This thesis seeks to determine the historical role of the twelfth-century abbess Heloise, apart from the frequently cited and disputed letters exchanged between her and Peter Abelard.
Historical Lives in Fiction, Characters in Fiction: Are they the same people?
January 30, 2015 By
There is a strong relationship between history and fiction. The characters created by writers, either in historical novels and literary fiction, reflect that relationship. Many of the characteristics of fictional characters can also be ascribed to characters depicted in historical fiction and biographical writing.
Feminine Love in the Twelfth Century – A Case Study: The Mulier in the Lost Love Letters and the Work of Female Mystics
November 10, 2014 By
This article compares the twelfth-century writings of the secular mulier in the Lost Love Letters with the work of religious female ‘mystics’ to draw comparisons about the way these authors chose to express love.
Interview with Sherry Jones – The Sharp Hook of Love
October 22, 2014 By
I try to tell whatever story I’m telling with struck adherence to the known facts and as faithfully to the era — its culture, mores, values, etc. — as I can be without having been there. However, I also recognize that history is its own form of fiction
Abelard and Heloise’s Love Story from the Perspective of their Son Astrolabe: Luise Rinser’s Novel Abelard’s Love
February 23, 2014 By
Abelard and Heloise’s Love Story from the Perspective of their Son Astrolabe: Luise Rinser’s Novel Abelard’s Love By Albrecht Classen Rocky Mountain Review, Vol.57:1 (2003) Introduction: The debate about the authenticity of Abelard and Heloise’s correspondence has raged for many decades, if not centuries. Traditionally, many critics have claimed that Heloise, as a woman, could not […]
The Original Medieval Lovers: Books on Abelard and Heloise
February 9, 2014 By
A list of books by and about Abelard and Heloise, the most famous couple of the Middle Ages.
The Birth of Heloise: New Light on an Old Mystery
March 18, 2013 By
So where did she come from, this extraordinary woman and what was the composition of genes that went into her inheritance?
Is truth more interesting than fiction? The conflict between veracity and dramatic impact in historical fiction
January 15, 2013 By
I do not wish to enlist, on either side, in the battle between historians and novelists. What I would like is to suggest a foray which may at first glance seem a minor skirmish, but which may significantly affect the way in which a writer portrays people who once lived, particularly famous people.
Negotiations and love songs : Heloise and the question of religious authenticity
October 1, 2012 By
This thesis argues, however, that the letters by Abelard and Heloise, together with their liturgical works for the Oratory of the Paraclete, constitute an ongoing negotiation for the redefinition of authenticity within the religious life.
The Education of Heloise in Twelfth-Century France
September 9, 2012 By
This paper holds that Heloise had opportunity and one can demonstrate that other women, both secular and religious, while being located within the twelfth century of France, also had similar, if not more opportunities in education, business, and other domains that were typically thought of as impossible for women of this era.
The Personal Letters of Heloise and Abelard – Manifestations of Cultural Influences on Patterns of Love, Desire and Gender Inequality
April 18, 2012 By
I shall attempt to analyze the love shared by Heloise and Abelard. They desired each other, yet in their own ways they attempted to manipulate each other, during and after their time together.
The debate on the Epistolae duorum amantium. Current status
February 14, 2012 By
The methodological questions at stake are much more important and interesting. To quote the initial words of P. von Moos’ monumental article, these documents represent a real challenge for medievalism.
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