He’s a beautiful man who has been a friend of mine for years.’ Now, 15 months after the tragic death of Elias (right) from cancer at the age of 57, Elizabeth Gilbert has fallen in love again - this time with a manīut this week in an Instagram post, Miss Gilbert, 49, introduced her new love to the world with the following words: ‘Please meet my sweetheart, Mr Simon MacArthur. Indeed, it was Bristol-born Mr MacArthur who took one of the last poignant photographs of Elizabeth and Rayya together - a beautiful black-and-white portrait of the couple - before the Syrian born-musician and documentary maker passed away. The object of her affections is British photographer Simon MacArthur, 60, who was for years one of Rayya’s closest friends and a former flatmate. Now, 15 months after her lover’s tragic death from cancer at the age of 57, Elizabeth Gilbert has fallen in love again - this time with a man. Three years ago she stunned her followers by leaving her second husband of ten years, Jose Nunes - the handsome Brazilian ‘Felipe’ whom she fell in love with at the end of her Eat Pray Love travels - for a woman, her gay best friend Rayya Elias. Three years ago Elizabeth Gilbert stunned her followers by leaving her second husband of ten years, Jose Nunes (left) - the handsome Brazilian ‘Felipe’ whom she fell in love with at the end of her Eat Pray Love travels - for a woman, her gay best friend Rayya EliasĮver since she set off on a solo voyage of self-discovery across the world following the collapse of her first marriage 15 years ago - her 2006 memoir Eat Pray Love became a publishing phenomenon selling more than 12 million copies - Gilbert has continued to surprise her readers with myriad twists and turns.

Rayya elias