The Letters (Paperback)

Despite their misfortunes, these staunch Christians, as their letters reveal, found a path through self-pity into acceptance of a changed but lasting relationship. Whilst Heloise attained fame for her learning and administrative genius as an abbess, Abelard became an inspired teacher in Paris and the foremost logician of his day.

This translation includes Abelard’s account of his misfortunes (Historica calamitatum); four of their personal letters; the ‘letters of Direction’, in which he advises her how to adapt for women the rule of Benedict; correspondence between Heloise and Peter the Venerable; and two of Abelard’s hymns.