Super Short Summary

The Letters of Abelard and Heloise tells the story of two 12th-century French scholars and lovers, whose tragic love affair leads them to take religious vows, one entering a convent and the other a monastery. Nearly a decade after their separation, they reconnect and correspond through letters, revealing Abelard's peace despite facing charges of heresy and Heloise's internal turmoil over her enduring love and bitterness. The book includes their letters, autobiographical writings, hymns composed by Abelard, and scholarly discussions that provide historical context and insights into their intellectual and emotional lives. This text deals with themes of castration and persecution.