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The Letters of Abélard and Héloïse book cover
The Letters of Abélard and Héloïse
1133
First Published
3.68
Average Rating
153
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The story of the relationship between Abélard and Héloïse is one of the world’s most celebrated and tragic love affairs. It is told through the letters of Peter Abélard, a French philosopher and one of the greatest logicians of the twelfth century, and of his gifted pupil Héloïse. Through their impassioned writings unfolds the story of a romance, from its reckless, ecstatic beginnings through to public scandal, an enforced secret marriage and its devastating consequences. These eloquent and intimate letters express a vast range of emotions from adoration and devotion to reproach, indignation and grief, and offer a fascinating insight into religious life in the Middle Ages. This is the revised edition of Betty Radice's highly regarded translation, in which Michael Clanchy, the biographer of Abélard, updates the scholarship on the letters and the lovers. This volume includes Abélard's remarkable autobiography and his spiritual advice to Héloïse and her nuns, as well as a selection of the 'lost love letters' of Abélard and Héloïse, letters between Héloïse and Peter the Venerable, two of Abélard's hymns, a chronology, notes and maps.

Avg Rating
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Author

Pierre Abelard
Pierre Abelard
Author · 9 books

Nominalist application of French theologian, philosopher, and composer Peter Abelard or Pierre Abélard of the principles of ancient Greek logic to the doctrines of the medieval Catholic Church led to charges of heresy; after his pupil Héloise, his pupil and the object of his lust affair, bore him a child, he secretly married her, whose angered family castrated him, after which he served as a monk. The equally famous preeminent and perhaps the greatest of the Middle Ages during his life as a poet perhaps also ranked of his day, his ideas earned more converts and less condemnation. In all areas, brilliant, innovative, and controversial Abélard, a genius, knew and made no apologies. His vast knowledge, wit, charm, and even arrogance drew a generation of finest minds of Europe to Paris to learn. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter\_A...

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