The queen of historical novels returns with a tale of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Elizabeth Chadwick has chosen to spell the lady's name Alienor as this is how it was spelt in documents of the time. THE SUMMER QUEEN explores the life of this strong, pivotal woman in what is now France, beginning in 1137.

Alienor is thirteen and heir to the Duke of Aquitane. At this time the Norman French have conquered England, but there are many rivalries and Alienor has to attend to her duties as befits a noble lady. When her father dies on his final pilgrimage, plans have been made to safeguard Alienor and her little sister Petronella by sending them to the care of the King of France, Louis. Otherwise every lord in the land will be trying to marry the girls to their sons. Louis has a son of his own, also Louis, and he orders the boy to marry Alienor and secure her landholdings. They're not married long, however, when the senior Louis dies, making them the most influential young couple in Europe.

Uprisings, pilgrimages, perilous travels, Greek fire in a naval battle, overbearing priestly advisors and scornful dowager queens abound, with all the colours, sounds, and reverses of the day. The stinking, damp city of Paris contrasts with the heat of Antioch. In 1142, with Alienor still childless, not for want of trying, her sister is perceived as a fine match and the possible inheritor of Aquitaine. Machinations take place behind the scenes to marry Petronella off appropriately. Women at this time had no choice about such matters. However, Petronella has every right to expect that Alienor will take care of her - will this issue split the faithful sisters? Meanwhile power and anger have gone to Louis' head, and he is out sacking and burning every town that crosses him.

This is high drama indeed, so we have to thank Elizabeth Chadwick for bringing these turbulent times so excellently to life. This British author has gained many loyal fans down the years, from her early books The Wild Hunt and The Running Vixen to the recent The Greatest Knight series about William Marshall. I can only say that with THE SUMMER QUEEN she has done a magnificent job and rewarded those fans, as well as being sure to delight a new generation of readers who love historical romance. Alienor's story will continue in two more volumes, which will recount the period of her rule as Queen of England.