The Story of My Misfortunes

The Story of My Misfortunes is an autobiography written by the medieval French philosopher and theologian Peter Abelard. The book was completed in 1132 and is considered one of the most important works of medieval literature. The book is written in the form of a letter to a friend and details the major events in Abelards life including his rise to fame as a teacher and philosopher his love affair with Heloise a student who became his lover and his eventual castration at the hands of Heloises uncle. Abelards writing is notable for its frankness and honesty as he describes his own mistakes and weaknesses. He also provides a detailed account of the intellectual and religious debates of his time including his own ideas about theology and philosophy. One of the key themes of the book is the tension between reason and faith. Abelard was a proponent of using reason to understand religious truth which put him at odds with many in the church. The book also explores the themes of love sin and redemption.