Ok, despite my cynical ways I must confess I´m in a romantic mood today... must be fall approaching! I want to share here my fave historical romantic figure: Count Axel von Fersen. After I saw Sofia Coppola´s movie about Marie Antoinette, I did some research and to my astonishment, this Swedish count really, really, really loved this controversial lady to death (literally).

He was a preppy young diplomat, the darling of all European courts, rather foppish, only concerned about his elegant garments and getting acquainted with the cream of society... until he met the queen of France and fell hopelessly in love. Then he matured into a sad, heroic man bitten by the bug of unrequitted love. He did anything in his power to protect her reputation, to no avail. In her final years, in the face of her disgrace, he compromised his fortune and even risked his life many times to safe her, and later on merely to console her in her final days. After her execution, he vowed his life had lost any sense, and in fact he never married (even though his bed was not exactly empty, mind you.... he was human after all).

This frienship, or whatever it was, is a fascinating read:

http://www.authorama.com/famous-affinities-of-history-ii-2.html

http://www.amazon.com/Fatal-Friendship-Stanley-Loomis/dp/0931933331

http://www.amazon.com/Correspondence-Fersen-Grand-Marshal-Sweden-Relating/dp/1402176309