Historia Calamitatum

Historia Calamitatum, also known as The Story of My Misfortunes, is an autobiographical work written by the medieval philosopher and theologian Peter Abelard. In this book, Abelard recounts the tragic events of his life, including his tumultuous love affair with Heloise, his castration by Heloise's uncle, and his subsequent struggles with depression and spiritual crisis.Written in the form of a letter to a friend, Historia Calamitatum is a deeply personal and introspective work that offers a unique glimpse into the life of one of the most influential thinkers of the Middle Ages. Through his candid reflections on his own misfortunes, Abelard provides a powerful meditation on the nature of suffering, the human condition, and the role of faith in overcoming adversity.Despite its somber subject matter, Historia Calamitatum is also a work of great literary and historical significance. It offers valuable insights into the intellectual and cultural milieu of the twelfth century, as well as into the life and thought of one of its most fascinating figures. As such, it remains a classic of medieval literature and an essential text for anyone interested in the history of philosophy, theology, or literature.FORTHWITH I repaired to my own country, and brought back thence my mistress, that I might make her my wife. She, however, most violently disapproved of this, and for two chief reasons: the danger thereof, and the disgrace which it would bring upon me. She swore that her uncle would never be appeased by such satisfaction as this, as, indeed, afterwards proved only too true.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.