Cocaine Princess here.
I wasn’t too sure what I was going to post for this year’s St. Valentine's Day entry because the words I wanted to say were in my head all jumbled around. Sorting them out and putting them into words/sentences was a struggle. Although this is not originally what I had planned for my February 14th entry, I hope you still will enjoy reading this.
When you think of tragic love one may think of Orpheus and Eurodia, Tristan and Isolde, Lancelot and Guinevere but perhaps the most tragic couple of all is Romeo and Juliet. Not that long ago I watched a sweetheart of a film called, “Letters To Juliet.”
PLOT: Amanda Seyfried, plays a NY fact-checker named Sophie who is engaged to a man named Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal) They visit Verona, Italy, and Sophie discovers a wall where women from all over the world leave letters of love for Juliet Capulet. Then Sophie learns that "Juliet's Secretaries" take the letters and read and answer each one. One day Sophie dislodges a stone from the wall and finds a letter written in 1957 by Claire, an Englishwoman (Vanessa Redgrave) who left behind her new love, Lorenzo (Franco Nero), to return home to her fiancé and her life in England. The remainder of the movie follows Claire’s quest for Lorenzo, which occurs as a result of Sophie's reply to her old letter.
After watching the film I was curious to know if really a club of Juliet's Secretaries exist and if so how did it come about?
It turns out there is actually a club.
An Italian by the name of Ettore Solomani was hired by the city of Verona to be the official custodian of Juliet’s tomb in 1937. He would invite couples visiting to stand on either side of the tomb to hold hands and think of a pensieto d’amore (love thought) and exchange a kiss. He assured them Juliet would surely make their wish come true. In 1938 a couple visited the tomb and after completing the ritual asked if they could leave a letter for Juliet. He said yes. Shortly after people began leaving letters to Juliet. Here are some early letters from the 1940s. The following are actual letters that can be found in the non-fiction book, "Letters to Juliet," (which has nothing to do with the movie) that chronicles "the phenomenon of letter writing to Shakespeare's most famous romantic heroine and the Juliet Club volunteers."
An Italian by the name of Ettore Solomani was hired by the city of Verona to be the official custodian of Juliet’s tomb in 1937. He would invite couples visiting to stand on either side of the tomb to hold hands and think of a pensieto d’amore (love thought) and exchange a kiss. He assured them Juliet would surely make their wish come true. In 1938 a couple visited the tomb and after completing the ritual asked if they could leave a letter for Juliet. He said yes. Shortly after people began leaving letters to Juliet. Here are some early letters from the 1940s. The following are actual letters that can be found in the non-fiction book, "Letters to Juliet," (which has nothing to do with the movie) that chronicles "the phenomenon of letter writing to Shakespeare's most famous romantic heroine and the Juliet Club volunteers."
Chérie Juliet,
I’ve asked myself many times, how it is that we fall in love: do we trip, lose our balance and fall, scraping our hearts? Do we crash to the ground, on stones? Or is it like staying on the edge of a precipice for all time?
I’ve asked myself many times, how it is that we fall in love: do we trip, lose our balance and fall, scraping our hearts? Do we crash to the ground, on stones? Or is it like staying on the edge of a precipice for all time?
-Poland
“You are so beautiful, Juliet, and so on high, yet all hearts in love look to you and speak to you. Those who are in love and who suffer in love look to you. I know many write to you and I do as well, because I believe in you, Juliet, and I turn to you as I did when, as a humble soldier, I came to see you during the war. Now the war is over, but I am poor, Juliet, and she is not. When I speak to her, you are there too, Juliet, listening to me and giving me courage. My mind tells me not to love her because I cannot compare myself to her, but my heart pushes me ahead, in spite of all obstacles. I know you did not listen to the voice of the mind either. Whoever, for you, reads this letter, help me!”
“You are so beautiful, Juliet, and so on high, yet all hearts in love look to you and speak to you. Those who are in love and who suffer in love look to you. I know many write to you and I do as well, because I believe in you, Juliet, and I turn to you as I did when, as a humble soldier, I came to see you during the war. Now the war is over, but I am poor, Juliet, and she is not. When I speak to her, you are there too, Juliet, listening to me and giving me courage. My mind tells me not to love her because I cannot compare myself to her, but my heart pushes me ahead, in spite of all obstacles. I know you did not listen to the voice of the mind either. Whoever, for you, reads this letter, help me!”
-Ludovivo N.
Ettore Solomani
Solomani devoted his evenings to his typewriter replying to each letter who left their address by simply signing them, “Juliet’s Secretary.” Letters kept arriving, there was no turning back. He had now assumed the voice of Juliet’s devoted secretary. In 1958 he reached the state imposed retirement age of 67 and left his post.
Gino Beltramini
The city hired Gino Beltramini a local professor to pick up where Solomani left off. Every letter was addressed to Juliet. Beltramini replied to every letter by hand, on stationary embossed with a drawing of the now famous balcony where Juliet uttered those famous words: “O' Romeo, O' Romeo....” The hundreds of letters Beltramini replied to, many reflected on pressing social and political issues of the time, interracial love and the Vietnam War:
Dear Juliet,
I am in love with a black man. He is good, sweet, affectionate. My parents don’t want him in our house and will never consent to our marriage. Sometimes I go to his house, and we are like husband and wife. It is wonderful! Maybe we will run far away, where there is respect for feelings and for humanity. Juliet, do marvelous countries like that exist?
-Maggie R., Providence, Rhode Island
Dear Juliet,
I am in a bunker. Outside I hear missiles exploding, bullets being fired. I am twenty-five years old and I’m scared. Our commander has told us that soon we must come out. A hand-to-hand battle awaits. I feel I will die. I leave life with this brief note. I am entrusting it to you, symbol of universal love. I delude myself by thinking it will make people understand the futility of hate.
-Brian L., Vietnam, 1972
I am in love with a black man. He is good, sweet, affectionate. My parents don’t want him in our house and will never consent to our marriage. Sometimes I go to his house, and we are like husband and wife. It is wonderful! Maybe we will run far away, where there is respect for feelings and for humanity. Juliet, do marvelous countries like that exist?
-Maggie R., Providence, Rhode Island
Dear Juliet,
I am in a bunker. Outside I hear missiles exploding, bullets being fired. I am twenty-five years old and I’m scared. Our commander has told us that soon we must come out. A hand-to-hand battle awaits. I feel I will die. I leave life with this brief note. I am entrusting it to you, symbol of universal love. I delude myself by thinking it will make people understand the futility of hate.
-Brian L., Vietnam, 1972
Beltramini died in 1983. His death had no effect on the mail. The letters to Juliet continued to arrive in large batches and posed a dilemma for the city. The Protocol Office decided that all letters should be forwarded to the Estate Teatrale Veronese, the organization responsible for Verona’s summer theater and requested the artistic director’s secretary to reply to the best of her ability. “I did my best to give every one an answer, even if it’s just a few lines,” she said. When she was transferred to another office she relinquished her role and then in 1988 Club di Giulietta was born.
Club di Giulietta is a volunteer organization of 15 ladies who respond to the 6000 letters that are received annually. By 1989, 50,000 letters had been received. No letter has gone unanswered. Each one is lovingly replied to by hand.
A meticulous registration and archiving system was devised to ensure every letter is logged in, answered and preserved. In the 90's the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post featured a story about the club soaring their popularity to new heights. In 2002 Juliet’s secretaries began working full time. All agree the one universal rule when replying to the letters is to never judge. They deal with each letter with empathy, sensitivity and with an open heart. Many letters that are sent are addressed as Dear Juliet, Verona Italy, and thanks to compassionate letter carriers they are brought to the club. Although not all letters are sent by mail.......
In the courtyard in Verona sits Juliet’s house where visitors flock to see the famous balcony.
Nearby stands a life size bronze statue of Juliet. Hundreds and thousands of visitors caress her right breast for good luck.
Wall Of Love
Behind her statute is the wall of love where locals and tourists will post their personally handwritten letters on the wall. At the end of the day the secretaries collect all the letters. In that same courtyard you will find Club di Giulietta.
The letters received and posted come from all over the globe and written in different languages. They range from baroque, teeming with breathless and extravagant prose to simple requests composed on ornate stationary to scrawled on loose leaf paper to post it notes. One year the club received a letter in braille. A braille reader was promptly found and a reply was quickly sent back.
Many tongue tied Romeos contact Juliet to tell the object of their affections of their love, something they feel they cannot express adequately themselves. Juliet, of course, always obliges. (Again, these are actual letters)
Dear Juliet,
I’ve been married to my wife Shannon, for 30 years. I have never made love to another woman, let alone kissed another. Despite our advancing years we are still like young lovers. We steal kisses and passionately embrace when no one is around. Well, even when others are around! Although we are of modest means I derive the greatest pleasure in giving her small gifts, spending time with her at a local café, or walking together along the shore near our home. But now that we are getting older I am sad that I have been unable to give her more in life. I want the whole world to know how much I love her, and who better to help me do that than you, dear Juliet. I would like it if you were to write to her telling her of my own devotion so she can have a keepsake to pass on to our daughter.
Yours Sincerely,
Benjamin K., East Freemantle, Australia, 1991
I’ve been married to my wife Shannon, for 30 years. I have never made love to another woman, let alone kissed another. Despite our advancing years we are still like young lovers. We steal kisses and passionately embrace when no one is around. Well, even when others are around! Although we are of modest means I derive the greatest pleasure in giving her small gifts, spending time with her at a local café, or walking together along the shore near our home. But now that we are getting older I am sad that I have been unable to give her more in life. I want the whole world to know how much I love her, and who better to help me do that than you, dear Juliet. I would like it if you were to write to her telling her of my own devotion so she can have a keepsake to pass on to our daughter.
Yours Sincerely,
Benjamin K., East Freemantle, Australia, 1991
Dear Juliet,
My problem is very complicated and difficult. I am in love with a missionary nun I have known for 12 years. I am a widower, now sixty two. I declared my love to her, but she told me she will never leave the church. She is the most beautiful, intelligent woman I’ve ever known. How can I convince her that with me she would have a marvelous life?
Thank You.
Jack G., Tampa, Florida
My problem is very complicated and difficult. I am in love with a missionary nun I have known for 12 years. I am a widower, now sixty two. I declared my love to her, but she told me she will never leave the church. She is the most beautiful, intelligent woman I’ve ever known. How can I convince her that with me she would have a marvelous life?
Thank You.
Jack G., Tampa, Florida
Also among the letters are adolescents who are experiencing love for the first time and parental censure:
Dear Juliet,
Please send a letter to Melissa H for me. Here is her address.....It should
read:
My dear Melissa,
Like my Romeo, your Justin has declared his love and devotion to you. May your hearts be one as are mine and Romeo’s.
Please send a letter to Melissa H for me. Here is her address.....It should
read:
My dear Melissa,
Like my Romeo, your Justin has declared his love and devotion to you. May your hearts be one as are mine and Romeo’s.
-With love, Juliet
Verona, Italy
P.S. Of course I would be glad to forward a donation to your organization to help with your various postage costs, etc. Please let me know if this can be done as it would mean so much to my dearest Melissa.
Verona, Italy
P.S. Of course I would be glad to forward a donation to your organization to help with your various postage costs, etc. Please let me know if this can be done as it would mean so much to my dearest Melissa.
-Sincerely,
Justin R., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Justin R., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dear Justin,
I will certainly do what you ask me. There is no need to send anything! I really hope that your love will be as deep as ours....but also much luckier!
I will certainly do what you ask me. There is no need to send anything! I really hope that your love will be as deep as ours....but also much luckier!
Juliet
10 days later:
Dear Juliet,
Thank you, thank you! My dear Milli received the letter and it made her week so nice and happy. I appreciate your kindness and will try to pass it on by being extra kind to someone today.
-Thanks again,
Justin
Dear Juliet,
I live on the third floor. My parents don’t allow my boyfriend to come to my house. So I have to sneak him in. But it’s very difficult. Can you tell me how Romeo got to visit you? Tell me his technique for climbing up to your room!
Thanks, kisses,
Cari V., Lausanne, Switzerland
So why do people write to Juliet?
“Juliet is the eternal symbol of love. They see her as a saint and often write "Juliet, you are the only one who can understand how I feel,” explains one of the most experienced secretaries. “Most of the people who write to her are looking for a way to share their problems with someone who will listen, unconditionally, as if she were a friend, or confidante. They just need to let it out, to tell their story.”
Another secretary says, “Our job is to give a ray of hope and, at times, many people need a good word to get their courage back, to go on.”
Dear Juliet,
I know that you will take a long time to answer me, but that’s not important– - I adore talking to a legend. When I received your first letter, I felt uplifted by a divine force, ready to help and sustain me. Today, I need you to listen to me once again.
Not everyone who writes has a problem. There are those who comment on how foolish Juliet was to take her life for Romeo:
Dear Juliet,
I really didn’t understand your character. You were so impetuous at your age. How could you fall in love after one kiss and two minutes? And why did you kill yourself instead of living on with the memory of Romeo? When Romeo was banished, why didn’t you try to hide him? If you had, he would be alive, and so would you? Do you regret your decision you made?
Sincerely,
Warren M., Duluth, Minnesota
Yet, at the same time, they admire the courage she demonstrated in standing up to her family:
I admire you Juliet. You are very brave and have the courage of an army. You followed your true love even though he was the enemy of your beloved family. I believe that in each of us there is a little bit of you. You will be remembered as one of the fairest ladies of Italy. I enjoyed reading your story. Please write back and tell me what you think.
Sincerely,
Caroline R., Greensborough North Carolina, 1994
Juliet,
Rest in peace with your Romeo. Your love is endless.
Dear Giulietta,
We are in Giovanna and Marco and we are in love. With this note we say hello to you and Romeo and we want to say we hope our great love will never end. Baci!
Chérie Juliette,
Here you found the love of your life. If you can, help me find where my Romeo is hiding!
Dear Juliet,
I've always been told that touching the breast of your statue would bring good luck....So far, you're not trying too hard. Please, do something for me too!
-Giulia O., Modena, Italy
Some ask the romantic heroine questions:
I want to know why the City of Verona marries its citizens in love at your tomb, where love died, rather than under your balcony where love was born?
Giancarlo C., Treviso, Italy.
Some write to give thanks to the club:
Greetings, the greatest of the greats, Immortal like love itself!
Hello, Juliet!
There are people in the world who believe in the gods, in miracles, and there are people who don’t believe, but there is one divinity in which all seek refuge. The divinity is Love, the most beautiful superb sentiment in the world.
-Fyodor V., Leningrad, USSR
Dear Members of The Club “Romeo and Juliet”
My husband and I met each other years ago thanks to Shakespeare – that is, thanks to a book of Romeo and Juliet that I was reading sitting on a bench in the park. In 2002 we celebrated the golden anniversary of our marriage. We think this tragedy is especially important for the young generation now, when the best principles of love and pure morals are trampled, when one feels fear for young people’s future. We’d like to thank you for your work and promotion of Love.
Peter and Esther N., Samara, Russia, 2002
While some send letters....hmm? Judge for yourself:
Cara Signora,
I appeal to you for a favor. I have a daughter, 27, who has never been married but is looking for a fiancé. Is it possible for you to look for a fiancé for her? Is it possible for her to be married in Verona? How much does a modest wedding there cost? We are Orthodox! Here is my address. I will be happy to receive your reply.
Svetlana C., Kiev, Ukraine 2003
The thousands of letters Club de Guioletta receives each year are proof that regardless of ones age or sex, mixing love and religion is still a universal problem:
Dear Juliet,
I was wondering if I could get some advice on a problem I have. You see, I really like a girl but my parents won’t let me date her for religious reasons. Should I defy them and secretly date her, or should I listen to my parents? I await your reply.
From,
Joseph L., Mesa, Arizona, 2003
Dear Juliet,
I have been with a young man for nearly 2 years and I am very much in love with him and I know that he loves me too. The problem is that I was raised in a strict Catholic family. The young man I am seeing is neither Catholic or Italian, like my family. He is Jewish. My parents are not prejudiced however they want me to marry an Italian Catholic. He is willing to convert to Catholicism to please my parents but I don’t think it’s fair to ask him to leave behind everything he’s been raised to believe in. If I convert to Judaism my parents would be very upset. I love him more than I ever imagined possible. Only you can understand my problem. What should I do, Juliet?
-Marilyn F., Italy, 1995
You can read more of the letters devoted to Juliet and the history behind it in the book. Here are a few of my personal favorites sent by innocent teenagers:
Dear Juliet,
I’m coming to you with something that has been bothering me for awhile. My algebra grade is dropping dramatically. I got my midterm back today and I have a 65 in that class. I’ve tried everything but still can’t make an A or even a high B.
Please help!
-Angela G., Calhoun, Georgia, 1995
Dear Juliet,
I’m coming to you with something that has been bothering me for awhile. My algebra grade is dropping dramatically. I got my midterm back today and I have a 65 in that class. I’ve tried everything but still can’t make an A or even a high B.
Please help!
-Angela G., Calhoun, Georgia, 1995
Dear Juliet,
You’re the only person I can ask. How do you French kiss and what does it mean to make out? I read an article about you in the paper and if we write to you and I get a letter back we get extra credit. And I need a lot of extra credit.
Thank you,
Sandra J., Constantia, New York, 1993
Ciao Giulietta,
If you introduce me to Leonardo DiCaprio I will love you, too!
Although Juliet is a literary figure she has become real to hundreds and thousands of people around the globe. Need Juliet’s help? If so, drop her a line:
Club di Giulietta - The Juliet Club
Via Galilei 3 – 37100 Verona, Italy
****
In the movie Vanessa Redgrave's real-life romance with Franco Nero, who plays her lover in the movie, mirrors the plot of the film. She said in an interview: “In real life I met Nero on the set of “Camelot” in 1967, had a son, broke up and got back together several times, and we finally reunited and wed in 2006.”
She goes on to say, “One of the most wonderful lines from the movie is a message to young people, to old people, to middle-age people, When we speak about love, it's never too late.”
****
Love, Kiss and Embrace Your Beloved.....not just today but everyday.
My lovelies, for those of you without a Valentine, or nursing a broken heart, perhaps these words will bring some comfort. In 1939 Ettore Solimani responded to a Dear Juliet letter from an emotionally wounded individual:
.....Do not give up hope. Remember that life is a continual battle, and that the body wears down but the spirit remains and that love triumphs, always. Continue to believe in Juliet, who from her sky of love will guide and protect you.
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
My Loyal And Dear Readers,
Happy Valentine's Day To You & Your Beloved
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
~x
