Description
By: Peter Abelard
The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise is a heartwrenching story of forbidden love that transcends time. The letters exchanged between Abelard and Heloise showcase their deep emotions and dedication to each other, despite the obstacles they faced. Peter Abelard’s writing beautifully captures the intensity of their love and the pain of their separation.
The book provides a unique insight into the complexities of love and the sacrifices that come with it. Abelard and Heloise’s story is both tragic and enduring, making it a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today. Their letters are filled with raw emotion and honesty, making it impossible not to be moved by their story.
Overall, The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise is a hauntingly beautiful tale of love and loss that will stay with readers long after they have finished reading. Peter Abelard’s writing transports readers to another time and place, allowing them to experience the depth of emotion felt by these star-crossed lovers. It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-written and emotionally charged love story.
Book Description:
Heloise was a strong-willed and gifted woman who was fluent in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, and came from a lower social standing than Abelard. At age 19, and living under her uncle Fulbert’s roof, Heloise fell in love with Abelard, who she was studying under. Not only did they have a clandestine affair of a sexual nature, they had a child, Astrolabe, out of wedlock. Discovered by the Fulbert (who was a Church official), Abelard was assaulted by a hired thug and castrated, and Heloise entered a convent. Abelard was exiled to Brittany, where he lived as monk. Eventually Heloise became abbess of the Oratory of the Paraclete, an abbey which Abelard had founded.
It was at this time that they exchanged their famous letters, presented in this book. The letters, originally written in Latin, are passionate both in the remembrance of lost love, and the attempt to reconcile that love with their respective monastic duty to remain chaste. The tension between these two poles generates a huge amount of emotional electricity. (Summary by J. B. Hare)
