Deconstructing the story of eleanor of aquitaine the. Many know eleanor of aquitaine s story from katharine hepburns oscarwinning role in the lion in. It was the winner of the good book guide award for the best biography of 1999, as voted for by readers in 100 countries. Alison weirs book on the life of eleanor of aquitaine is a good read. A magnificent womans story told by a brilliant historical novelist. She was beautiful, intelligent and wilful, and in her lifetime there were rumours about her that were not without substan. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 441 pages and is available in paperback format. 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.
Eleanors a fascinating figure, and makes a great character in historical fiction, but its damned hard to write a biography about her. Eleanor s a fascinating figure, and makes a great character in historical fiction, but its damned hard to write a biography about her. Meades sounds interesting, almost gossipy like her book on jazz age women. Oct 23, 2016 thank you for a most interesting article. A timeline chronology of the life of eleanor of aquitaine, wife of louis vi of france and king henry ii of england, mother of king richard i and king john. Read eleanor of aquitaine patron and politician by available from rakuten kobo. After writing a number of books on tudor history with this book she took on a very. The story of that amazingly influential and still somewhat mysterious woman, eleanor of aquitaine, has the dramatic interest of a novel. A book of hours from the extensive and luxurious collection of duke philip the good of. Even the tiniest medieval manuscripts have great stories to tell. In this, the fifth volume in her queens of england series of novels, the author, also known as victoria holt to her legion of fans, tackles the story of eleanor o f aquitaine, a woman who led an incomparable life.
Eleanor, duchess of aquitaine was one of the leading personalities of the middle ages adn also one of the most controversial. She has also written biographies of woody allen, buster keaton, eleanor of aquitaine, victoria woodhull, and madame blavatsky, as. This is a substantial book of 394 pages, and of all the single book biographies it is probably the most authoritative and rigorous, working hard to focus on fact rather than fiction. She was one of the most powerful and influential people of her time. Eleanor of aquitaine and her second husband henry of anjou have a passion that could ignite the worldand them. She is an icon who has fascinated readers for over 800 years. This fascinating new biography tells the story of one of the most influential figures of the twelfth century, eleanor of aquitaine, successively queen of france and of england. Eleanor of aquitaine and the four kings by amy kelly who provides an excellent lifeandtimes approach, and eleanor of aquitaine by marion meade who gives a feminist interpretation. Eleanor of aquitaine by kristiana gregory scholastic. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the winter crown. 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. 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.
The captive queen by alison weir book cover, description, publication history. Books for eleanor of aquitaine the history of england. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 april 1, 1204 was a medieval firebrand, and no question about it. Alison weir is the new york times bestselling author of numerous historical biographies, including the lost tudor princess, elizabeth of york, mary boleyn, the lady in the tower, mistress of the monarchy, henry viii, eleanor of aquitaine, the life of. Renowned in her time for being the most beautiful woman in europe, the wife of two kings and mother of three, eleanor of aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the middle ages. Eleanor of aquitaine is considered by many to have been the most powerful and enlightened woman of her age, if not the entire medieval epoch. A model of virtue france, according to john of salisbury, was of all nations, the sweetest and most civilised. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable.
Eleanor of aquitaine read online free book by alison weir. Born in an age when women tended to be submissive and docile, eleanor. She was sole heiress to the largest, wealthiest region of what is now france. Deconstructing the story of eleanor of aquitaine the freelance. Evans, lecturer in medieval history at central michigan university. Learn more about eleanor of aquitaine in this article. In this book, jean flori attempts the difficult task of writing the full story of this unruly and rebellious queen who was determined, in spite of. From 1185, eleanor became more active in the ruling of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine, by the wrath of god, queen of england eleanor of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaines extraordinary life seems more likely to be found in the pages of fiction. Eleanor was an accomplished figure for her time and outlived.
Mar 28, 2020 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. 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. Eleanor of aquitaine was the wife of two kings, louis vii of france and henry ii plantagenet of england, and the mother. In tracing her life story professor owen reassesses her political importance during the reigns of her husband henry ii and her sons, richard the lionheart and john, and aims to separate the true historical eleanor from. Living the history eleanor of aquitaines appearance or. She was at the very center of the rich culture and clashing politics of the twelfth century. One of marion meades problems, as she freely admits, was lack of sources. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the summer queen. Eleanor of aquitaine ebook by 9781477300244 rakuten kobo. Alison weir in eleanor of aquitaine, by the wrath of god queen of england. Facts and stories about eleanor of aquitaine posted on april 5, 2019 by james malcolm living eighty years, she was the wife of the king of france when she was thirteen, then at twentyeight wife of the king of england, and mother of three english kings. Though the exact year and place of birth is unknown, it is speculated that she was born on either 1122 or 1124 in poitiers, bordeaux, or nieulsurlautise. She was queen of france and then queen of england, the mother of two kings, and an active participant in european politics into her eighties.
As the greatest heiress in europe, she was in turn queen of france and queen of england. Eleanor of aquitaine 11221204, duchess of aquitaine in her own right and queen consort successively of france and england, was probably the most powerful woman in europe in the middle ages. The summer queen, the first of three ground breaking linked but standalone novels detailing the life of eleanor aquitaine. Her second marriage, which brought southwestern france to the english king, affected the relations of france and england for almost 300 years. Eleanor of aquitaine by alison weir overdrive rakuten. It would seem the story has been told and this book can not add more. This is not a book for those more interested in stories rather than researched historical fact. The house of capet had ruled the country since 987, when the feudal lord hugh capet had been elected king after the death of louis v, the last monarch of the carolingian dynasty, which descended from the emperor charlemagne. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read eleanor of aquitaine.
During this time she produced another seven children, acted as regent when henry was away from england and played an active part in political negotiations. The novel begins with eleanor s 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. The first edition of the novel was published in 1999, and was written by alison weir. While henry battles their enemies and lays his plans, eleanor is an adept acting ruler and mother to their growing brood of children. The diary of eleanor, first daughter of the duke of aquitaine, from 16 until 17, when at age fifteen she becomes queen of france. Everything you know about eleanor of aquitaine is wrong. Eleanor of aquitaine was one of the most powerful leaders in medieval europe. Alison weir is a prolific author of biographies of famous historical figures. Facts and stories about eleanor of aquitaine live as. She brought the province of aquitaine to england when she married henry ii of england. Owen and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. At age 30 eleanor is married to louis vii of france, but then meets henry of england. Immediately after the wedding, the couple were enthroned as duke and duchess of aquitaine.
Is kellys eleanor of aquataine and the four kings a reissue of the 1950 book, or did she rewrite it. Duchess of aquitaine in her own right, she would go onto become queenconsort of france and later queen of england. Eleanor of aquitaine reads like a really upmarket historical novel and that is a compliment. She had a younger sister called petronilla of aquitaine. In old age eleanor retired to the abbey of fontevraud, where she died and was buried beside henry ii and their son richard i, the lionheart. The next 15 years of eleanors life were split between england, normandy and her beloved aquitaine. 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. Marion meade has told the story of eleanor, wild, devious, from a thoroughly historical but different point of view. The third and final volume of this magnificent trilogy of the life of eleanor of aquitaine starts with her release from the palace of sarum, wiltshire in april 1176 where her husband henry ii held her prisoner for plotting against him to put her son william on the throne. These books about eleanor of aquitaine are historicallyaccurate testaments to this strongwilled woman of the middle ages.
Scandal, politics, sex, triumphs, and tragedies abound in the summer queen, the first novel in a stunning new trilogy, perfect for fans of philippa gregory and sharon kay penman. The medieval and postmedieval image of eleanor of aquitaine, he works to destroy the myths that surround the life of eleanor. She was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12thcentury europe. She was born in 1122 on bordeaux in the country of aquitaine,1 having for a father the future duke of aquitaine, william x, and her mother aenor of chatellerault. Based on the most uptodate research, bestselling novelist elizabeth chadwick brings eleanor s magnificent story to life, as never before. In this collection, essays provide a context for eleanor s life and. A novel of eleanor of aquitaine alienor woke at dawn. Mischevious and daring, eleanor s daily exploits are a constant source of frustration to her grandmother and ladiesinwaiting, who are the girls caretakers. Eleanor has featured in a number of screen versions of the ivanhoe and robin hood stories. Weir offers a full portrait of eleanor from both the primary sources and the myths surrounding the queen consort and, like schiff, does so in a biography that is story based, richly. Proud daughter of a distinguished french dynasty, she married the king of france, louis vii, then the king of england, henry ii, and gave birth to two sons who rose to take the english thronerichard the lionheart and john. 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. This is inevitable, however, owing to scant records on this former queen of england and queen of france. Eleanor, was born to eleanor of aquitaine and henry ii.
I said last time that i would blog about some of the research books ive been using to write the first of my 3 novels about eleanor of aquitaine. A life 1999 eleanor of aquitaine is my bestselling book to date. In the late middle ages, stories were circulating that attributed not only adultery but. It is more likely that she had red or auburn hair since a mural in the church of sainte radegonde in chinon which almost certainly depicts eleanor and was painted during her lifetime in a region in which she was well known, shows a woman with reddishbrown hair. Eleanor of aquitaine 11221204 has long been noted for her political and cultural achievements. I have always found her an enigmatic and elusive figure, and writing her biography. Eleanor of aquitaine book by jean markale official. Eleanor married in turn louis vii of france and henry ii of england, and was the mother of richard the lionheart and king john.
She has also been introduced in the royal diaries series in the book crown jewel of aquitaine by kristiana gregory. This is the first book in the trilogy, based on the story of eleanor alienor of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine is remembered for being herself. Thirteenyearold eleanor lives in a palace in poitier, france, with her father, count william of aquitaine and her younger sister, petronilla. Eleanor of aquitaine, like cleopatra, played a pivotal role in her era, often pitted against powerful men and holding a driving agenda and ambition of her own. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 171152 and. 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. Published by ballantine books, a division of random house, inc. Delaware county district library ohio scanned in china. Recent research indicates that it was made for eleanor of aquitaine, the most powerful woman in twelfthcentury europe. Buy the winter crown eleanor of aquitaine trilogy by elizabeth chadwick isbn. I have read many books on eleanor of the aquitaine, including eleanor of the aquitaine and the four kings this article rather debunks some of what was written there. Again a brilliant story woven around history, which leaves you wanting more.
So if you only want to read about eleanor then perhaps this book will do but there are better books about the period and they will also give you the. Eleanor of aquitaine audiobook by charles river editors. Henry ii died in 1189 and richard, thought to be eleanor s favorite among her sons, became king. Eleanor s patrilineal descent, from a lineage already prestigious enough to have produced an empress in the eleventh century, gave her the lordship of aquitaine. 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. Finding a decent biography of eleanor has been difficult as many of eleanor s biographers tend to wander off into fiction and speculation at the drop of a hat. A life ballantine readers circle 9780345434876 by weir, alison and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. See the complete eleanor of aquitaine series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Apr 27, 2009 we use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. The awardwinning film, lion in winter, katherine hepburn shows eleanors inner life during her captivity. A novel of eleanor of aquitaine ebook written by elizabeth chadwick. 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.
Eleanor of aquitaine peoplecharacters librarything. Twelfth century folk did not jot down every passing thought. From 11891204 eleanor of aquitaine also was active as a ruler in poitou and gascony. One of the most fascinating stories in history is that of eleanor of aquitaine. Browse books in the eleanor of aquitaine trilogy series on. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine 24 books.
But marriage reemphasized her sex which, in the medieval scheme of genderpower relations relegated her to the position of lady in relation to her lordly husbands. A monstrous injurer of heaven and earth, as shakespeare referred to this powerful medieval matriarch, eleanor of aquitaine s reign as englands stormiest and most ambitious queen has never been matched. Eleanor of aquitaine and the four kings book chinook. Eleanor of aquitaine is one of the most memorable women of history, and a modern woman who lived 800 years ago. The main characters of this history, non fiction story are eleanor of aquitaine. A biography women in history new ed by meade, marion isbn. Eleanor of aquitaine simple english wikipedia, the free. Apr 01, 2018 eleanor of aquitaine 1122 april 1, 1204 was a medieval firebrand, and no question about it. Eleanor of aquitaine biography childhood, life achievements. Eleanor of aquitaine and blanche of castile arguably the most successful woman to wield political power in the middle ages, blanche of castile is today not so well known as her more famous grandmother, eleanor of aquitaine. So if you only want to read about eleanor then perhaps this book will do but there are better books about the period and they will also give you the same information. She has also written biographies of woody allen, buster keaton, eleanor of aquitaine, victoria woodhull, and madame blavatsky, as well as two novels about medieval france. As daughter of the duke of aquitaine, eleanor was one of the besteducated women.
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