Scores of French love letters from the mid-18th century have been opened and studied for the first time since they were written.

The French Revolution began, and continued, in waves. Germaine had a new lover, Monsieur Narbonne, with whom she had two children. Many wealthy French fled the country, to Switzerland, to England.

The letters – sent to French sailors by wives, siblings and parents – never made it to their intended recipients, but they offer rare insight into the lives of families affected by war.