The Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun

work by Guilleragues

Also known as: “Lettres portugaises”

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July 19, 2026

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The Lettres portugaises, known in English as The Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun, is a collection of five letters first published in French in 1669. While long believed to be written by Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun, modern scholarship largely attributes the work to Gabriel-Joseph de Lavergne, viscount of Guilleragues, a French author and diplomat.12

The letters purportedly describe the passionate and despairing feelings of a Portuguese nun who was seduced and then abandoned by a French army officer. Their vivid portrayal of love, betrayal, and disillusionment led to immense popularity and numerous translations, influencing many writers across Europe. Despite debate over their authenticity, the letters are celebrated for their profound psychological insight into passion.12

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Mariana Alcoforado
…long believed to have written Lettres portugaise (1669; “Portuguese Letters”), a collection of five love letters, though most modern authorities reject her authorship.
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…long believed to have written Lettres portugaise (1669; “Portuguese Letters”), a collection of five love letters, though most modern authorities reject her authorship.
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Gabriel-Joseph de Lavergne, viscount of Guilleragues
…be the author of the Lettres portugaises (1669; “Portuguese Letters”).
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…be the author of the Lettres portugaises (1669; “Portuguese Letters”).
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Portuguese literature
The 17th century and the Baroque
The Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun) introduced a literary mystery that would enchant readers for centuries. These five short letters, purportedly translated into French from lost originals, were presented as love letters; they were later attributed to Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun who was…
Read More
The Love Letters of a Portuguese Nun) introduced a literary mystery that would enchant readers for centuries. These five short letters, purportedly translated into French from lost originals, were presented as love letters; they were later attributed to Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun who was…
Read More