Have you ever had a crush / fallen in love with an historical figure?

[NegroniLover]

This has happened to me in the most unexpected manner. I'm in my early 50s (old enough to know better) & I've developed a massive obsession / crush on a long dead writer. It's so weird & had never happened to me before.
Please tell me someone else has experienced this?

I'm SO glad I am.not alone...

I currently have a bit of a crush on John Donne having just read a brilliant biography of him!

I could get behind a John Donne crush.

I love John Donne's poetry - am slightly afraid to read any biography now

I recommend Nuala O'connor's Nora - an OUTSTANDING book which i think pushed a passing interest into absolute obsession

His love letters to Nora make me hoot. They clearly had a fantastic sex life. I have never had a moment of fancying Joyce though.

I agree with the pp who mentioned Donne. His erotic poetry is so sexy. And fun! I believe he went a bit religious and anti-fun in later life so it's just sexy young Mr. Donne please.

Michael Collins, since I was about 14.

Liam Neeson playing him in a biopic hasn't helped!

Was it the one by Katherine Rundell? I have it on my To Read pile.

Oh wait - I love Michael Collins too

Was it the one by Katherine Rundell? I have it on my To Read pile.

Yes! It’s fantastic.

Tim Pat Coogan's biography of Michael Collins is great & I have met his grand nephew who looks v like him 😀

I fancied Macbeth when I was a teenager 🤣

My friend fancied with Scott Tracey!

Bloody hell @NegroniLover you love a dearly departed Irish man. Do you want me to send you a photo of my great grandfather?

<adds Donne biography to shopping list >

I believe Charkes II has a following and has appeared in a few novels. These include Jean Plaidy books, The Darling Strumpet and Forever Amber.

Probably @JaneJeffer

Have a slight crush on George VI after seeing lots of his photos after the Queen died. What a gorgeous looking man and seemed a loving husband and father

Yes. I have experienced this too. I was 19 and it lasted into my early 20s. A 19th century Italian who by most accounts lived on his own terms whilst fulfilling a
civic duty.

I also LOVE Brendan Behan but that one is purely platonic!

Also Camille Desmoulins (as depicted in Hilary Mantel’s A Place of Greater Safety).

I had a crush on the WW1 poet Rupert Brooke. I read his biography as a 16 year old. (Though just googled his picture and he isn't as good looking as I remembered).

Oscar Wilde. Adore his poetry, and would love to have met him.

Lord Byron. So wicked

This thread is giving me comfort (despite being FAR from teenage year excuses

Do you live in Dublin, OP?

When I was home last week I saw this listed in the property section of the Irish Times. Claiming, I think a bit tenuously, to have been a former residence of your fella James. You could go have a snoop.

www.irishtimes.com/property/residential/2022/10/06/beachfront-period-home-in-sandymount-where-james-joyce-once-lived-on-the-market-for-215m/