Letters of a Portuguese Nun

Letters of a Portuguese Nun (Les Lettres Portugaises) is a collection of five passionate letters published anonymously in Paris in 1669. Attributed to Mariana Alcoforado, a Portuguese nun, these letters became a sensation, leading to over forty editions in the 17th century. They are notable for influencing the sentimental and epistolary novel genres, and the term 'portugaise' became synonymous with passionate love letters. The authorship has been debated, with some attributing them to Gabriel-Joseph de La Vergne, but the letters' emotional depth remains impactful regardless of their true origin.