The story of Abelard and Heloise remains one of the world's most celebrated and tragic love affairs. Through their letters, we follow the path of their romance from its reckless and ecstatic beginnings when Heloise became Abelard's pupil, through the suffering of public scandal and enforced secret marriage, to their eventual separation.
Peter Abelard was a French philosopher and the greatest logician of the 12th century. He taught in Paris, where Heloise was his pupil. After the tragic end of their marriage, she became a nun & he a monk. Betty Radice was the editor of the Penguin Classics during the 1960-70s & an acclaimed translator from Latin, Greek & Italian. Michael Clanchy researches at the Institute of Historical Research UCL & the Warburg Institute.
