Really good historical fiction, except this one was a looooot heavier on the romance. Of course now I want to read the nonfiction "companion" to this one a whole lot more. ( )

Despite being her favorite son, how could Eleanor defend Richard the Lionhearted after he had
tortured, raped,
and murdered her own people of Aquitaine.

If true, this is never explained, notably
after she totally trashed her husband for previously turning her people against his rule.

And why did Eleanor keep wanting to bed King Henry long after he had dishonored her
and proven, by his own admission, that he could never be trusted...? ( )

DNF at 67%. This book has been a crushing disappointment. Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of my all-time favorite historical figures. In that game where you name three people you’d like to have dinner with, she has been on my list since I was in high school.

This fictionalized account of her life reduces her to a baby-making machine who never does anything with her husband Henry II other than complain about his treatment of her and screw. Even then, she is portrayed as too weak to do anything but submit.

Henry and Eleanor were part of one of the most passionate love stories ever. Unfortunately, they were both proud and stubborn — too much alike. They were a force to be reckoned with when they worked together. And when they no longer shared the same vision and came into opposition, they were titans whose clashing wills left marks on European dynasties for centuries.

But you wouldn’t know that from this book because Henry is portrayed as a chauvinist horn-dog while Eleanor stays home with the kids. At least until Henry comes home and gets her in the sack. The author is throwing up a façade of historical fiction so she can peddle soft-core porn. No, thanks. ( )

I had certainly heard of Eleanor of Aquitaine before I read this book. I may even have known she was married to Henry II of England. Other than that I was quite ignorant about her life. So this book certainly educated me and hopefully I will retain some of the things I learned.

I certainly did not know that Eleanor was married to King Louis VII of France and gave him two daughters before she met and married Henry. They divorced on the grounds that they were too closely related as fourth cousins. But if the author is correct it seems that Eleanor was captivated by Henry from the first time she met him and so she was determined to marry him. Henry was equally as smitten and they did not wait long after Eleanor's divorce from Louis to wed. In the beginning Henry consulted Eleanor and respected her wishes. Eleanor warned him against Thomas Becket but Henry did not heed his warnings. Eventually, as we all know, Henry fell out with Becket and four of his knights murdered Becket. Through all this Eleanor was Henry's staunch advocate. With time, however, they argued over how Henry was treating their sons. Eleanor felt that Henry was still treating them as young children and she begged him to give them more responsibilties and land. Eleanor was also heartbroken by Henry's infidelity with fair Rosamund. Henry, the Young King, Richard and Geoffrey finally rebelled and went to the King of France to war against their father. Henry II, believing that Eleanor had incited them to do this, took Eleanor captive and sent her to be locked up in Sarum in England. Even though their marriage irrevocably damaged the two did patch things up when their son Henry died. That left Richard, known later as Richard the Lion-hearted, as Henry II's heir. Since Richard was Eleanor's favourite child she was happy about this. Before Henry II died Geoffrey also died and her oldest daughter Matilda died the same year as Henry. Several other children had died in infancy so of the nine children Eleanor bore Henry only two sons and two daughters survived him. Richard died before Eleanor as did another daughter, Joanna. The youngest son, John, became king after Richard's death since Richard had no children. It's rather sobering that this grand alliance was so diminished. ( )

loved it, definitely want to read more about Eleanor of Aquitane. ( )