Listening to Heloise : The Voice of a Twelfth-century Woman

Heloise, the 12th-century French abbess and reformer, was one of history's most extraordinary women, a thinker and writer of profound insight and skill.

Her supple and learned mind attracted the most radical philosopher of her time, Peter Abelard.

He became her teacher, lover, husband and finally monastic ally.

That relationship has made her fame until now. But Heloise is far more important in her own right. Seventeen experts of international standing collaborate here to reveal and analyze how Heloise's daring achievements shaped normative issues of theology, rhetoric, rational argument, gender and emotional authenticity.