In 12th century France, a new philosophical and religious enquiry is growing. The educated Peter Abelard is at the forefront of this new thinking. When he begins an affair with his student Heloise, his enemies find the pretence they need to discredit him. By attempting this, they begin a war of ideas that inevitably involves Abbot and Popemaker Bernard of Clairvaux.

Howard Brenton, whose other plays include The Romans In Britain and Paul, uses the love story of Abelard and Heloise to examine logic, religion, humanism, fundamentalism, faith and power.