Luise Rinser's new passionate novel tells a well-known story: Abelard, born in 1079 in Brittany, has already had a brilliant career as a philosopher and theologian when he is appointed by the Parisian canon Fulbert to be the tutor of the young, beautiful, highly talented Heloise. The teacher and student fall in love, and Heloise becomes pregnant. Abelard abducts her, marries her in secret, and the child is entrusted to Abelard's sister. In his rage, Fulbert has Abelard castrated. Heloise, at his request, enters a convent, and Abelard becomes a monk as well, continuing to teach, revered by students, condemned by the Orthodox, and threatened by attacks and trials. At peace with the Church, he dies at the age of 63, while Heloise survives him by 22 years. Luise Rinser makes the person who is the subject of this dramatically moving story the narrator, as recorded in history.