Overview

One of the greatest love stories of all time, this play was inspired by Helen Waddell's Peter Abelard and the letters of the 12th century lovers: a monastic scholar and poet and the innocent girl who came to adore him. Abelard loses his heart and his reason to Heloise, has a child by her and, in violation of his vows, enters into a secret marriage. Heloise's vengeful uncle alerts the ecclesiastical authorities. The lovers are separated and Abelard is castrated. She enters a nunnery and he a monastery. They meet again years later when he turns over to her, as abbess, a community he founded at their parting.

"[This] story of the most famous star crossed lovers outside of Romeo and Juliet... is intelligently written, striking." - The New York Times

Keywords

• Christianity
• Love
• Marriage
• Religion