The Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Written by Peter Abelard and Heloise

Narrated by Gunnar Cauthery, Alison Pettitt and David Rintoul

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise is one of the most extraordinary correspondences in European history. Written in the 12th century, the letters document the love affair between Peter Abelard, a revolutionary philosopher and biblical scholar, and his beautiful and precocious student, Heloise. Eviscerated by his religious opponents and castrated by Heloise’s family, Abelard is haunted by ill fortune, and the star-crossed lovers are forced into separate lives, as monk and nun respectively, with letters being their only form of communication. What unfolds is tragic and heartbreaking, but also fascinating. The letters gave rise to compelling philosophical, theological and sociological discussions, and they provide a window into the medieval mind as the everyday lives of the two lovers are laid bare through their passionate discourse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Naxos Audiobooks
• Release date: Apr 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9781781981238

Peter Abelard

Peter Abelard was a medieval French scholar, philosopher, theologian, and teacher. Born into a noble family, Abelard was able to pursue a comprehensive education. As his father, a respected knight, requested, Abelard focused on a liberal arts education, and eventually set up his own school near Paris. He was a respected scholar in his time, and was well-known for his philosophy.

Reviews for The Letters of Abelard and Heloise

[Benjamin Brown · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely fascinating set of letters that certainly puts Christianity in a new light. I would certainly recommend this book.

[BeesIsrael · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

With some difficulty, but no less realism, this document allows us to get a clear idea of one of the most passionate love stories in history that has not become a cliché. The relationship between the teacher and the student through the sharing of knowledge is revealed in this collection of direct and unvarnished letters. (Translated from Spanish)