Stealing Heaven (The Hera Series)
by Marion Meade

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Book Reviews of Stealing Heaven (The Hera Series)

Book Review: A good, but one-sided book. . .
Summary: 2 Stars

This is an entertaining (and at points, steamy) historical novel detailing the relationship between the great theologian Peter Abelard, and his much younger female student, the intelligent and witty Heloise.

In the 11th century, teachers in University were expected to be celibate (whether or not they were members of the clergy). While not (to my best knowledge) a matter of canon law, such celibacy was a deeply ingrained custom. Peter Abelard was neither the first nor the last teacher to throw such customs to the wind -- his case remains noticed because of the dreadful vengeance directed against him.

Yes, Abelard violated custom by his affair with Heloise. However, any work which would portray Abelard as a ruthless aggressor and Heloise as an innocent victim are reading their own 20th and 21st century feminist perspectives into an 11th century situation. Both individuals were adults, both were consenting, both were aware of the customs and social mores, and both were aware of the possible penalties. This work does the relationship a great disservice by suggesting otherwise.

The real villian in this story is Heloise' uncle. Here was a man who engaged in his own extended sexual dalliances, and who took a personal vengeance against the greatest teacher in Paris -- a vengeance in which the punishment did NOT fit the crime, and which caused untold harm to the University.

Finally, the author includes a strong undercurrent of homosexuality throughout the novel. I remain unconvinced that this was necessary. First, she accuses Abelard of numerous homosexual encounters with his students -- an accusation which flies in the face of the best history we have, which states that Abelard did indeed keep his celibacy until his meeting with Heloise. Second, her descriptions of rampant lesbianism in the various convents in which Heloise found herself was unnecessary to the story and another historical liberty.

I enjoyed this book (and the movie, for that matter) but the pure student of church history will realize that the author's agendas play a much larger role in this novel than is strictly appropriate.

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