Popular Culture Review Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1993 | Page 48
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^PO£Ul^ Culture Review
century evasions of unpalatable truth rob us of the grandeur of true
tragedy, and the heart-piercing irony of Heloise and Abelard
humbled to their knees by a jealous God. To understand the truth of
our own lives, we must allow them the truth of theirs. If we deny
them their reality, we deny our own. And that's the way the century
ends: not with a bang, but a whimper.
University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Glorianna Locklear
End Notes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
All references made to Historia Calamitatum refer to Betty Radice's
translation, the most recent and readable, widely praised for its
accuracy. The textual history of Abelard's work is long and varied, and
thoroughly discussed by Radice (45-55). For those who would like to
know more about Heloise and Abelard themselves, her general
introduction (9-45) gives much specific detail as well as raising the major
speculative questions. For those even more ambitious, the actual texts
will be rewarding. The basic story is so widely known as to need no
repeating here.
The Personal Letters are contained in the Radice translation, as well as
Abelard's Letters of Direction and Letters of Peter the Venerable and
H eloise.
Once again, Radice is a good starting place to pursue further textual study,
especially her introduction and select bibliography. Informative
bibliographical footnotes are also scattered throughout the text.
Gilson's case is discussed in much more detail by Robertson (222 ff). It is
mentioned here to illustrate the palpable ha rm already caused by
Waddell’s transmogrification.
All film quotations are exactly as spoken in the currently available video
version.
Works Cited
Auden, Wystan Hugh. "Alexander Pope," in Essential Articles for the Study
of Alexander Pope. Maynard Mack, ed. The Essential Article Series.
Hamden, Connecticut: Archon Books, 1964. 22-37.
Barnard, John, ed. Pope: The Critical Heritage. London and Boston:
Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1973.
Donner, Clive. Stealing Heaven. Yugoslavia: Tri-Star, 1988.
Pope, Alexander. "Eloisa to Abelard," in The Works of Alexander Pope. Vol.
II. John Wilson Croker, ed. New York: Gordian Press, 1967. 218-57.