Garcia, Juan José Marcos, ed., Helysae Epistola ad Abelardum (The Latin Library Website, 2004). View Source Online

Text name(s): Helysae Epistola ad Abelardum; Letter from Heloise to Abelard

Number of pages of primary source text: 0

Medieval Author(s): Heloise

Dates: 1120 - 1164

Archival Reference:

Original Language(s): Latin;

Translation: Original language included.

Translation Comments:

Geopolitical Region(s): France;

County/Region:

Apparatus:

Comments:

The love affair of Abelard and Heloise is one of the most famous in history. Abelard was one of the most brilliant intellectuals of his day, and a professor at the University of Paris. Heloise, his student, was also incredibly intelligent. The two of them fell deeply in love, and she became pregnant. When they refused to marry, Heloise’s family forced her into a convent, and castrated Abelard, who then became a monk. The continued to write letters to each other for the rest of their lives. The Latin text of one of Heloise’s letters, with no introductory material or scholarly apparatus, can be found on the Latin Library website.

Introduction Summary:

Cataloger: MK