Radice, Betty, trans., The Letters of Abelard and Heloise (New York: Penguin Classics. 2003 revised edition., 1974). ISBN: 140448993
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Text name(s): The Letters of Abelard and Heloise; Historia Calamitatum; The History of My Misfortunes; The History of His Misfortunes; The Letters of Peter the Venerable and Heloise

Number of pages of primary source text: 242

Medieval Author(s): Abelard, Peter Heloise

Dates: 1130 - 1142

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: English translation.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): France;

County/Region: Paris

Apparatus: Index Appendices Bibliography Introduction

Comments:

The text contains four primary sources. The main one is the letters exchanged between Peter Abelard, a twelfth-century philosopher/logician/University of Paris professor, and Heloise, a young woman he was hired to tutor. They were written after their famous love affair ended tragically and he became a monk and she a nun. The second source is Abelard’s “Historia calamitatum”, a letter written to an anonymous monk which details the former’s life from 1119 through its writing in 1132. Third, there is a collection of letters between Peter the Venerable (the current abbot of Cluny) and Heloise regarding Abelard, as well as one written to the Pope on Abelard’s behalf. Finally, there are two hymms written by Abelard. An appendix includes an excerpt from a possible set of lost letters between Abelard and Heloise. Apparatus include two maps in the back of the book (one of France and one of Paris in Peter Abelard’s time); a chronology of events contemporary with the writings in the book and an essay on modern scholarship dealing with Abelard and Heloise.

Introduction Summary:

Extensive (42 pp.) introduction that details lives of both Abelard and Heloise before, during, and after their love affair. Gives historical background for all works included, and summarizes selected parts of their letters.

Cataloger: jmg; CHP