Heloise
& Abelard
A
New Biography
By
James Burge
The
story of the romance between Heloise and Abelard is one of the most
famous love stories in history. Yet we know very little about it.
What we do know is the nine letters that the pair wrote to each
other after Abelard became a monk and Heloise a nun. However, recently,
a new set of letters was found, written during the time of their
heated romance. This has given us more insight into their relationship
and its effect on those around them.
It
is from those early letters that James Burge constructs his new
biography. This tells us more of the way of life in the twelfth
century. Now we know more about the customs and beliefs of those
who lived in that age.
The
story takes place in the early 1100s. Peter Abelard was an instructor
of philosophy in Paris, France. He saw Heloise, a young lady whose
last name was never recorded. She lived with her uncle, Fulbert,
a canon in the Catholic church. And Abelard decided, according to
his biography, that he must figure out a way to "get her into
his bed." He asked her uncle Fulbert to allow him to lodge
in Fulbert’s home. In return, Abelard would pay him an agreed
upon sum and also give Heloise philosophy lessons.
Of
course, this arrangement had disastrous results for the couple.
Fulbert was so consumed with jealousy that he engineered the attack
on Abelard that ended their romance. It’s a story we can learn
from morally as well as historically. Burge’s description
of life in the middle ages during the time of the crusades is the
most interesting view of our history. He deals almost exclusively
with French history, but it is quite fascinating. Pick up a copy
of Heloise & Abelard and get a new view of history as well as
an entertaining romance story.
|
The
Book |
HarperSanFrancisco / HarperCollins |
December 1, 2004 |
Hardcover
|
0-06-073663-1
|
Nonfiction / Biography |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt
|
NOTE:
|
The
Reviewer |
Jo Rogers |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
|
|