The great subject of love – finding it, keeping it, losing it – has fascinated and consumed us since the beginning of time. Why do we fall in love, what does it mean and how do we cope in relationships? Through essays and letters, these questions are tackled by an array of classic writers from ancient to modern times.

Falling in Love explores romance, infatuation and everything in between. In a letter of advice, poet Rainer Maria Rilke talks about how change is an inevitable part of relationships. Plato traces the idea of an ‘other half’ to humanity’s beginnings. Mae M. Franking relates the ups and downs of a couple from different cultures, whereas Emma Goldman sets out a lively debate separating marriage and love. Though Stendhal highlights how we fall into the trap of overidealising a loved one, Sappho is not afraid to woo her beloved above all else.

Combining self-help, erudition, and healing wisdom, here’s a book to help us make sense of the wonderful and complex idea of love. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library, a series of stunning pocket-sized classics. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

Zachary Seager is a writer based in Paris. He is the editor of the anthologies and short story collections Paris: A Literary Anthology, The Art of Solitude, Sleepily Ever After and Our Place in Nature, all published by Macmillan Collector's Library.