The Saint and the Scholar

Tonight's programme focuses on what Frayling calls the "theological prize-fight of the age" in which two brilliant medieval men, who had been on a collision course all their lives, met for a confrontation at the Council of Sens in 1140. On one side there was Bernard of Clairvaux - later Saint Bernard - rural, spiritual, and theologically faithful. Facinghim was Peter Abelard , the best known teacher of his day: an urban, rational, theologically enquiring man. Interwoven with the story of these two exceptional men is the tale of Abelard's passionate but tragic love affair with his learned student, Helolse. When theirforbidden relationship was eventually discovered, he was castrated and she was sent to a nunnery. HeloTse is regarded as a key figure in the sexual history of women, and remembered forthe emotional, poetic qualities of her love letters. Frayling uses these three characters to examine the nature of fame in the Middle Ages and to reflect upon the enormous changes convulsing 12th century society.