medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
For the last 40 years, Ms. McLaughlin labored over two books, to be
published
posthumously, that colleagues describe as her masterworks. One is the first
full biography of Héloïse, the lover and later wife of the 12th-century
French philosopher Peter Abélard. [snip] While reams of scholarship have
been devoted to Héloïse and Abélard, among
history's most ill-starred lovers, few investigators have considered Héloïse
alone. Ms. McLaughlin was the first to do so, colleagues said in interviews
last week.
While joining whole-heartedly in the expressions of grief, and absolutely
not wishing in any way to devalue Ms McLaughlin's contributions to mediaeval
studies, I feel I should point out to the obituary writer and Ms
McLaughlin's colleagues that Enid McLeod wrote a biography of Heloise in
1938 ( Rev ed 1971) and published by Chatto & Windus.
I would also agree that a new biography of Heloise alone is overdue, but
what about a [good scholarly or indeed any ] history of the Paraclete (which
was still a viable institution in the 18th C when it was forcible closed by
the Revolution.) which has yet to be written? I am amazed that feminist
scholarship has ignored this topic!
Brenda M C
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