Customer Reviews

The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (A Queens of England Novel)

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In this, the fifth volume in her Queens of England series of novels, the author, also known as Victoria Holt to her legion of fans, tackles the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine, a woman who led an incomparable life. Born in an age when women tended to be submissive and docile, Eleanor was anything but. She was an outspoken, well educated, independent, and beautiful woman. Hers is a story that, in the hands this author, an accomplished storyteller, captivates the reader.

Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, became Queen of France when she entered into a marriage of state with Louis VII of France, a somewhat weak and ineffectual, though pious, young ruler. Theirs was not a passionate affair of the heart but, rather, a mesalliance that would come to a somewhat abrupt end, when she met Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England. Though she was eleven years his senior, theirs was to be a tempestuous and passionate love-hate relationship that would end in marriage and span a lifetime. She would give birth to their numerous sons and daughters, two of whom would go on to reign over England, Richard the Lionhearted and John Lackland.

Narrated in the first person, as are all the books in this Queens of England series, Eleanor tells the reader of her adventurous and exciting life, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigues, and strife. A woman who brooked little interference in her life, she decribes what it was like to have experienced and gone on a crusade. She tells of her long years as prisoner of her philandering husband, Henry II. She relates the triumphs and disappointments of her long and singular life. In doing so, she weaves a memorable tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak. It is an account that will keep the reader turning the pages of this unforgettable, though somewhat romanticized, account of a life lived to the fullest.

I've read many of Jean Plaidy's books under all her names. By far, Elenor of Aquataine is the most amazing (after Elizabeth I of course) of England's Queens. This story, written as if by Elenor herself, is truly fascinating. Elenor was first the Duchess of Aquataine, who then became queen of France, divorced, and then became Queen of England by marrying HenryII. On top all that, she was the mother of Richard the Lionheart AND Bad King John.Her story is so amazing, it's difficult to believe that she was an actual person. A few years ago, while travelling in England, I visited Dover Castle, one of the castles that Henry imprisioned her in in her later years. As I walked the un-altered passage ways of the castle keep, I remembered her story from this book, and thought, "I'm walking the same corridors that Queen Elenor walked". Reading Jean Plaidy's historical fiction is a great way to learn about history. You feel like you are truly in the head of historical figures.

Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most fascinating women in all of history, and many books, both fiction and non-fiction, have been published about her. Jean Plaidy's Courts of Love, came as something as a surprise, because curiously, it lacks the vitality of most of her other historicals. The facts and events of her remarkable life are accurately presented, but Eleanor, in reality a woman of action, here comes across as a judgmental, petty, rather selfish individual who is extraordinarily hard her husbands. Courts is also exceedingly repetitious. Eleanor makes the same points so often (ie, what a ninny Louis of France is, what a boorish oaf Henry is, how taxing her imprisonment is) that the narrative becomes tiresome at points. With judicious editing, this novel could have been much livelier, not to mention shorter.

Plaidy is good with words, and that's what saves Courts of Love. Is it worth reading? Yes. But for a reading experience in which all of the indomitable Eleanor's amazing resilience, talents, and vitality are portrayed, try The Book of Eleanor, by Pamela Kaufman. Also give a look to The Lion in Winter, with Peter O'Toole as Henry and Katherine Hepburn (who else could play Eleanor?). A young Anthony Hopkins appears as one of the sons.

Eleanor of Aquitaine is the granddaughter of the Duke of Aquitaine, an extremely wealthy European province. As an heiress, she is an excellent catch for a royal marriage, and so she was married to Louis VII of France. However, the two were not well suited, and when Eleanor meets Henry II of England, she quickly falls in love. She divorces Louis and moves to England to be with Henry. Unfortunately, Eleanor seems not to be any better at picking her mates herself than she was when her marriage was arranged - the fire of love with Henry also fades, and Eleanor's new great love is that of her children. Her favorite - Richard, who will one day earn the "Lionheart."

Quote: "I was a woman who considered herself their equal - and in many ways their superior - but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner - an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence."

Eleanor of Aquitaine was cool. This book will tell you why. She is the queen of two countries, rules Aquitaine in her own right, goes on crusade, and is the mother of two English kings. Many of her children are involved in various plots and schemes, which Eleanor tries to navigate through, often adding intrigue of her own. I really enjoyed this look at Eleanor's life, particularly how the different relationships she had influenced so much of who she became, even as she worked hard to be in control of her own destiny. The sections on the crusades was especially interesting, as you see the enthusiastic crusaders (including the king, queen, and noble men and women just going for the fun of it) learn the truth about war and hardship.

Guilty of a good read. I've read of Eleanor of Aquitaine only in a non-fictional context and it was very, very, very long and boring. I was hoping that this was going to be better than my first introduction to her; I was very satisfied.

This book is long. I will admit that, but it's not the sort of long that makes you wish you picked something shorter. Though is can be very repetitious(and I'm noticing that a lot with her books) the book goes through her life as a good pace to where you feel you know more of her than just what the history books say, or rather don't.

It begins with her life at her grandfather's courts. A place filled with music, song and love. In fact her grandmother was abducted by her grandfather in a story that makes for a very romantic story in and of itself. She knows that she is supposed to be Duchess of Aquitaine when her father dies and her dreams are nearly dashed with the birth of her brother. As history tells us she does become Duchess. From almost the moment of her birth she is destined to be great. Eleanor knows it and does everything in her power to fulfill destiny.

But her destiny is filled with hardship. She married Louis VII. A pious man who shouldn't have been king, but for a pig. He does love her, and she does love him, but they should never have been married. He's too pious for her, she too wordly for him. They do embark on the Second Crusade, which ends in near disaster, but for Eleanor tasting true love. Unfortunately it's her uncle and that would be totally unacceptable. She's forced to go back to France where she desperately wants a divorce from Louis.

She is given her wish and falls in love with Henry Plantagenet, aka Henry II. Their marriage is truly interesting. They would have been happy together if he weren't a cheater and this breaks her heart. She resents him, but cannot resist him. She bears him many children. Her favourite being Richard, also known as Richard the Lionhearted, of Robin Hood fame, along with the evil Prince John. And he is just as awful in this book as you would expect. Though you sort of understand where he's coming from. Well at least she tries to convey her reasoning behind his sadistic nature.

The book ends with her is a state you never would have thought she would be in.

This gives a wonderful account of her life that's so much better than a history book. She finally gets to come alive from the dusty pages of a book.

This is a fictional novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine written in "her" own words.
From her childhood in France, her marriage to Louis, the Crusade, marriage to Henry, her sons, her imprisonment, release and her love of her son Richard and hatred of John, this book tells everything about Eleanor.

This is a well-written account of the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. The character development is very good, and I found her to be an interesting character. She lived a very diverse lifestyle, and so this book is packed full of all the different and exotic places she went to. The account of the Crusade was particularly interesting to read.
Just a note: I am pretty sure this book is the first three books of Jean Plaidy's Plantagenet serious in one book. The first book was about Eleanor, the second book about Eleanor, Henry II and Thomas Becket, and the third book about Eleanor and her son Richard the Lionheart. This one book covers all three aspects.

Eleanor of Aquitaine is the granddaughter of the Duke of Aquitaine, an extremely wealthy European province. As an heiress, she is an excellent catch for a royal marriage, and so she was married to Louis VII of France. However, the two were not well suited, and when Eleanor meets Henry II of England, she quickly falls in love. She divorces Louis and moves to England to be with Henry. Unfortunately, Eleanor seems not to be any better at picking her mates herself than she was when her marriage was arranged - the fire of love with Henry also fades, and Eleanor's new great love is that of her children. Her favorite - Richard, who will one day earn the "Lionheart."

Quote: "I was a woman who considered herself their equal - and in many ways their superior - but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner - an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence."

Eleanor of Aquitaine was cool. This book will tell you why. She is the queen of two countries, rules Aquitaine in her own right, goes on crusade, and is the mother of two English kings. Many of her children are involved in various plots and schemes, which Eleanor tries to navigate through, often adding intrigue of her own. I really enjoyed this look at Eleanor's life, particularly how the different relationships she had influenced so much of who she became, even as she worked hard to be in control of her own destiny. The sections on the crusades was especially interesting, as you see the enthusiastic crusaders (including the king, queen, and noble men and women just going for the fun of it) learn the truth about war and hardship.

Eleanor of Aquitaine is the granddaughter of the Duke of Aquitaine, an extremely wealthy European province. As an heiress, she is an excellent catch for a royal marriage, and so she was married to Louis VII of France. However, the two were not well suited, and when Eleanor meets Henry II of England, she quickly falls in love. She divorces Louis and moves to England to be with Henry. Unfortunately, Eleanor seems not to be any better at picking her mates herself than she was when her marriage was arranged - the fire of love with Henry also fades, and Eleanor's new great love is that of her children. Her favorite - Richard, who will one day earn the "Lionheart."

Quote: "I was a woman who considered herself their equal - and in many ways their superior - but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner - an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence."

Eleanor of Aquitaine was cool. This book will tell you why. She is the queen of two countries, rules Aquitaine in her own right, goes on crusade, and is the mother of two English kings. Many of her children are involved in various plots and schemes, which Eleanor tries to navigate through, often adding intrigue of her own. I really enjoyed this look at Eleanor's life, particularly how the different relationships she had influenced so much of who she became, even as she worked hard to be in control of her own destiny. The sections on the crusades was especially interesting, as you see the enthusiastic crusaders (including the king, queen, and noble men and women just going for the fun of it) learn the truth about war and hardship.

This book was really long and tended to ramble a bit, but it was surprisingly insightful and a fun read. Plaidy is so descriptive that you can't help but see the scenes before you and her characters are believable. This book chronicles Eleanor's life as a young girl in France all the way until the end of her life when she's very old and reflecting upon her life and her children.