Abelard & Heloise

[eclecticreader10]

Can anyone receommend a fiction book about Abelard & Heloise? I saw a movie about them years ago and would love to read a novel. I'm also interested in Tristan and Isolde - an ideas here?

[Tanzanite]

I've never heard of Abelard and Heloise - who are they?

As for Tristan and Isolde - there is a new book coming out in 09 about them. Here is the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Avalon-Novel-Anna-Elliott/dp/1416589899/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2U7HCYAVVQVK9&colid=10OEGK5AEPKX5

Also, Nancy McKenzie wrote one called Prince of Dreams. I have not read it yet, but I really liked her Queen of Camelot book about Guinevere. Rosalind Miles has written a trilogy, but I have read two of her other books and didn't care for them (although some people do).

[Ariadne]

Can anyone receommend a fiction book about Abelard & Heloise? I saw a movie about them years ago and would love to read a novel. I'm also interested in Tristan and Isolde - an ideas here?

I'm partial to Marion Meade's Stealing Heaven. Here's a link to the publisher's website (http://www.sohopress.com/books/stealing_heaven.html).

My favorite novel about Tristan and Isolde is Diana Paxson's The White Raven, which is definitely not a traditional interpretation. It's told from the viewpoint of Brangwain (Branwen), Isolde's companion. Another good one is Iseult by Dee Morrison Meaney. The original editions of both novels, if you can find them (the Meaney was recently republished by Lulu) have gorgeous covers painted by Thomas Canty.

[diamondlil]

For Heloise and Abelard try Stealing Heaven by Marion Meade. I haven't read it myself, but I do know that it is one of my friends favourite books ever.

[eclecticreader10]

Stealing Heaven was the name of the movie I saw. It never occurred to me that there was a book first. I'm definitely going to check it out along with The White Raven. Thank you so much

[Ariadne]

Interesting, I didn't know there was a Stealing Heaven movie. I'll have to investigate.

[Ash]

That movie was my first introduction to the story of the two lovers, and what an introduction it was. Beautifully done, I'll need to see it again soon

Tan, Abelard was a brillant student of philosophy at the univeristy of Paris. Heloise was the daughter (mmm, niece?) of a wealthy merchant. They met and eventually became lovers, but they were soon caught. She had their son (who I always wanted to know more about). There was some legend about their graves, I suspect others know more than I do.

[Ariadne]

Eclecticreader and Ash, thanks for the info about the movie! I'm going to check out whether the local video store has a copy.

[Tanzanite]

That movie was my first introduction to the story of the two lovers, and what an introduction it was. Beautifully done, I'll need to see it again soon

Tan, Abelard was a brillant student of philosophy at the univeristy of Paris. Heloise was the daughter (mmm, niece?) of a wealthy merchant. They met and eventually became lovers, but they were soon caught. She had their son (who I always wanted to know more about). There was some legend about their graves, I suspect others know more than I do.


Sounds fascinating. Thanks for the info.

[annis]

Ash, Abélard and Héloïse's son was named Astralabe (possibly Peter Astralabe). He lived to adulthood. According to Constant Mews, who wrote a book about called "The Lost Letters of Abelard and Héloïse" it's not certain what happened to Astralabe. Héloïse was apparently sent away to stay in Brittany with Abélard's sister when pregnant and delivered her child there. According to a mid-12th century document from Brittany (the province from which Abélard hailed and where he still had plenty of family) there was a canon named Astralabe at Nantes, and as it's an uncommon name that does seem like a possibility. I've seen it mentioned in other places that he followed his parents into the Church. See blog below:
http://actsofhope.blogspot.com/2007/04/heloise-as-promised.html

I've also enclosed an article (http://rmmla.wsu.edu/ereview/57.1/articles/classen.asp) about Luise Riner's novel "Abelard's Love", which was written from the perspective of Astralabe.

[annis]

Ash, Abélard and Héloïse's son was named Astralabe. He lived to adulthood. According to Constant Mews, who wrote a book called "The Lost Letters of Abelard and Héloïse" it's not certain what happened to Astralabe. According to a mid-12th century document from Brittany (the province from which Abélard hailed and where he still had plenty of family) there was a canon named Astralabe at Nantes, and as it's an uncommon name that does seem like a possibility. See blog below:
http://actsofhope.blogspot.com/2007/04/heloise-as-promised.html

I've also enclosed an article (http://rmmla.wsu.edu/ereview/57.1/articles/classen.asp) about Luise Riner's novel "Abelard's Love", which was written from the perspective of Astralabe.

[Vanessa]

Daphne du Maurier did a retelling of the Tristan and Isolde/Iseult in Castle D'Or (http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/d/daphne-du-maurier/castle-dor.htm). DduM happens to be one of my favourite authors.

[annis]

And if you'd like a movie, Ridley Scott's (http://www.ugo.com/channels/dvd/features/tristanandisolde/interview.asp) "Tristan and Isolde" is full of Dark Age atmosphere and visually gorgeous. James Franco as Tristan is also visually gorgeous but acting abilities rather limited- he may have been working on his impression of the tortured hero nobly suffering, but looked more to me as if he was suffering from indigestion! Definitely worth a watch, though.

[eclecticreader10]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. I ended up ordering Stealing Heaven by Marion Meade and Iseult by Dee Morrison Meaney. I ordered them from Half.com and got both for $8.48, including shipping. I'm happy. The White Raven went on my reminder list for next time.

[princess garnet]

I have a photo of a sign marking their home near Notre Dame Catherdal that I took while on summer study aboard in Paris 4 years ago.

[ellenjane]

Abelard and Heloise, as well as Astrolabe, figure prominently in Sharan Newman's series of medieval mysteries (Catherine LeVendeur is the main character). They are secondary characters, but delightful all the same.