Eleanor of aquitaine was a complex, boldly original woman who transcended the mores of her society. A monstrous injurer of heaven and earth, as shakespeare referred to this powerful medieval matriarch, eleanor of aquitaines reign as englands stormiest and most ambitious queen has never been matched. In the competition for remarkable queens, eleanor of aquitaine tends to win. 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.
And a second, not exactly complimentary to eleanor. More information about this seller contact this seller. Eleanor and henry had eight children including five sons, four of whom survived to adulthood. She was one of the most powerful and influential people of her time. It has been said that eleanor of aquitaine was the most romantic queen who ever lived but she was given no choice about the hand that was dealt to her. Ec always writes biographical novels better than her historical romances and, this being the last part of alienors life ecs chosen spelling, as being how she signed herself theres not a lot of romance going on, thankfully. The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3. As a member of the ramnulfids house of poitiers rulers in southwestern france, she was one of the most powerful and wealthiest women in western. Of course, the life of a monarch is never a simple one and no marriage is without its hiccups.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3. The summer queen is a fabulous novel based on the most uptodate and meticulous research. She is the author of numerous works of history and historical fiction, specialising in the medieval and tudor periods. Although you do not necessarily have to read the first two to understand the third book, i preferred to read the entire series to get a wellrounded view of eleanor of aquitaines life. Based on the most uptodate research, bestselling novelist elizabeth chadwick brings eleanors magnificent story to life, as never before. Eleanor, the beautiful thirteenyearold heiress to the duchy of aquitaine is informed that negotiations are in progress for her marriage to the dauphin, louis of france. In between are periods of glory and discontent, of war and peace, of gains and losses, of joys and tearsand through it all, alienor has remained a steadfast queen and a constant fixture within the political realm. 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. Eleanor was the daughter and heiress of william x, duke of aquitaine and count of poitiers, who possessed one of the largest domains in francelarger, in fact, than those held by the french king. A novel of eleanor of aquitaine ebook written by elizabeth chadwick. If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
Eleanor of aquitaines legacy in 1200, as king johns ambassador to france, eleanor defended englands french territories, anjou and aquitaine, against invasions. Its a competent account but leaves something to be desired. Eleanor features in the novel via crucis 1899 by f. King louis decision was also influenced, no doubt, by the dubious relationship which had sprung up between his wife, eleanor of aquitaine, and prince raymond of antioch, eleanors cousin. Eleanor was born in 1122, daughter of the future duke william x and aenor, who was the daughter of william ixs mistress. 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 helleight centuries to be exact. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, she recreates not only a remarkable. 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. 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. She became duchess of aquitaine in her own right while she was still a child, then later queen consort of france. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it.
May 14, 2017 i had to make this longer video of henry and eleanor. A drawing of what eleanor of aquitaine might have looked like circa 1150. Devils crown henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine youtube. Amy kelly, in her article eleanor of aquitaine and her courts of love, gives a very plausible description of the origins of the rules of eleanors court. In fact her story sometimes seems so extreme it ought to be made up. The summer queen book 1 the winter crown book 2 the autumn throne book 3 praise for the summer queen. Upon williams death in 17 she inherited the duchy of aquitaine and in july 17 married the heir to the french throne, who succeeded his father, louis vi, the following month. Freed only by henrys death, eleanor becomes dowager queen of england. 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. A compassionate and comprehensive account of the life of eleanor of aquitaine, a woman of enormous intelligence and titanic energy. Meades sounds interesting, almost gossipy like her book on jazz age women.
The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3 ebook. 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. Her bestselling history books include the six wives of henry viii, eleanor of aquitaine, elizabeth of york and the lost tudor princess. 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 novel deals with the consequences of a family at war within itself and the impacts both on the individuals involved and on the political landscape of. She had a younger sister called petronilla of aquitaine. Although you do not necessarily have to read the first two to understand the third book, i preferred to read the entire series to get a wellrounded view of eleanor of aquitaine s life. But marriage reemphasized her sex which, in the medieval scheme of genderpower relations relegated her to. Marjorie chibnall, emeritus fellow, clare college, cambridge d. The first 110 of the book and the last 210 of the book are about eleanor. Marion meade has told the story of eleanor, wild, devious, from a thoroughly historical but different point of view.
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. Eleanor of aquitaine the mother of all plantagenets. Is kellys eleanor of aquataine and the four kings a reissue of the 1950 book, or did she rewrite it. Once the lust and desire faded away for henry and eleanor, the power. Eleanor of aquitaine audiobook by the history hour. Opulent aquitaine eleanor of aquitaine was born into a europe dominated by feudalism. This is historical fiction at its best and i loved every page of it. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the autumn throne. Buy devils brood eleanor of aquitaine trilogy 3 by sharon penman isbn. In the twelfth century there was no concept of nationhood or patriotism, and subjects owed loyalty to their ruler, rather than the state. There are many excellent books, both fiction and nonfiction, about eleanor of aquitaine. 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. Eleanor of aquitaine series by elizabeth chadwick goodreads. Eleanor of aquitaine 3 book series by elizabeth chadwick.
Eleanor was born in what is now southern france, most likely in the year 1122. Learn more about eleanor of aquitaine in this article. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, weir recreates not only a remarkable personality but a magnificent past era. Apr 03, 20 king louis decision was also influenced, no doubt, by the dubious relationship which had sprung up between his wife, eleanor of aquitaine, and prince raymond of antioch, eleanor s cousin.
Eleanors grandfather, william ix, was the duke of aquitaine and is. 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. Aug 17, 2016 the third novel of ms penmans trilogy about henry ii and eleanor of aquitaine, this book picks up the story some months after the murder of thomas becket in canterbury cathedral in 1171. 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. 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. Alison weir is one of britains topselling historians. The above being a reference to eleanors alleged infidelity on the second crusade. She is an icon who has fascinated readers for over 800 years. Eleanor of aquitaine 1122 1 april 1204 was queen consort of france 17 1152 and.
This is the story of the causes and effects of the collapse of the marriage of henry and eleanor and the suspicions and rebellions of their sons. Imprisoned by her husband, king henry ii, eleanor of aquitaine, queen of england, refuses to let her powerful husband bully her into submission, even as he forces her away from her children and her birthright. Leaving everything behind, the vivacious eleanor must face the complex and factionriddled french. 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. Jan 22, 2012 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. Finding a decent biography of eleanor has been difficult as many of eleanors biographers tend to wander off into fiction and speculation at the drop of a hat.
Tan books, green book, 3 vintage hardcover books, the civilization of france, an american doctors odyssey, eleanor of aquitaine, home decor stevesbookdecor 5 out of 5. The summer queen, the first of three ground breaking linked but standalone novels detailing the life of eleanor aquitaine. She was perhaps the most powerful woman in 12thcentury europe. They say rosamund clifford was henrys true love but who really knows. It begins when she is imprisoned by by her husband king henry who flits from one young mistress to another. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine score a books 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. See more ideas about eleanor of aquitaine, aquitaine and plantagenet. It completed the story of eleanors life from her incarceration in sarum by her husband henry ii as punishment for, as he saw it, inciting their sons to rebel against him, and the end of her life in 1203. Best historicalfiction about eleanor of aquitaine 24 books. The other 710 is about her husbands, her children and speculation surrounding her and her family. While her children and husbands lead interesting lives, i purchased a book claiming to be about the renowned eleanor of aquitaine.
Eleanor of aquitaine trilogy the summer queen, the first of three ground breaking linked but standalone novels detailing the life of eleanor aquitaine. A stimulating and challenging book that depicts eleanor sympathetically as a credible person. Eleanor of aquitaine eleanor of aquitaine saga book 1. Eleanors patrilineal descent, from a lineage already prestigious enough to have produced an empress in the eleventh century, gave her the lordship of aquitaine. By all accounts, eleanors father ensured that she had the best possible. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the autumn throne eleanor of. 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. You will learn about eleanor of aquitaine like never before. She brought the province of aquitaine to england when she married henry ii of england. The third book in elizabeth chadwicks eleanor of aquitaine trilogy, the autumn throne details the last twentyeight years of alienors life, starting from her incarceration for having supported her sons in revolt against her husband king henry ii to her death in 1204. This is the third and last book of the series on alienor aka eleanor of aquitaine. Eleanors new life is full of riskand unlimited opportunity.
The autumn throne is the concluding book in the trilogy of eleanor of aquitaine. Eleanor of aquitaine simple english wikipedia, the free. The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine trilogy book 3 kindle edition by chadwick, elizabeth. The above being a reference to eleanor s alleged infidelity on the second crusade. I had to make this longer video of henry and eleanor. The autumn throne eleanor of aquitaine, book 3 by elizabeth. As the greatest heiress in europe, she was in turn queen of france and queen of england. An author who makes history come gloriously alive the. The last book in elizabeth chadwicks eleanor of aquitaine trilogy seemed to be a long time coming but was well worth waiting for. He tries to get alienor to move into a convent and free him to marry his current mistress, but she refuses. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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