The Letters of Abelard and Heloise (Penguin Classics) Paperback – April 27, 2004

It takes some time to understand the significance of the events in the lives of these two people. I read this as part of a course in Medieval History as a primary source. The castration of Peter is considered a major turning point in Medieval history.This is such a classic. The contrast between the cultural norms of the day and their behavior informs us of just how different our society is from theirs.

Need summer reading but want something with substance? I'm not a fan of romances, but after the tale of Abelard and Heloise was mentioned on a TV show did I performed a Google search and became fascinated with their hapless love story. The story of Romeo and Juliet pales in comparison to the saga in which a teacher falls in love with his much younger pupil, his pupil becomes pregnant out of wedlock, the lovers marry in secret, her uncle finds out and castrates the teacher, and finally both lovers take an oath of chastity with the Church. The letters were written some years later when Abelard and Heloise caught sight of each other again.It is tragic that the social and religious circumstances at the time separated these two lovers. The letters spill with their unbridled passion for one another, yet one can tell they are trying to restrain their affections at the same time. Heloise was a feminist of her time, speaking her mind and heart. Some may criticize Abelard for being more cold and distant with his subsequent correspondence, but one has to remember he was acting within the constraints of being a renown philosopher while being supported by the Church.Readers will go on a journey full of intense amour in the earlier letters and end with sorrow as the lovers acknowledge that their union could never be actualized for that time period. Furthermore, readers will learn what true love is all about.

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise is an intense read. It is no doubt true that the staying power of these writings is owing to the soap-opera-like lives of its authors as well as the poetic and romantic language. This collection brings together Abelard's biography written to a friend, "The History of My Own Misfortunes" in which he divulges from beginning to end, all the drama surrounding his rise from philosophy student to a sort of Scholastic celebrity in Paris. The other part of this book is taken up by the personal letters between Abelard and Heloise, from which the reader discovers much about the relationship of a monk and nun who had a romance outdoing anything Shakespeare could have dreamed up for Romeo and Juliet. Their relationship became more formal for Abelard following his radical nighttime castration by Heloise's father. Heloise displays the passion with which she continues to love Abelard even though she joins a convent at his behest. Abelard's tone changes in his personal letters from what it was in his "History," yet Heloise never changes hers. She remains in love with him and lets it show in each letter to him. He takes on the role of a spiritual leader and writes to her instructions and answers to her questions, but he does not keep up with the romantic language as Heloise does.The value in this type of book, when the texts themselves are available for free download on the internet, is the translation, introduction and notes provided on the historical situation which allow the reader to enjoy it more fully. The translation and introduction done by the late Betty Radice in 1974, who succeeds in humanizing these two long dead authors so that their writings move the reader to an emotional reaction. The updated introduction added by M.T. Clanchy provides a clear look at what scholarship has done with Abelard and Heloise since Radice's book was first published. Her translation aids the reader's enjoyment because it contemporizes the language. The internet versions available are translated archaically due to the fact that those texts are in the public domain and therefore prior to about 1926, which makes it a slower read. This is not a book of theology, though Abelard was arguably the greatest theologian of the Middle Ages, but of real romance despite the star-crossed lovers' ill fated lives.

It's always best to get hold of what was actually written or said, if at all possible. This book is as close to original as can be had. It is a fascinating book because its many letters reveal, at least a little, why some people do potentially harmful things to themselves and perhaps others. At the same time it refreshingly demonstrates that, in the end, people have been doing the same things for just about as long as, well, people have been around!

What can I say?? They shared a true love that is the stuff that legends are made of.. I feel privelliged to have read the letters and am so glad that they survived.. Abelard's rejection of Heloise for the sake of her soul is really touching as is her reaching out to him not willing to let the memories of their time together go.. I give it a five and it's all for them.. Heres hoping they found each other in Heaven and have the eternity together that was denied them in life..

Keep it in my minivan - our house is surrounded by many railroad tracks, and I get stopped for long periods of time when going to and fro. I now keep a 'library' in the minivan plus crossword puzzle and Sudoku books, for those times I have to wait for trains...This book is in that car library - I love the romantic story of 'A' and 'H'! Even bought the movie (on VHS tape) a million years ago...

text is difficult to read

I really enjoyed reading the letters in this book. When they were writing their letters back and forth, it made me want to read on to see what the response was going to be. Before coming to the part of the letters, I thought that I wouldn't be able to finish the book because I really didn't care for it. The letters was what had kept my interest in the book.I would not have purchased this book if it wasn't required for a class that I had to take to graduate.