decide who she really needs. Having chosen Rhett, they again do not agree in character and finally break up.
Orphan Jane gets a job as a governess in the house of the rich man Edward Rochester, love breaks out between them and they decide to get married. But on the wedding day, the bride finds out that her groom is already married. Jane escapes and returns only after Rochester's house is destroyed by fire, where his wife died and he himself became blind. Jane remains by her lover's side, and their love lasts until the end of their lives.
A romantic and tragic story about unattainable love, written by Nizami Ganja. Leyli and Kays fall in love while still schoolchildren. However, they are soon forbidden to communicate, and Qais goes to live in the desert, where he becomes known as Majnun - a madman. There he meets a Bedouin who promised him to return his beloved.
However, the lovers still cannot be together because of Leili's father. Soon she becomes the wife of another man. However, after the death of her husband, Leili still meets with Majnun, although they could not be together. After death they were buried together.
The story of a monk and a nun who, despite everything, fell in love with each other and conceived a child, after which they secretly got married. But Fultbert, Heloise's uncle, hides his niece in the monastery and orders Abelard to be castrated. Having gone through troubles and adversity, they continued to love each other until the end of their lives.
Pyramus and Thisbe had been friends since childhood, but their parents were against the wedding. One day, they decided to meet at dawn near a mulberry tree. Thisbe arrived first and noticed a lion who had come to drink from a spring located near a tree. The predator's mouth was bloody, and Thisbe began to run away from him. On the way, she lost a scarf, which the lion liked. Pyramus, who came to the tree, decided that the lion had killed his beloved and pierced himself with his own sword. Coming out of hiding, Thisbe saw the dead Pyramus and killed herself with his sword.
Darcy is a typical representative of the aristocracy, and Elizabeth is one of the five daughters of a gentleman with very modest incomes. Jane Austen's novel describes the whole story of the birth of love between two representatives of different social classes, who cannot be together, nor can they love someone else.
Salim, the son of the Mongol emperor Akbar, fell in love with the courtesan Anarkali. But his father resisted their love in every possible way, trying to alienate the lovers from each other. However, Salim did not accept his father’s decision and declared war on him. Salim was defeated and sentenced to death. Anarkali decides to help her lover by giving up her love to save Salim. She was buried alive in a brick wall in front of Salim.
Pocahontas, an Indian princess, daughter of Powhatan, chief of the Powhatan tribe, first saw Europeans in 1607. She turned her attention to John Smith, who was captured and tortured by her fellow tribesmen. Pocahontas saved him from death, and he soon became a member of the tribe. Smith and Pocahontas became friends, and the princess visited Jamestown, giving him letters from her father.
However, on one of her next visits she was told that Smith was dead. After some time, Pocahontas is captured by Sir Samuel Argall, hoping to use her as an intermediary in the release of English prisoners. While in captivity, the princess becomes a Christian and takes the name Rebecca. A year later, she marries John Ralph, and one day dates John Smith, 8 years later. This is their last meeting.
Back in 1612, teenage girl Arjumand Banu became the wife of 15-year-old Shah Jahan, ruler of the Mughal Empire. After a while, she took the name Mumtaz Mahal and bore her husband 14 children, becoming his beloved wife. She died in 1629, and the emperor ordered the erection of a monument to his beloved wife. It took 20 years of work, 1,000 elephants and 20,000 workers, and the result was the Taj Mahal monument. After a while, Shah Jahan overthrew him own son, and, while imprisoned in the Red Fort in Agra, he looked at the monument of his beloved, where he was subsequently buried.
The young scientist Marie Sklodowska spent countless hours in the library, where she met Pierre Curie, the director of one of the laboratories in which she worked. Pierre courted her for a long time and made repeated attempts to propose marriage. In 1895 they got married, and in 1898 with common effort radium and polonium were discovered. In 1903 they received the Nobel Prize, and a year later Pierre died. Marie decided to continue their common cause, and in 1911 she received another Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Marie died in 1934 from leukemia.
Victoria was a cheerful and cheerful girl. Having ascended the throne in 1837, she married Prince Albert three years later. The couple had 9 children, they loved each other dearly.
After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria did not appear in public for three years. Her solitude caused criticism and bewilderment. She gradually returned to public life, although she never stopped mourning for her husband until her own death in 1901. Her reign was the longest in English history, during which Britain became a world power on which “the sun never sets.”
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