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Original poster

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

220 replies

NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 21:12

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?

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15
Dinosauratemydaffodils · 12/10/2022 22:10

I've been in love with Richard Plantagenet since I was a child

Me too. Also had a massive crush of Richard, Earl of Warwick (the Kingmaker) and William the Conqueror in my teens.

Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:11

I very much admire Oscar Wilde though no crush & suspect I'd be terrified by him in real life

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Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:11

This is a THING - hurrah - I am not losing it (too badly)

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Interested in this thread?

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Dating General relationships
LetUsPonce · 12/10/2022 22:12

Mary, Queen of Scots. She was executed on 8 February. That's my birthday. Cue: crush.

bookworm14 · 12/10/2022 22:13

I love this thread!

Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:13

Ahem...that might also be MY birthday- now need to read up on Mary Queen of Scots

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EdieLedwell · 12/10/2022 22:14

NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:01

Oh wait - I love Michael Collins too Grin

😅😅

Discovereads · 12/10/2022 22:14

I had a crush on young Einstein…
(blame the film)

Have you ever had a crush / fallen in love with an historical figure?
Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:14

I love this thread too

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Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:15

My poor husband Grin

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bookworm14 · 12/10/2022 22:16

NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:15

My poor husband Grin

You mean he can’t compete with James Joyce? 😄

flowersWB · 12/10/2022 22:16

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 12/10/2022 22:10

I've been in love with Richard Plantagenet since I was a child

Me too. Also had a massive crush of Richard, Earl of Warwick (the Kingmaker) and William the Conqueror in my teens.

Ha! William the Conqueror was vile! A proper villain! Wink Desperate to know what you saw in him?

Glitteratitar · 12/10/2022 22:17

Richard III…he so didn’t kill his nephews in the Tower!

(I read the Sunne in Splendour when I was a teen…)

Confundo · 12/10/2022 22:17

Oh Michael Collins was definitely wanted

Have you ever had a crush / fallen in love with an historical figure?
flowersWB · 12/10/2022 22:18

Mine isn't quite a crush but I've felt a deep affinity with and affection for Anne Boleyn since I was about 8

JaneJeffer · 12/10/2022 22:19

flowersWB · 12/10/2022 22:18

Mine isn't quite a crush but I've felt a deep affinity with and affection for Anne Boleyn since I was about 8

I actually have pictures of her on my phone Blush

Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:21

This thread is amazing!
I went to the tower of London specifically because of Ann boylen.!

No, dh can't compete with James Joyce

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Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:23

Why do you think some of us identify so strongly with historical characters who probably have v little in common with our day to day lives?

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Nosejobent · 12/10/2022 22:26

Sylvia Plath, not historical though!

CarolShields · 12/10/2022 22:27

Cough cough .. mine is a bit more recent .. and was still with us when my crush first developed.

CarolShields · 12/10/2022 22:29

Also agree about George VI. I think that’s where Charles gets his sensitivity from.

bookworm14 · 12/10/2022 22:29

Tell us who it is, Carol!

Original poster
NegroniLover · 12/10/2022 22:30

Is it......Carol Shields,......?

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Farmageddon · 12/10/2022 22:30

Quirrelsotherface · 12/10/2022 22:05

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, he was very good-looking in his youth. I read a biography of the Queen Mother and they seemed to adore each other. He also had a lot of difficulties when he was growing up - his father was an authoritarian, mother was very cold, he had a stutter etc. so had to overcome a lot.

I think it's easy to have a crush on someone from the past - you only know certain information about them, so you can project a lot and fill in the gaps as you would wish them to be.
And it's not like they are on twitter making idiots of themselves - I think in general we know too much about celebrities these days, there's not much mystery. Plus there's a general romanticising of the past which helps...

I often have crushes on singers or celebrities from a certain time period, but not as they currently are. And then I'm disappointed when I realise they've aged, which is obviously totally ridiculous.

CarolShields · 12/10/2022 22:31

Bookworm14 It’s all in the name 😉Christened myself after her.