Pietro Abelardo
Lettere

Between the years 1079 and 1142, Peter Abelard and Heloise engaged in an extensive correspondence.

To approach the work, a foundational knowledge of Aristotelian theories is necessary and, of course, of Augustine's scholasticism, which is continually referenced in the work.

The book is a snapshot of what happened in the Middle Ages, both in the secular and ecclesiastical fields. Noteworthy are the interactions between Masters and Students, the philosophical school that interacts with doctrine and faith. The "earthly" part also descends into carnal descriptions; today, some scenarios and the variety of punishments or revenges practiced then appear astonishing. In the text I purchased, the Latin text is presented alongside it; it is a late medieval language, not the one used by Cicero.

Reading and avoiding the quotations, or worse, skipping some passages on the Church's temporal power, severely damages the pages; in some passages, love, poetry, affection, and philosophy are closely connected.

It was rightly pointed out to me that, in this narrative, there is a love story, love and sex with all the ingredients to make it lively and vivid.