He was, as even his enemies admitted, a brilliant teacher and an unconquerable logician; he was, moreover, a voluminous writer.

Works by him which have been preserved include letters, sermons, philosophical and religious treatises, commentaries on the Bible, on Aristotle and on various other books, and a number of poems.
Many of the misfortunes which the "Historia Calamitatum" relates were the direct outcome of Abelard's uncompromising position as a rationalist, and the document is above all interesting for the picture it gives of the man himself, against the background of early twelfth century France.

A few dates will help the general reader to connect the life surrounding Abelard with other and more familiar facts.

William the Conqueror had entered England thirteen years before Abelard's birth.

The boy was eight years old when the Conqueror died near Rouen during his struggle with Philip of France.