this is a story of a monk and a nun whose love letters became world famous. around 1100, peter abelard went to paris to study at the school of notre dame. he gained a reputation as an outstanding philosopher. fulbert, the canon of notre dame, hired abelard to tutor his niece, heloise. abelard and the scholarly heloise fell deeply in love, conceived a child, and were secretly married. but fulbert was furious, so abelard sent heloise to safety in a convent. thinking that he intended to abandon heloise, fulbert had his servants castrate abelard while he slept. abelard became a monk and devoted his life to learning. the heartbroken heloise became a nun. despite their separations and tribulations, abelard and heloise remained in love. their poignant love letters were later published. by cm