About this title: This biography of Eleanor of Aquitane, who was married to both Louis VII of France and, later, to Henry II of England, reviews her wealthy background, her reportedly voracious sexual appetite (which was a source of much gossip in her time), and the political intrigues in which she was involved. Eleanor wielded considerable power in 12th-century England, and she remained always a strong and independent woman. Weir has sifted through a wealth of sources, and provides much historical context relating to England in the time of Henry II and Eleanor.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. sd Clean, unmarked pages. Some shelfwear/rubbing and minor crease on cover. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Front cover curls at the edge and has some general wear. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Has a tilt at the spine. Cover has a small tear repaired with tape. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Description: Very Good. 0345434870 **Softcover**--Exact ISBN Match--Very mild shelf wear. No personalizations, writing or marks in the text. Absolutely no spine creasing. Ships Quickly-IN STOCK-Satisfaction Guaranteed! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Good. Slight wear on corners GoodwillnyBooks is committed to providing each customer with the highest standard of customer service. You may return new items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle (Paperback). Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: As New. 5 1/2 x 8. In as new condition with chipping around edges. Describes the wife of Louis VII of France and subsequently of Henry II of England, and mother of Richard "the Lion-Hearted, " who played a prominent part in the politics of the 12th century. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001-04-03
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Like New. Like new paperback. Covers show minor shelf wear, otherwise an unblemished copy.; 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Free Delivery Confirmation! Ships same or next business day! read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 2001
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 480 p. Ballantine Reader's Circle. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Date Published: 1999
ISBN-13:9780345434876ISBN:0345434870
Description: Good. This book is in good to very good condition. The binding is tight and pages are clean. The inside shows very little wear. The cover has some bumps and scuffs. There is no creasing on the spine but there is a tear on the front cover at the spine edge about 1 inch. read more
"I'm giving this book 3 stars because I think Ms. Weir deserves a bit of prop for doing the extensive research that was obviously necessary to write this book. That probably wasn't easy. I decided to read this book because I did my geneology a year ago and found that I descend from this woman. I also have an infatuation with all things British since visiting in 2007. With that said and even having a familial interest in her, I found this book incredibly boring and dry. I am a quick reader and can polish off a book of this length in 3 days. However, this took me a month. I had to set it down, read something else that was actually entertaining, and then pick this up for another chapter. (Once I start a book, it must be completed.)
In a nutshell, good information. However, next time I'll pick up a pamphlet or something."
"I am giving this biography a solid three stars. This is a brilliant beginning into the world of medieval Europe, which for a person who kept on being pulled back in and back in to Early Modern Tudor Stuart England, I am. This is a bio of the time Eleanor lived in and the people around her. The fact she was the wife of both France's and England's King and also the Mother of the likes of Richard the Lion Heart and Nasty King John makes for very interesting reading. Though very much involved in the politics of the time, she is still very much on the outskirts of the story. Not surprising since being a women contemporary focus more on her male counterparts.
But if you are new to the subject and want to get into it, I would totally recommend this along with Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet."
"I'm two chapters into this book, and I've decided to bail out. This book is almost a textbook on France in the 12th century. The author, in spite of a understandable feminist view of Eleanor, was objective and not necessarily sympathetic to Eleanor. Eleanor was known to play politics, and lovers. She actually got divorced (practically unheard of in the 12th century) and remarried King Henry II of England. Pretty good hook.
Unfortunately, the book is not very compelling. Page after page brings a litany of names of characters that are incidental to Eleanor, and unfamiliar to me. The empahsis, as can be expected, is on events. But without the juicy details, it became tedious to me.
I give it two stars, in spite of giving up on it, because I did learn a lot about the Middle Ages, and the author has done a monumental job of research to bring this story out. There are 50 pages of bibliography and references. If you're a medieval history buff, this may be just your cup of tea, but I'm going to look for something with a little more zing to it."
"To me, as someone who is not an historian, the task of trying to resaerch a woman who lived 800 years ago, would seem an impossible one. In her Preface to this book Alison Weir explains how difficult it was to find relieable sources, and how others had warned her it would be impossible to bring Eleanor of Aqitaine to life. Therefore it should not be a surprise that after reading this remarkable book - Eleanor does remain largely a figure shrouded in the mists and mystery of time. I have read some reviews from people disappointed by this. Alison Weir has used what is known and can be researched more easily about the lives of Eleanor's husband's and son's, other poltical and royal figures of the time to tell her story. In the telling of these fascinating and wholly engrossing stories, we are given some glimpses of Eleanor. She was a remarkable woman, to have been chronicled at all, at a time when women were mere chattals is some proof of that. I found this historical biography absolutly fascinating and can't wait to read more by this writer. I have infact 2 more Alison Weir TBR - 1 fiction and 1 non fiction, which I am sure I will be reading fairly soon."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
