Author Tells of First Meetings of Famous Lovers

"And the Rest Is History: The Famous (and Infamous) First Meetings of the World's Most Passionate Couples" (Perigee, $18.95), by Marlene Wagman-Geller: Not all the lovers sailed to first meetings in gilded barges filled with rose petals as Cleopatra did when she met Mark Antony, and for many, the end of the relationship was more memorable than the beginning. But Marlene Wagman-Geller tells nice stories about all the couples in "And the Rest Is History: The Famous (and Infamous) First Meetings of the World's Most Passionate Couples."

Some of the couples will be better known than others — Antony and Cleopatra, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu — but some of the most interesting, Charles Parnell and Katharine O'Shea, for instance, are among the lesser known.

Parnell, a 19th-century Irish politician and confirmed bachelor, said that on meeting O'Shea, he knew she was his destiny even though she was a married woman. The relationship, which continued devotedly for decades, finally cost Parnell his political popularity and his career.

Some of the couples chosen as the "most passionate" might be questioned — Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis or Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Popular history has it that Victoria was so repressed, she ordered the legs of the pianos in her castles to be covered so they wouldn't be suggestive and advised her daughters to "lie back and think of England" on their wedding night.

The royal couple did, however, produce nine children.

Wagman-Geller's book is filled with nuggets such as Aristotle Onassis, who dumped Maria Callas to marry Jacqueline Kennedy, hugging the red Hermes blanket that was Callas' last gift to him as he was dying.

Each of the short stories that has an ending also has a "Postscript," revealing what ultimately happened to the lovers.

It makes for a different kind of history and a pleasant read.

Zsa Zsa's Famous Mansion on Sale ... For $28 Million!!!!!

Zsa Zsa Gabor and Prince Frederic von Anhalt have decided to sell their legendary Bel Air mansion ... for a bargain basement price of 28 MILLION DOLLARS!!!

Zee Prince tells us the MASSIVE estate was originally built by Howard Hughes in the '50s and Elvis lived in the pad for roughly 4 years while he was filming movies in L.A.

According to Prince, the home is roughly 8,000 square feet .... with 26 total rooms.

So why are Zsa Zsa and Prince moving?? PFVA says the couple decided that maintaining the property has become, "too much of a headache" because of their age and ongoing health problems ... and figured it's finally time to move on.

Plus, Prince tells us, he's "sick and f**king tired of paying $30,000 a month ... because we only use two rooms in the house."

We're told the plan is to put the mansion on the market for $25-$28 million and move into a $1.5 million dollar condo in Westwood ... something "Zsa Zsa always wanted."

Check out the pics -- it's pretty freakin' awesome!

Actor David Nelson of Famous TV Family Dies at 74

David Nelson, who starred on his parents' popular television show "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," has died. He was 74.

Family spokesman and longtime Hollywood publicist Dale Olson says Nelson died Monday at his home in the Century City area of Los Angeles after battling complications of colon cancer.

Nelson was the last surviving member of the Nelsons TV family and directed numerous episodes of the long-running series. His film credits include "Peyton Place," "The Big Circus" and "Love and Kisses." He also appeared in various TV roles.

Nelson is survived by his wife, Yvonne; four sons and a daughter; and seven grandchildren. A service will be held Thursday.