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The Love Letters of Abelard and Heloise

Anonymous

Format: Global Grey free PDF, epub, Kindle ebook, or read online
Pages (PDF): 83
Publication Date: This edition, edited by Israel Gollancz and Honnor Morten, 1901

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Summary:

Contains 6 letters of Peter Abelard and Heloise d'Argenteuil. The love between these two is the stuff that legends are made of, although their story seems less romantic when laid out bare. Abelard started an affair with her when he lived at her house (actually her Uncle's house). The Uncle found out and separated them, but they continued to meet in secret until Heloise became pregnant, at which point her lover shipped her off to Brittany, to be looked after by his family. Abelard then proposed that they marry, something which Heloise wasn't really into, but did it anyway. When the Uncle found out and publicly disclosed it, Heloise denied it. Abelard then sent her off to a convent to protect her from her Uncle. After being castrated by the Uncle, Abelard decided to become a monk and insisted that Heloise become a nun, which she wasn't too keen on. Heloise is now looked upon as something of a feminist, and the letters between her and Abelard are full of erudite conversations and passionate discourse.