The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France (New Middle Ages) [Paperback]

Constant J. Mews (Author), Neville Chiavaroli (Translator), Constant Mew (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312239416 | ISBN-13: 978-0312239411 | Publication Date: April 7, 2001

This book examines a medieval text long neglected by most scholars. The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard looks at the earlier correspondence between these two famous individuals, revealing the emotions and intimate exchanges that occurred between them. The perspectives presented here are very different from the view related by Abelard in his "History of My Calamities," an account which provoked a much more famous exchange of letters between Heloise and Abelard after they had both entered religious life. Offering a full translation of the love letters along with a copy of the actual Latin text, Mews provides an in-depth analysis of the debate concerning the authenticity of the letters and look at the way in which the relationship between Heloise and Abelard has been perceived over the centuries. He also explores the political, literary, and religious contexts in which the two figures conducted their affair and offers new insights into Heloise as an astonishingly gifted writer, whose literary gifts were ultimately frustrated by the course of her relationship with her teacher.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The illicit love affair between Abelard and Heloise was one of the most talked-about relationships in the Middle Ages. While the letters they wrote after both had become monastics have been well-publicized, these early love letters had not previously been identified as theirs. Mews (history and director of the Ctr. for Studies in Religion, Monash Univ., Australia) carefully sets forth the reasons for his identification of these letters with the famous couple. For Mews, these letters reveal a conflict of values between Heloise and Abelard that reflects monastic debates on the nature of love itself. Mews discusses Heloise's influence on Abelard through her respect for non-Christian classical authors, her concern for practicality in monastic rules, and her idea of love as involving friendship and equality. Important for Medievalists, feminists, and those captivated by the Heloise and Abelard myth; highly recommended.ACarolyn M. Craft, Longwood Coll., Farmville, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

". . . a detailed and readable account. . . an asset to collections supporting studies of French literature and early French history and theology."--Choice

 

"Only recently -- and miraculously -- has a new cache of material turned up, fragments of 113 letters that many scholars believe Abelard and Heloise exchanged before Abelard's castration. Copied in the 15th century by a monk named Johannes de Vespria, discovered in 1980 by Constant J. Mews and finally published as ‘The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard,’ these short but eloquent missives present two people vying -- with no coyness or gender typecasting whatever -- to outdo each other in expressions of adoration. 'To a reddening rose under the spotless whiteness of lilies,' the woman addresses the man. 'To his jewel, more pleasing and more splendid than the present light,' the man addresses the woman. The letters have unleashed a new storm of interest in the couple; it is to this that we owe the British filmmaker James Burge's biography, 'Abelard and Heloise.' "--New York Times Book Review

 

A thorough, sympathetic appraisal of the [letters]. By restoring this magnificent literary dialogue to its rightful place in Latin letters, Mews has performed a signal service not only for scholars of Abelard and Heloise, but for all who love literature.”--The Medieval Review

 

“Important for medievalists, feminists, and those captivated by the Abelard and Heloise myth; highly recommended.”--Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (April 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312239416
• ISBN-13: 978-0312239411
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #404,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Akin to discovering a hitherto unknown play by Shakespeare, December 20, 1999

By 

Kiki D. (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France (New Middle Ages) (Hardcover)

Drawing upon the research presented in Ewald Konsgen's 'Epistolae duorun amantium: Briefe Abaelards und Heloises? (Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1974), Mews offers a compelling thesis that letters discovered and transcribed in Clairvaux in the 15th century are the 'lost' love letters of Peter Abelard and Heloise. Mews asserts that the letters in question were written 'by two articulate individuals who lived in the Ile-de-France in first half of the 12th century [who] were fully conversant with the classical authors known at that time', a point made by Konsgen but further developed by Mews. Indeed, it is made clear that not only are the Clairvaux letters the work of two distinctly different authors, but that woman is the man's student, "the only disciple of philosophy among all the women of our age" as he calls her, the man a famous teacher, a master of philosophy and a poet. The author begins with the discovery of the letters in a monastery at Clairvaux and their transcription by the monk Johannes de Vespria. He then follows with a discussion of the 'known' (and still controversial) letters of Abelard and Heloise and how those letters shaped the subsequent perception of their relationship. Mews goes on to compare the vocabulary of the known letters with the Clairvaux letters, arguing that the parallels are so striking that it "stretches plausibility to argue that the letters were written by any one other than Abelard and Heloise." He finishes his analysis by showing the implications of this discovery to the present understanding of the evolution of their relationship. The final chapter is a transcription of the Clairvaux letters in Latin, with a parallel translation in English. Throughout the book, Mews throws light on the broader issues of communication between men and woman in 12th century France. He also places the 'story' of Abelard and Heloise into the broader context of their era, explaining how the political upheavals and cultural changes of the 12th century played a part in their relationship and in their lives in general. Mews' argument is reasoned, well researched, and entirely convincing. As for the letters themselves, erotic and sensual, they offers a tantilizing glimpse into the early relationship of Abelard and Heloise - but there are mysteries here too. What is the cause of the rift that seems to have happened between the writing of letters 57 and 58? What does the woman mean when she writes "If you are well and moving among wordly concerns without trouble, I am carried away by a great exultation of mind"? Is this truly Heloise writing to Abelard about the birth of their child? Both writers fill their letters with imagery about the stars, the sun and moon, and celestial light - is this what prompted Heloise and Abelard to name their child (Peter) Astrolabe? The real importance of these letters may be in their discussion of the true nature of friendship and love, which may shed light on and help us to better understand the 'known' letters of Abelard and Heloise. In the Clairvaux letters, the woman seems determined to define their relationship and convince the man of her true love for him; the man seems more preoccupied with the erotic nature of their friendship. These letters are also important in illustrating what a poetic and original writer Heloise was - an idea often overlooked by those more preoccupied by the romance and tragedy of her story. I look forward to reading more arguments concerning authorship of these lost letters, and I encourage not only scholars, but lay people like myself to read this book.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, April 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France (New Middle Ages) (Hardcover)

What a fine piece of work this is from Constant Mews! I was dazzled by his erudition and the almost detective-like skill he used in authenticating this cache of letters as being those of the tragic Heloise and Abelard. Scholars have much to thank Mews and his collaborator, Chiavarolli, for upon the publication of this timely work. Those who believe Heloise to be the more important of the two figures also have much to rejoice about. They have elevated Heloise to the level of other well-known medieval woman such as Joan of Arc, Christine de Pizan, etc. Bravo. A long overdue piece of the Heloise and Abelard puzzle has finally been laid in place.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Add me to this list of people who loved this book!, January 17, 2003

By 

Lois Huneycutt (Columbia, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Lost Love Letters of Heloise and Abelard: Perceptions of Dialogue in Twelfth-Century France (New Middle Ages) (Paperback)

Seldom do I find a work of historical scholarship that I simply cannot put down -- this is it. Anyone familiar with the Abelard and Heloise story and the very basic outlines of 12th century history ought to enjoy this compelling and intriguing piece.