The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Pierre Abélard (1079-1142) was a medieval French philosopher, theologian and preeminent logician. The story of his affair with and love for Héloïse has become legendary. The Chambers Biographical Dictionary describes him as "the keenest thinker and boldest theologian of the 12th Century." Héloïse was well versed in classical letters, which extended beyond Latin to Greek and Hebrew. Abélard sought a place in Fulbert's house and then seduced Héloïse. The affair interfered with his career, and Abélard himself boasted of his conquest. Once Fulbert found out, they were separated, but met in secret. Héloïse became pregnant and was sent by Abélard to Brittany, where she gave birth to a son she named Astrolabe after the scientific instrument. In The Lost Love Letters of Héloïse and Abélard, a set of 113 anonymous love letters found in a 15th century manuscript are said to represent the correspondence exchanged by Héloïse and Abelard during the earlier phase of their affair. This edition is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and images of the legendary lovers.