Romance

Two volumes. pp. 201; 240 + Engraved portrait plates. Small 12mo. Uncut. Contemporary French half leather bindings, spines worn. Printed bookplate of Jan Paulus Schumacher. Edited by A. E. Cailleau. Pierre du Pallet, called by the name of Abelard, was a successful educator in the Cathedral School of Notre Dame when (in 1115) he was appointed tutor to Heloise, the beautiful and talented 17 year old niece of cannon Fulbert, with whom he was lodging. They fell madly in love and were forced to flee together to Brittany. After Heloise gave birth to a son they were secretly married and returned to Paris. Relatives of Heloise would not be distracted from their revenge and one night they surprised Abelard in his bedroom and castrated him. In shame, Abelard joined the Abbey St. Denis as a monk, and Heloise became a nun. As they both rose to prominence (and Abelard in philosophical and religious controversy), they kept up a loving correspondence. In the end, their corpses were laid to rest together, and their tale became legend. Though Abelard exerted great influence on the minds of his contemporaries and the course of medieval thought, he would be little known to us today - but for his connection with Heloise. Their letters are the main source for details of Abelard's life and his love. "Then there is no more left but this, that in our doom the sorrow yet to come shall be no less than the love we two have already known" - Heloise speaking to Abelard as she agreed to their marriage. **PRICE JUST REDUCED! FR3