A novel in which a famous woman dies. Great Love: Novels That Shook the World
The romance between the famous producer began when the actress was 19 years old. But their acquaintance took place even earlier - Ponti noticed a young girl at a beauty contest three years earlier, adding: “You have a very interesting face.” Who would have thought that this would result in one of the most enduring celebrity marriages?
Their relationship, 22 years apart, at first resembled modern history Pygmalion: the eminent maestro tried with all his might to “blind” a young provincial girl into a secular lady - he forced her to study foreign languages, hired teachers in etiquette and art history. Of course, his efforts paid off in spades: and, as expected, he fell madly in love. Especially for the sake of Lauren (her pseudonym, by the way, is also the result of Ponti’s fantasy), the producer divorced his wife, which in Italy at that time was considered absolutely not comme-il-faut. The couple lived together until the death of Carlo Ponti in 2007.
Vladimir Mayakovsky and Lilya Brik
One of the most controversial couples of the 20th century, and the most tragic. It all started back in 1915, when his beloved Elsa, Lily’s sister, introduced the poet to the Brik family. After reading his signature “Clouds in Pants,” Mayakovsky immediately fell before Lily’s spell. One of the most touching gifts presented by the poet to his beloved was a ring engraved with Lily’s initials: L.Y.B., which, when rotated in a circle, formed an endless “love.”
Osip with Lilya Brik and Mayakovsky
Mayakovsky and Lilya Brik
The couple also irrevocably fell in love with the poet, and accepted him into their family, and in the very literally. Everyone was gossiping about their trio, who lived in the same apartment. It’s hard to imagine that under Soviet morality this would have been acceptable. But, as they say, creative people have their own world, and in addition, the poet was among Stalin’s favorites. Lilya played important role in the works of Mayakovsky: inspired by unhappy love, he wrote perhaps the most masterpiece poems. Although the poet died early, their love remained to live after them, in his immortal creations. “Instead of Writing” is one of the most indestructible poetic monuments of the last century.
Adriano Celentano and Claudia Mori
53 years together - are there many couples in the world who can break the record of the most famous Italian couple? But when they met on the set of the film “A Very Strange Guy,” there was no chemistry between the actors. Yes, the actress was not at all impressed by the shocking Adriano, the idol of millions of girls around the world. However, the temperamental Italian decided not to give up and tried in every possible way to attract Mori's attention. The actress thawed out only after a public declaration of love, which Celentano dedicated to her at his concert. Not later for a long time the lovers got engaged.
What is the secret of their happiness? married life? Italian cheerfulness, family values, the ability to forgive? Perhaps all at once. As Mori says: “I have never met anyone more interesting than Celentano in my life...” Now the couple lives near Milan, they have three children.
Iman and David Bowie
Could a romance between a rock star and a model turn into something more? Of course - this has been proven by example Iman and David Bowie. Both had not the most successful relationships behind them: Bowie divorced the scandalous party girl Angela Barnett, and Iman barely recovered from her second marriage to a basketball player who was addicted to drugs. But having met the model at a charity event, Bowie admitted that it was love at first sight. On their first date, the rock singer invited her... to drink tea, even though he himself had been drinking exclusively coffee all his life. And they say that stars are not shy.
The couple got engaged in Florence and lived together until David's death in 2016. Iman raises them common daughter, Lexi. In an interview, David Bowie remarked: “You probably think that being a rock idol married to a supermodel is the best thing that can happen in life? In principle, that’s how it is.”
Maya Plisetskaya and Rodion Shchedrin
Prima Bolshoi Theater and the composer met while visiting Lily Brik. At that time, Maya was 29, he was 22. However, they began dating only three years after fateful meeting. How can you fall in love with a ballerina? Of course, seeing her on stage is exactly what happened with Shchedrin and Plisetskaya. Many were condescending towards the marriage of the creative couple, but as they say, he who laughs last laughs.
The lovers lived together for 57 years, until Plisetskaya’s death in 2015. The ballerina herself said that she did not believe in special secrets of family happiness: “Rodion and I simply coincided.” The couple had no children, it was conscious decision– the ballerina did not want to spoil her figure, and for the sake of love Shchedrin agreed.
Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina
The couple, who lived together for fifty years and one day, first met on the set of Cicco and Pallina. The meeting turned out to be fatal: two weeks later the lovers got married. However, in order to maintain all decency, the wedding ceremony had to be postponed for six months. After marriage, the actress turned from Julia Anna to Juliet, at the whim of her husband.
Like the Shchedrin-Plisetskaya couple, the marriage of the great Italian director and his wife was childless. The actress really wanted to have children, but, alas, after a miscarriage and the rapid death of her first child, she could no longer do so. “If a childless couple does not break up, this means that the connection is really strong,” the maestro once said, and he turned out to be right.
Despite this, their “children” became unique masterpieces cinema. One of them - " Sweet life“By the way, this is largely due to Mazina. It was she who forced her husband to pay attention to his former colleague professionally, Marcello Mastroianni, who later played the main role in it.
Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna
Contrary to the plot of last year's acclaimed film "Matilda", the love story of the last Russian Tsar and his wife was completely different. Nikolay saw for the first time future wife, in 1889, when he was 20. Three years later, he already wrote in his diary:
“I dream of someday marrying Alix G. I have loved her for a long time, but especially deeply and strongly since 1889, when she spent 6 weeks in St. Petersburg. All this time I didn’t believe my feeling, I didn’t believe that my cherished dream may come true"...
Moreover, the young king defended his feelings, because his parents predicted for him a completely different bride - Elena Louise Henrietta, daughter of the Count of Paris. As a result, fate decreed in favor of Nikolai, and the lovers got married. Their marriage produced five children. Until the very last days lives, sadly cut short in 1918, they sent each other tender letters with declarations of love.
On the eve of Valentine's Day, we decided to fight back against the cynics and remember a few romantic and funny stories about true love, which, no matter what anyone says, exists. Yes, love is like toothache in heart. But how nice...
Adam and Eve
The very first romantic couple in history still inspires... joke writers. For example, such as: “Dad, from whom did people come?” - “From Adam and Eve, son!” - “And the teacher says that from monkeys...” - “Well, what makes you think that monkeys couldn’t be called that?” or “Adam seduced Eve with the phrase: “Girlfriend, come to me, I have no ancestors...”
Adam and Eve. Painting “The Fall” by Hendrik Goltzius, 1616. Photo: Public Domain
Admiral Kolchak and Anna Timireva
Alexander Kolchak was married and 19 years older than Anna, Anna was married. But, having fallen in love, she divorced her husband and became his common-law wife. “I love you more than that...” - he told her, and she followed him to prison, achieving “self-arrest”... When Kolchak was shot, Anna spent another 30 (!) years in prisons and camps.. .
Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow- a pair of legendary American robbers who found their own way to fan the fire of love. Robberies, chases - as long as the passion does not fade away. Everything would have been fine if the extravagant couple had not “thrown people’s lives into the furnace” of their love by kissing over corpses. We should go to the morgue to hug each other instead of killing people...
Bonnie and Clyde. Photo: Public Domain
Vysotsky and Vladi
By the age of 30, Marina already had everything. The 1st husband is famous (Geoffrey from “Angelique”), the 2nd husband is a pilot... It seemed so to her - until she saw Vysotsky at the Taganka Theater. Then she fell in love first with the voice - on the phone, then forever and completely. Their relationship was called the “Russian-French battle”, in which... both won.
Vladimir Vysotsky and Marina Vladi. Photo: www.russianlook.com
Yesenin and Duncan
The extravagant dancer who came from the USA knew only 10 Russian words. Having met Yesenin, she whispered: “Angel,” looked into his eyes and corrected herself: “Tchort!” The poet and the dancer, who was 19 (!) years older than him, got together immediately and passionately. They fought, enraged secular society and never learned each other’s languages...
Master and Margarita
Our most popular romantic “book couple” (cynics, however, believe that this is Anna Karenina and a steam locomotive). There is an opinion that Bulgakov“wrote” Margarita with his Elena's wife, and the Master, accordingly, from himself (although his hero looks more like Gogol). But it was Elena, like Margarita, who anxiously fought for all his manuscripts...
Here is an example for modern young ladies who think that waiting a year for a guy to get out of the army is as unrealistic as then looking at his demobilization album with interest. Girls, take an example from Penelope! Odysseus left to fight almost immediately after the wedding, with one hand, so to speak, in his tailcoat - and she waited for him for 20 (!) years, rejecting 108 suitors!
Odysseus and Penelope. Photo: www.globallookpress.com
Peter and Fevronia
Peter was the Prince of Murom, Fevronia was a simple girl, but not a simple one. She knew how to skillfully heal - she saved Peter from a snake bite with the words: “He will be healthy if I am his wife.” Peter, who had recovered, was in no hurry to get married and fell ill again. He realized it, got married, fell in love - so much so that when the spouses who died on the same day (!) were put in different coffins, the next morning they found themselves in one.
Pugacheva and Galkin
Let them write jokes about them like “ Nadezhda Babkina, Alla Pugacheva... Unlike Angelina Jolie our stars don’t adopt children, but... marry them” or “Little Maximka made his way to Pugacheva for an autograph: “Auntie, sign it!” “When you grow up, then we’ll sign!”, somehow the dirt doesn’t stick to them. Unless the castle in the village of Gryaz stuck...
Romeo and Juliet
They say that in the 1st Shakespearean edition, Mercutio called not “a plague on both your houses,” but... syphilis. They say that the Juliet balcony did not exist, it was just that in the theater during the 1st production they used... what was left over from the previous performance. And yet the story of two lovers, which stopped the feud between families, does not fade, but still touches us.
Still from the film "Romeo and Juliet".
Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous. Love is not boastful and vain, rude and selfish, it does not take offense and does not offend!
Mark Antony (83 - 30 BC) and Cleopatra (63 - 30 BC)
The Egyptian queen Cleopatra became famous as a skilled seductress. Even the great Julius Caesar fell victim to her charms, taking Cleopatra’s side in her conflict with her brother and returning the throne to her. But the most famous story is her relationship with the Roman commander Mark Antony. For the sake of the beautiful Egyptian queen Anthony left his wife and quarreled with Emperor Octavian Augustus. Antony and Cleopatra stood together against Augustus, challenging his right to rule over Rome after the death of Caesar, but lost. After the defeat, Antony threw himself on the sword, and Cleopatra committed suicide 12 days later. According to one legend, she put it to her breast poisonous snake, according to another, she lowered her hand into a basket with a snake.
Mark Antony Cleopatra
Pierre Abelard (1079 - 1142) and Heloise (about 1100 - 1163)
Tragic story famous love medieval philosopher Pierre Abelard and a girl named Heloise has survived to this day thanks to Abelard’s autobiography “The History of My Disasters,” as well as the works of numerous poets and writers. 40-year-old Abelard took his young lover from the house of her uncle, Canon Fulbert, to Brittany. There, Eloise gave birth to a son, and the couple got married in secret. However, the girl did not want to interfere with her husband’s academic career, because the rules of that time required that the scientist not be married. She went to live in a Benedictine monastery. Fulbert laid the blame for this on Abelard and, with the help of his servants, castrated him, thereby forever closing his path to high positions. Soon Abelard entered the monastery, and after him Heloise took monastic vows. Until the end of life ex-spouses corresponded, and after death they were buried nearby in the Parisian cemetery of Père Lachaise.
Pierre Abelard Heloise
Henry II (1519 - 1559) and Diana de Poitiers (1499 - 1566)
Diane de Poitiers, the official mistress of the French King Henry II, was 20 years older than her lover. However, this did not prevent her from maintaining her influence on the king throughout his life. In fact, beautiful Diana was the rightful ruler of France, and a real queen and the wife of Henry II, Catherine de Medici, was in the background. It is believed that even in old age, Diana de Poitiers amazed with her extraordinary freshness, beauty and lively mind. Even in her sixties, she remained the first lady in the heart of the king, who wore her colors and generously endowed her with titles and privileges. In 1559, Henry II was wounded at a tournament and soon died from his wounds, and Diana de Poitiers left the court, leaving all her jewelry to the dowager queen. The former ruler of France spent the last years of her life in her own castle.
Diane de Poitiers Henry II
Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758 - 1805) and Lady Emma Hamilton (1761 or 1765 - 1815)
Englishwoman Emma Hamilton went from a saleswoman to the wife of the British ambassador in Naples. There, in Naples, she met the famous Admiral Nelson and became his mistress. This affair lasted 7 years, from 1798 to 1805. Newspapers wrote about the admiral’s scandalous affair with another man’s wife, but public censure did not change Nelson’s feelings for Lady Hamilton. In 1801 their daughter, Horatia, was born. On October 21, 1805, Admiral Nelson was mortally wounded during the Battle of Trafalgar. After his death, Emma found herself in a difficult position: although Nelson asked the government to take care of her in the event of his death, about his mistress national hero completely forgotten. Lady Hamilton spent the rest of her life in poverty.
Admiral Horatio Nelson Lady Emma Hamilton
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier in the film Lady Hamilton. 1941
Alexander Kolchak (1886-1920) and Anna Timireva (1893-1975))
Anna and Alexander met in 1915 in Helsingfors. Anna was 22, Kolchak was 41.
There are five years between their first meeting and the last. Most of this time they lived separately, each with their own family. We haven't seen each other for months or even years. Finally deciding to unite with Kolchak. In August 1918, by decree of the Vladivostok Consistory, she was officially divorced from her husband and after that considered herself Kolchak’s wife. They stayed together from the summer of 1918 to January 1920. At that time, Kolchak headed armed struggle with Bolshevism, was the supreme ruler. Until the very end, they addressed each other as “you” and by their first and patronymic names.
In the surviving letters - there are only 53 of them - only once does she break out - “Sasha”: “It’s very bad, Sashenka, my dear, Lord, when you first return, I’m cold, sad and so lonely without you.”
Loving the admiral endlessly, Timireva herself went under arrest in January 1920. “I was arrested on Admiral Kolchak’s train and with him. I was 26 years old then, I loved him, and was close to him, and could not leave him in last years his life. That, in essence, is all,” Anna Vasilievna wrote in her applications for rehabilitation.
A few hours before the execution, Kolchak wrote a note to Anna Vasilyevna, which never reached her: “My dear dove, I received your note, thank you for your affection and concern for me... don’t worry about me. I feel better, my colds are going away. I think that transfer to another cell is impossible. I think only about you and your fate... I don’t worry about myself - everything is known in advance. My every move is being watched, and it is very difficult for me to write... ish me. Your notes - the only joy, which I can have. I pray for you and bow to your sacrifice. My dear, my beloved, don’t worry about me and take care of yourself... oh goodbye, I kiss your hands.”
After his execution in 1920, she lived for another half a century, spending a total of about thirty years in prisons, camps and exile. In the intervals between arrests, she worked as a librarian, archivist, painter, theater prop maker, and draftsman. Rehabilitated in March 1960. She died in 1975.
Alexander Kolchak Anna Timireva
Love is a great feeling that can work miracles: change the world and people, heal heart wounds and inflict new ones, shake society and give peace. Beautiful and unimaginable interesting stories about love can be found not only in film novels and books, but also real life, especially if you pay attention to celebrities. We have selected the most mind-blowing love stories that were talked about on every corner.
This love story is not a scandal, but simply the collapse of all iron, as it would seem, English traditions. The thing is that the chosen one of the representative of the monarchy, Edward, who became the first and only king in the entire long history England, she became an ordinary, not even very attractive, divorced (twice!) American woman. It was because of her that he abdicated the throne.
Their romance began when Mrs. Wallis lived in London with her new husband, successful and wealthy businessman Ernest Simpson. Their first fateful meeting happened in 1930 at a dinner party. At first sight, the woman fell into the heart of the Prince of Wales, and everyone then wondered why, because she was not a beauty. Although it is worth noting her charm and magical charm.
The couple began to have their affair in front of everyone, not even embarrassed by their position (Wallis is behind her husband, and Edward is a representative of the monarchy). They attended social events together, dined in restaurants, and walked the streets. The royal family thought that this was a frivolous, non-long-term hobby for the prince, which would soon fizzle out. But how wrong they were! As soon as Edward took the throne after the death of King George V, the American woman filed for divorce. The couple decided to get married, but then someone intervened The Royal Family, who set a condition for Edward: either the throne or a flighty woman from another country.
The result was the king's most famous speech, in which he abdicated the throne because of love. The couple lived for a very long time. They did everything together: wrote memoirs, traveled, gave interviews. True, they did not have children. Happiness ended in 1972, when Edward died of cancer.
In whose relationship passion was seething, it was between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Their romance of the century lasted a long time, experienced ups and downs.
Their love story can be easily used as the basis of the plot and a beautiful and exciting film can be made. It would have everything: passionate kisses, quarrels and separations, fights and reconciliation, divorce and wedding (even twice). Not only did they star in films together that brought fame and awards, but they also destroyed numbers together while they fought furiously.
Their meeting took place on the set of the film “Cleopatra” in 1962. He was successfully married to actress Wallace Sybil, and she was also not free, she was married to the singer. The passion that flared up on the set overwhelmed Richard and Elizabeth so much that they continued to kiss even after the romantic scene was filmed. They behaved depravedly, without being embarrassed by anyone, they made love wherever they had to. The paparazzi were constantly hunting for them. Even the Vatican officially recognized this relationship as sinful, but the couple continued to meet. They eventually divorced their spouses and got married. Later they separated, but they were constantly drawn to each other.
Yes, the romances of the Golden Age of Hollywood do not compare to modern adultery. But there is a couple whose love has passed many tests and is one of the most beautiful.
For a long time, the romance between Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones was viewed with skepticism, as if it would “play and quit.” But it was not there!
The successful actor, who managed to win several Oscars, simply fell in love at first sight with the young aspiring, but already famous actress, at the premiere of her film “The Mask of Zorro.” Michael, who had been married for 23 years at that time, simply could not allow Katherine to remain in the role of his mistress. He pursued her as best he could, a little old-fashioned, but selflessly. Five months later, the actress’s fortress fell, and the lovers set off on a trip around the world.
On July 8th we celebrate the Day of Remembrance of Peter and Fevronia, which is the Russian version of Valentine's Day. On this day we decided to remember the 7 most striking love stories and couples in love in the Russian tradition.
As one great Englishman assured, lovers promise more than they can deliver, but do not even do what is possible. This statement is challenged by numerous examples, some of which, however, are not entirely real, but this does not make them any less indicative.
Ivan and Vasilisa
Love between these fairy-tale characters for obvious reasons, it did not arise immediately, because, as we know, Vasilisa the Wise skillfully disguised herself as a frog. However, Ivan, acting on the principle “the boy said, the boy did,” as he promised, married an amphibian, for which he was rewarded: she sewed a shirt for Tsar Vasily better than anyone else, and baked the most delicious loaf, and at the reception “the frog in box" appeared spectacularly. And how she danced in front of the king... well, you remember, to the right there is a lake, to the left there are swans. If Ivan had not burned her frog skin, the story would have ended very quickly, and we would not have known what the Tsarevich was capable of for the sake of such a woman. Negotiating with Baba Yaga and killing Koshchei the Immortal means you can’t shoot with a bow anywhere. However, as expected, good triumphed, and the main characters lived not only long, but also happily ever after.
Peter and Fevronia of Murom
The legend of these lovers is especially often remembered in Lately July 8th, when Russia celebrates Family Day. They met when Peter was overcome by leprosy, and Fevronia, the daughter of a simple beekeeper, was able to heal him. At the same time, the prince saw his deliverance from the misfortune in a dream, and when Fevronia appeared before him in person, he completely lost his mind, fell in love with her, as they say, at first sight and, without thinking twice, got married. Following the classic canons of the genre, those around him were not delighted with his choice. Of course, a commoner and straight into a princess! The boyars tried to persuade the prince to change his decision, and when he refused, they drove the lovers away. True, all residents of Murom had to answer for the action of the boyars. Fearing the wrath of God, the couple was returned to the city. Peter and Fevronia carried their love and loyalty throughout their lives. They died on the same day. At the same time, despite their will to be buried in one coffin, they tried to bury them three times in different ones, but each time the bodies ended up together.
Evgeniy and Tatiana
This story is more about a temporary mismatch of feelings, and perhaps about circumstances that sometimes prevent one from reciprocating love. Let's remember. Tatyana writes a letter to Onegin, where she confesses her feelings. Like a brave deed young ladies of that time remains virtually unnoticed by the “London dandy”, or better said, noticed, but inadequately appreciated. Evgeniy “sees the light” too late: Tatyana is already married, and she cannot even think about any love for another man other than her husband. She's not Anna Karenina, after all! There can be only one conclusion: everything must be done on time. Falling in love is not enough, sometimes you have to look true love, no matter how trivial it may sound, admit your feelings and be able to maintain them throughout your life.
Ivan and Anastasia
Ivan the Terrible was married 8 times during his life, but he lived only with his first wife for 10 years, the rest died every 3-5 years. First wife and, it seems, only love Ivan the Great became Anastasia Romanovna, who was chosen by the Tsar from huge amount contenders for his hand and... treasury. The queen was a real beauty: petite, with regular facial features and long dark luxurious hair. In this marriage, Grozny had 6 children, but only two survived, and one of the princes was drowned by an unlucky nanny. The queen died before she was 30 years old. At the funeral, Grozny sobbed and, according to an eyewitness, “could barely stand on his feet.” Throughout his subsequent life, he remembered Anastasia with love and regret. By the way, the tsar believed that the queen did not die a natural death, but was poisoned by the boyars and princes, who believed that she had too much strong influence on the king. There was undoubtedly an influence, but it consisted of instructing Ivan the Terrible to do good deeds.
Boris and Veronica
One of the most touching stories love is told in the only Soviet film that received Grand Prize in Cannes, “The Cranes Are Flying.” A story about a huge and all-conquering love, preserved somewhere in the depths of the heart, which a person is capable of carrying, despite all the mistakes he has made and the trials that have befallen him. Boris and Veronica love each other, dream of a wedding, but their plans are disrupted by the war. Boris goes to the front, and Veronica... However, if you don’t know this story, it’s worth watching. It is capable of evoking a sea of contradictory emotions and will certainly touch the most delicate strings of the soul of every person, because in it there is a place for love, separation, betrayal, the bitterness of loss, but most importantly - hope.
Vladimir and Sophia
The Krukovsky sisters, one of whom later became the outstanding mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya, passionately wanted to study at the gymnasium. The only problem was that unmarried girls were denied access to knowledge. The resourceful young ladies decided to urgently find the suitors and enter into a fictitious marriage. The first candidate for "grooms" for older sister Anna was chosen as a man of progressive views, book publisher Vladimir Kovalevsky. On one of romantic dates he told the “bride” that he wasn’t even against getting married, but only with... Sophia. They played a wedding. Then the newlyweds left for Germany, where they lived not only in separate rooms, but in different cities. But after a few years, the fictitious marriage turned into a very real one - baby Sonya, or Fufa (that was her name in the family circle), was born into the family. Kovalevskaya was passionately jealous of her husband. She was constantly tormented by the thought that science stood between her and the person to whom her heart should belong undividedly. As a result, the “Princess of Science” preferred mathematics, and the couple separated. Kovalevskaya's husband committed suicide. The official version is financial troubles.
Sergei and Ekaterina
Ekaterina Trubetskaya was the first of the Decembrist wives to follow her husband to Siberia. The princess did not take advantage of the right granted by Nicholas I to divorce her husband, who became a state criminal. At the age of 23, she decided to share the fate of her beloved. When a carriage breaks down in Krasnoyarsk and the guide falls ill, she transfers to a tarantass and continues the journey alone. The Irkutsk governor demands the repeated renunciation of all rights, privileges and titles, reminds of the promised restrictions on movement, correspondence, renunciation of property and relatives, including children. It is frightening that all children born in Siberia will be classified as state peasants. The princess signs the papers in the same way as in Moscow - without reading. The governor uses the last argument, which, in his opinion, is capable of leaving the princess: that further path she will have to continue with the criminals. The princess agrees to this too. She does not stop for the night, does not have lunch, snacking on a piece of bread and drinking a glass of tea. And so day after day, for several months, through the blizzard, in severe frosts she rushes in her wagon towards her beloved. When, through a crack in the prison fence, she sees her husband in shackles, in a dirty sheepskin coat, ragged and dirty, she faints. Perhaps her first thought when she regained consciousness was the conviction that now nothing could separate them.