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# letters
A Python app that displays random historic love letters from authentic sources, downloaded from [Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/).
## Quick Start
```bash
python3 love_letters.py # Show a random love letter
python3 love_letters.py -n 3 # Show 3 random love letters
python3 love_letters.py --list # List available collections
python3 love_letters.py --source keats_brawne # Filter by source
```
The `letters/` directory ships with 1,300+ pre-parsed letters — no download needed.
## Refreshing / Adding Sources
To re-download all letter collections from Project Gutenberg:
```bash
python3 download_letters.py # Download (skips existing)
python3 download_letters.py --force # Re-download everything
python3 download_letters.py --list # List available sources
```
## Sources
| Collection | Author → Recipient | Period | Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn | Henry VIII → Anne Boleyn | c. 15271528 | 18 |
| Mary Wollstonecraft to Gilbert Imlay | Mary Wollstonecraft → Gilbert Imlay | 17931795 | 75 |
| Letters of Abelard and Heloise | Abelard & Heloise | 12th century | 6 |
| Napoleon's Letters to Josephine | Napoleon Bonaparte → Josephine | 17961812 | 395 |
| Letters of John Keats to Fanny Brawne | John Keats → Fanny Brawne | 18191820 | 39 |
| Robert Browning & Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 1 | Browning ↔ Barrett | 18451846 | 281 |
| Robert Browning & Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, Vol. 2 | Browning ↔ Barrett | 18451846 | 292 |
| Robert Burns to Clarinda | Robert Burns → Agnes McLehose | 17871794 | 60 |
| Dorothy Osborne to Sir William Temple | Dorothy Osborne → William Temple | 16521654 | 51 |
| Beethoven's Letters (love letters selected) | Ludwig van Beethoven | 17901826 | 30 |
| Mozart's Letters (love letters selected) | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 17691791 | 60 |
All texts are sourced from [Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/) and are in the public domain.
## Requirements
Python 3.10+ (no external dependencies).