007 - First Letter - verse translation

The Letters of a Portuguese Nun (Les Lettres Portugaises), first published anonymously in Paris in 1669, sparked a literary sensation with their passionate and heartfelt content. This collection of five letters saw five editions released in its inaugural year and more than forty throughout the 17th century. A Cologne edition from 1669 suggested the Marquis de Chamilly as the recipient, but the true identity of the female author remained shrouded in mystery. Translated into numerous languages, these letters not only set the stage for the rise of sentimentalism in European culture but also paved the way for the sentimental and epistolary novel genres during the 18th century. The fervent interest in these letters was so profound that the term portugaise became synonymous with a passionate love letter in the 17th century. While the authorship was attributed to Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun, in the 18th century, 20th-century scholars have proposed that they may be a work of fiction by Gabriel-Joseph de La Vergne, comte de Guilleragues, a French politician. Regardless of the debates surrounding authorship, the beauty and emotional depth of these letters shine through, presented here in both prose and verse translations. - Summary by Leni