Eleanor of aquitaine is one of the most memorable women of history, and a modern woman who lived 800 years ago. For more than sixty years, queen eleanor of aquitaine was involved in all the important events in twelfthcentury france and england. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable personality but a magnificent past era. While her children and husbands lead interesting lives, i purchased a book claiming to be about the renowned eleanor of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine 11241204 is the most famous queen in all the middle ages and one of the most infamous women in history. Inheriting a vast estate at the age of 15 made her the most soughtafter bride of her generation. Eleanor of aquitaine 11221204 was one of the most powerful and influential figures of the middle ages. Also the queen of england in 1152, just eight weeks after her annulment from the king of france, eleanor, now 30 years old, married henry duke of normandy.
Published by ballantine books, a division of random house, inc. Barely out of childhood and faced with great scandals, fraught relationships, and forbidden love at every turn, eleanor must use all her cunning to secure her future as one of the most powerful women in the world. Learn more about eleanor of aquitaine in this article. Eleanor of aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative, weir captures the womanand the queenin all her glory. The traditional story recounts that king henry concealed his affair.
Turner is emeritus professor of history, florida state university. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen consort of both louis vii of france 1752 and henry ii of england 11521204 and mother of richard i the lionheart and john of england. Louis and eleanor were married in july 17, but had little time to get to know one another before louis father the king fell ill and died. A renowned beauty, with a headstrong, spirited personality, she has been compared to cleopatra, the celebrated egyptian queen, elizabeth i of england and many others. Eleanor of aquitaine audiobook by charles river editors. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. She is an icon who has fascinated readers for over eight hundred years. Eleanor of aquitaine, the english queen who was the bride stolen from the french king. This wonderful book tells her tale in exquisite detail, from describing the fashionable furs and luxurious clothing she carried with her, to.
The life and legacy of medieval europes most famous queen attempts to provide an unbiased look at eleanors life by exploring the achievements and trials of the duchessqueen and deconstructing the black legends and other compelling tales that continue to envelop her to this day. Eleanor of aquitaine or more correctly alienor is one of those fabulous women from history who cry out for good fiction and elizabeth chadwick has delivered that in spades with this book. A queen of unparalleled appeal, eleanor of aquitaine retains her power to fascinate even 800 years after her death. The one person who matches every one of these traits was a duchess of the aquitaine, wife of two kings, mother of two others, and though not at the same time queen of both france and england. Richard i the lionhearted and john known as lackland. This stunning novel introduces an eleanor that all other writers have missed. This is the first novel that ive read in many years about her, and it expands on the eleanor that novelists like sharon kay penman have only touched on in their work. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 171152 and england 11541189 and duchess. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by alison weir. A scholarly but lightlywritten book on late 12th century european politics, as told through the life of eleanor of aquitaine. She would eventually become the queen of france, the queen of england and lead a crusade to the holy land. Both sons who survived henry became kings of england after him. At the beginning the book seemed very boring to me. It is mixed with facts about medieval life, and is quite beneficial and wellwritten.
She originally married the king of france, and even joined him on a crusade, then abandoned him for the king of england. Eleanor of aquitaine, queen of france and england home. But marriage reemphasized her sex which, in the medieval scheme of genderpower relations relegated her to the position of lady in. This is a substantial book of 394 pages, and of all the single. This is the first ive read about eleanor of aquitaine, though, and i already knew id go on to read more than this both fiction and nonfiction. She is the queen of england and king richard and prince johns mother. Eleanor of aquitaine 11221204 has been long noted for her political and cultural achievements that profoundly shaped twelfthcentury europe. Based on the most uptodate research, it is the first novel to show eleanor beginning her married life at. Elizabeth chadwick, author of the greatest knight and the eleanor of aquitaine trilogy.
Eleanor of aquitaine, queen, consort of henry ii, king of. She was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12thcentury europe. Twice queen of france as the wife of louis vii, then of england as the wife of henry ii and mother of three kings, she came into contact with famous churchmen. You would be grumpy too if you had to endure my family. The novel begins with eleanors marriage at thirteen years old to the future king of france and follows her eventful life as she matures through political and marital upheavals and becomes a force to be reckoned with. Eleanor of aquitaine was the only person ever to sit on the thrones of both france and england. Queen eleanor of aquitaine is sitting on a cloud surrounded by friends and family, waiting for the arrival of her second husband, king henry ii of england. A novel of eleanor of aquitaine by alison weir, eleanor of aquitaine. Sticking closely to the known facts about her life, this is a fairly intense interpretation of a career which saw alienor become in turn the ruling duchess of aquitaine, queen of france and queen of england. In 1154, stephen died, making henry ii king of england, and eleanor of aquitaine his queen. Impeccably researched and beautifully written, this book offers a fresh perspective on one of the most controversial queens in history. However there were parts that i founded interesting. Based on the most uptodate research, bestselling novelist elizabeth chadwick brings eleanors magnificent story to. He is the author of king john and the reign of richard lionheart, among many other publications on european medieval history.
One of those parts were that queen eleanor and her husband king henry viii married their 3 year old son to a 5 year old princess so they could gain more land. Meades sounds interesting, almost gossipy like her book on jazz age women. Eleanor of aquitaine is a 12th century icon who has fascinated readers for 800 years. The fact is, shes a heavyweighted historical person. Queen eleanor is a character from the story of robin hood and his merrie men. Eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii had three daughters and five sons. A novel of eleanor of aquitaine alienor woke at dawn. As a member of the ramnulfids house of poitiers rulers in southwestern france, she was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in western europe during the high middle ages.
But her greatest influence, still shaping modern sensibilities, was her role as the symbol of courtly love, which was not a mere diversion for the aristocracy but a process of sexual initiation and transcendence that bore a close resemblance to indian tantra. I have read exactly one romance novel about her story in the past and i cant recall a single detail. He was heir to englands throne and 11 years her junior. The first 110 of the book and the last 210 of the book are about eleanor. In this account of the turbulent adventures of the extraordinary mother of richard the lionheart and king john, author douglas boyd takes us into the heart and mind of the woman who changed the shape of europe for 300 years by marrying henry of anjou to make him englands henry ii. Eleanor comes across as a remarkable woman, extremely strongwilled and independent. Queen of france, queen of england, duchess of aquitaine. Books about eleanor of aquitaine kristen mcquinn apr 1, 2018 eleanor of aquitaine 1122 april 1, 1204 was a medieval firebrand, and no question about it. Books for eleanor of aquitaine the history of england.
Eleanor of aquitaine 11241204 still fascinates and intrigues historians today, who continue to try to penetrate the mystery surrounding her extraordinary life. When her eldest son, king richard prepares to leave for the crusade while her youngest son, prince john is left to govern his kingdom in his absence, queen eleanor is asked by one of king richards loyal knights, the earl of huntingdon, to take. Queen eleanor is an 1858 oiloncanvas painting by preraphaelite artist frederick sandys which depicts queen eleanor of aquitaine, the wife of king henry ii of england, on her way to poison her husbands mistress, rosamund clifford the painting is displayed at the national museum cardiff, which obtained it in 1981 legend. The mother of three kings, the matron of the plantagenet dynasty. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine 24 books. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable. It follows the life of eleanor as she grows up to become a great ruler.
This book primarily focuses on eleanors life while she was married to henry. Is kellys eleanor of aquataine and the four kings a reissue of the 1950 book, or did she rewrite it. By the wrath of god, queen of england and eleanor of aquitaine. This biography of queen eleanor, by polly brooks, is simply fascinating. A novel of eleanor of aquitainealienor woke at dawn. Trees are not known by their leaves, nor even by their blossoms, but by their fruits. While henry battles their enemies and lays his plans, eleanor is an adept acting ruler and mother to their growing brood of children. Culturally, beyond her role as wife of kings louis vii of france and henry ii of england and mother of kings richard and john, she inspired the huge diffusion of the arthurian cycle and the celtic myths. Eleanor of aquitaine is remembered for being herself. Upon the death of her father when she was around years old. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 441 pages and is available in paperback format.
The author exhibits a breathtaking grasp of the physical and cultural context of queen eleanors life, presenting a fuller, more holistic appreciation of a dazzling. Dedicated to my new biography of eleanor of aquitaine now out. The other 710 is about her husbands, her children and speculation surrounding her and her family. I know a lot of people didnt, but i liked the story. The tall candle that had been left to burn all night was almost a stub, and even through the closed shutters she could hear the cockerels on roosts, walls, and dung heaps, crowing the city of poitiers awake. Owen and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Eleanor of aquitaine 11221204 has long been noted for her political and cultural achievements. Eleanor of aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative, weir captures the woman and the queenin all her glory. Eleanor of aquitaine pdf download full download pdf book. Eleanor of aquitaine book by jean markale official. You will learn about eleanor of aquitaine like never before. Eleanors new life is full of riskand unlimited opportunity. Eleanors patrilineal descent, from a lineage already prestigious enough to have produced an empress in the eleventh century, gave her the lordship of aquitaine. Henry died long before eleanor, but his life on earth was filled with rather questionable behavior, and he has had to spend some time in hell.
Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 171152 and england 11541189 and duchess of aquitaine in her own right 171204. The summer queen, the first of three ground breaking linked but standalone novels detailing the life of eleanor aquitaine. Alison weirs book on the life of eleanor of aquitaine is a good read. In a world where carpenters get resurrected, everything is possible. The main characters of this history, non fiction story are eleanor of aquitaine.
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