In this episode, Doc breaches a subject that is so uncomfortable, so provocative that it raises eyebrows and makes his students squirm every year in class: the relationship between philosopher/theologian Abelard and scholar/prioress Heloise. He’ll discuss Abelard’s life as a travelling, rabble-rousing scholar, his torrid affair and secret marriage to his student Heloise, and the, uh, painful aftermath of their union. Then, Nina asks about the problems of secret marriages, brings up criticism of Heloise’s place in history, and even slides in a crass joke or two.
Recommendations:
NY Times – “Heloise & Abelard: Love Hurts” (https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/13/books/review/heloise-abelard-love-hurts.html)
“Eloisa to Abelard” by Alexander Pope, (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44892/eloisa-to-abelard)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0338013/)
Have a recommendation for us? Send Doc and Nina an email at podcast at profawesome dot com!