Sourcebooks Landmark
Featuring: Prince Louis of France; Eleanor of Aquitaine
512 pages ISBN: 1402294069 EAN: 9781402294068 Kindle: B00JX1GLTQ Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
Before I read this novel, I knew next to nothing about
Eleanor of Aquitaine -- just that she was a famous and
powerful queen a long time ago. Through Elizabeth
Chadwick's
rich novel THE SUMMER QUEEN, I feel I have discovered the
amazing woman behind the name. I even learned that
"Eleanor"
is not how she would have signed her name.
THE SUMMER QUEEN begins when Alienor is a child, as her
father, the Duke of Aquitaine, prepares to leave on a
pilgrimage. Just weeks later, this young girl, barely a
teenager, will find herself ruling her duchy and preparing
for her future role as queen of France. She is an
intelligent girl who was reared to rule; she will need
every
ounce of her strength and courage to control her destiny
and
that of her people.
Chadwick eloquently tells of Alienor's experiences and
emotions as she faces each new challenge in a world where
most women are mere pawns. Her descriptions of locales,
from
Aquitaine to Paris to Jerusalem, and the alternately dusty
and muddy roads between them are captivating.
This is a work of fiction, and I don't know enough about
the
known history of this time period to say whether or not
it's
a fair and accurate representation. The author's note and
bibliography suggest that Chadwick has done rigorous
research to present Alienor's story as honestly as
possible.
THE SUMMER QUEEN tells only the beginning of Alienor's
story; this is the first in a trilogy. I recommend this
novel for readers who enjoy history, historical fiction,
or
stories of strong women fighting for power and equality.
New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick brings
Eleanor of Aquitaine to life in a stunning new trilogy Young
Eleanor has everything to look forward to as the heiress to
the wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father dies
suddenly, childhood is over.
Forced to marry Prince Louis of
France, she barely adjusts before another death catapults
them to King and Queen. Leaving everything behind, Eleanor
must face the complex and vivacious French court. She is
only 13. Barely out of childhood and forced to deal with
great scandals, fraught relationships, and forbidden love at
every turn, Eleanor finally sees what her future could hold
if she could just seize the moment.
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