Historia Calamitatum

Like watching video of a wreck, in slow motion, played over and over again. The greatest misfortune of the logician and theologian, Pierre Abelard, was his compulsion to humiliate the rich and powerful, despite the severe penalties for doing so in 12th Century France.

Sadly, the legend of his love for Heloise also suffers in his retelling. He seems more concerned with his reputation than her welfare. Would've been better for his reputation if he'd never written this short memoir.

This work was undertaken by a twelfth century philosopher and aesthetic holy man, but doesn't really delve much into philosophy, or theology. Instead, it is the story of his life, and a detailing of his enemies. It reads like a catalog of offenses, naming names of people who have done him wrong, and railing against the grievous harms done to him. Apparently written as a letter to a friend (posited in the afterword as possibly his former lover, Heloise), it stands as the autobiography of a man who has become the stuff of legends. Even as he seeks to vindicate himself in the face of his enemies, he comes off as rather vindictive, and not all that likable, a whiny child begging mommy to take his side against the other kids. Still, it is a show more fascinating look at the world through his eyes, and can be read quickly, not being as dense as many similar works of the time. This work makes it difficult to see him as the humble aesthete he seems to believe himself, as he brags continually about his great fame and his great insight, and many of the scriptural references he make appear to obliquely put him on a par with Jesus, St. Jerome, and other figures revered in Christian history. The introduction of this edition is quite amusing; apparently written in 1922 by a man who is presented as a name without any bio to tell us who he was, there are numerous historical howlers apparently intended to build up the idea of the Catholic Church as the spiritual center of peaceful society in a time when Catholicism had lost much of its hold on Western thought and policy. show less

A brief, astonishing autobiography by a man most remembered for his romance and subsequent castration than for his philosophical struggles and persecution. The story is fascinating to read, even for the layperson with little interest in the ins and outs of medieval religious argument, and regardless of how one views his personality (stubborn, self-absorbed, courageous, all of the above), his own account of his choices, mistakes and persecutions is beautifully written and absorbing.

Historia Calamitatum is not only remarkably readable for a medieval text, but it made for a pretty captivating read. Abelard's incredible bad luck is a bit of a downer at times, but interesting none the less.

The famous story of Abelard and Heloise is a romantic one, but if you're looking for a grand medieval love story don't only read Historia Calamitatum. Abelard's retelling of the relationship is rather cold and systematic--don't expect any flowery verse here. Heloise and Abelard's letters have been published and are likely more in that vein. Historia Calamitatum is still a worthwhile story of course, but only in addition to other works if you are interested in Abelard and Heloise's whole history.

Ever since I read "Heloise and Abelard: A New Biography" by James Burge, I've wanted to read something written by Peter Abelard, touted as one of the greatest intellectuals of the 12th century. He was certainly a brilliant man, almost too smart for his own good and apparently one of those people who makes everyone aware he is smarter than they. "Historia Calamitatum" is basically Abelard's autobiography and leaves the reader thinking, "he may be smart, but what a whiner". The entire book is replete with examples of people who were out to get him or did him harm. I have no doubt that he was, in fact, persecuted to a large degree but he seems to feel himself a complete innocent when he brought much of his troubles on himself. Even so, show more it's an interesting read. show less

I actually read this book online through Project Gutenburg. It is a memoir telling the story of Abelard's life and adventures, with particular focus on his epic romance. But, of course, this is a story which took place during the 12th century AD, adding an interesting layer of historical interest to what otherwise reads as a rather modern tale.

If I could find a penny for each time Abelard got kicked out of an institution and accused everyone of persecuting him I'd be the richest man in the world.