Historia Calamitatum The Story of My Misfortunes

Saint Paul, MN: T. A. Boyd, 1922. Hardcover. Good +/No Jacket. Saint Paul, MN: T. A. Boyd, 1922. Hardcover. Good +/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Original printed paper boards & spine. Top of spine missing piece "This edition is limited to twelve hundred and fifty copies." This is an un-numbered, out of series copy. 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 can non 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. Relativ es 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 beca me 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 H eloise. Along with their letters, this "Historia Calamitatum" is the main source for details of Abelard's life and his love. <br/> <br/>