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AUDIENCE COMMENTS |
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An opportunity for the audience to have their say on In Our Time. |
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ABELARD AND ELOISE
Di Stubbs Abelard and Heloise
When I was younger I read EVERYTHING about them; (especially Helen Waddell). I also have a record of some music ('O Quanta Qualia') allegedly composed by Abelard. When in Paris, I made a pilgramage to Pere Lachaise, but got off the Metro at the wrong station, entering the cemetery at the wrong end. I walked slowly downhill through all the graves and saw an old gentleman, pure Maurice Chevalier, brushing soil from his knees as he got up from a grave. In my best/terrible French I asked 'Pardonnez moi, Monsieur, ou se trouve Abelard et Heloise ?' And he smiled with an exquisite twinkle and said 'En Ciel, je croix, mademoiselle'. I eventually found the cemetery office and aske dthe same question. The girl (presumably her first day ?) said abruptly 'surnom ?' I said 'Well, Abelard, I suppose, Monsieur et madame Abelard'. She then asked me when they died. I said 'err.... 1120 ish'. She found a card in the index and went over to a huge grid map of the cemetery muttering something like C Deux, C Deux. I could see her two fingers converging on the C line and the Deux line at a square bordered in gold ! 'Voila !' she said 'Mais il y a quelqu'un celebre ici aussi'. Thanks for a great programme. Di
Peter Cumpson, Abelard, Heloise, Bede and Pelagius
Programme on Abelard and Heloise, and Bede last year, have been wonderful, a real window on medieval thought. May I recommend a programme on Pelagius? (probably a greek translation of the British surname Morgan) - the first British author we know about. His times were interesting - the fall of the Roman empire in the west - and his views of individual free will are still our mental furniture, though his name is largely forgotten. More than once outwitted accusations of heresy (not least because of his better education in greek, at a time when the centre of gravity of the empire was moving east). Sadly largely forgotten because of his denunciation by Augustine and Jerome - but a real British hero, from what little we know of him.
David Jackson-Eve Re: Abelard and Heloise
I'm sorry to say this, but that was a very disapointing program. Of course, their story is fascinating and the documents an extraordinary window on the 12th century, but unlike any IOT I can recall I was left thinking 'so what?'. Most of the program consisted of the academics discussing interpretation of the letters in terms of the true nature of the lover's relationship. IOT says it 'explores the history of ideas', but where were the ideas this week? They certainly weren't trying to illuminate a larger picture of 12th century social history through A&H. And theology? What did Abelard actually say about nominalism, what was his place in scholasticism (which were both mentioned in passing) and what was his contribution to soteriology (which wasn't)? We were not told, and when asked about Heloise's writings one academic seemed to suggest that none had survived. An interesting tale, but what's the bigger picture? Sorry, IOT, perhaps I've just got too used to the usual thought-provoking high standard.
Amie Albrecht - Break?
Let me first say that I find each week of In Our Time completely enthralling and well put together. The variety of topics and the enthusiasm of both Melvyn and the guest speakers is catching! I listen via the web (mp3 download) from Adelaide in South Australia. Given that there is not a new program this week, I wonder if a BBC4 listener in the UK could tell us if the program is on hiatus - I need my weekly fix!
Roger Wells - Abelard and Heloise
i first learned about their story from the novel "Peter Abelard" by Helen Waddell, published by Constable & Co, London 1933. The book is not only a wonderful story but is written by a real scholar. It was reprinted many times but is probably no longer easily available. I highly recommend it.
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