Anmakon

The Book of Love

Overview

The Book of Love is a story said to be a collection of letters between the Imperial Prince Aniri and his to be lover Sovi. Of the fifty letters and drawings included in the book, scholars have suggested that only six are legitimately written by the young prince.

Authorship

It is claimed that the letters in the book were written by Prince Aniri, a crown prince who lived during the 300s that married a commoner. The crown prince has several stories about him, and as such he is a figure associated with kindness, family, love, and fertility. It is with no doubt that this reputation likely contributed to the letters compiled spreading around.

History

The compilation first appeared in the 520s, over 200 years after Aniri had died. The Imperial Government began to crack down on copies of the book due to the fact that it contained court secrets due to the fact that original letters from court officials had been compiled to create the book. To the newly literate masses of warriors and merchants, the pretty flowery language set itself as a standard for those looking to mimic noble poetry, while imagining the royal family doing such a petty thing as courtship piqued the interest of many. As a result of the pretty language and attempts to ban it, the book became highly prized.
The book eventually entered the world of Niranni literature as an example of love and refinement of the Prince Aniri, despite the fact that many of the later letters mention events after his death.

Creation

As for the creation and reproduction of the book, it was reproduced locally by minor scribes who were paid to copy it. The commissioners often then made a pretty penny by proceeding to hike the price and sell it to others.