Customer Reviews

Eleanor of Aquitaine

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first read this work some years ago, after it was first published. I have since re-read it several times. Marion Meade's flowing and colorful literary style helps to make this history an entertaining and educational read. Meade takes the reader on a textured journey, from the beginnings of Eleanor of Aquitaine's family history, through to her stay at Fountervault Abbey in France, where she died in the early 13th century. All along, the reader is given a solid glimpse of a long and eventful life of a woman who was clearly ahead of her time. Meade also infuses Eleanor's apparent sense of humor into the work, made factual from actual documents of the period. Meade shows Eleanor for who she was: Queen of two countries (and expert politician), wife of two kings, and mother of many children. It does not spare the reader Eleanor's human frailties, but does not pretend that Eleanor was a pawn among males during her life. In addition, Meade paints the reader a canvas of period life from the Queen's perspective, and colorfully illustrates the emotional, as well as the factual aspects of the life of this amazing woman.

Although I have been acquainted with a turbulent life of this amasing woman in fits and starts by reading different other historical books (fiction and non-fiction), by far this book surpasses them in richness of detailes and thorough approach. Account of Eleanor's life starts with her ancestors, follows her happy cloudless childhood, sudden marriage to King Louis of France, her relations in this ill-matched union, participation in crusade, divorce, dazzling marriage to Henry II Plantagenet, her genious of administration and support of chivalry culture, birth of numerous "eaglets" and accounts of their lives, describes the cooling down of matrimonial passion, exile, return to glory with the rule of Richard the Lion Heart and disentegration of vast Plantagenet domains at John Lackland's rule after Eleanor's death. It is not a dry account of facts, but engrossing multicolored mosaic of names, feelings, deeds, customs and reasons. In her times a woman could be noted either by being a saint or too scandalous: Eleanor was neither, but worth while being remembered after 800 years. Although I must add that one can feel at once that the author is a woman and that the book was written in the 70s, when feministic movement was in its height and we just started to re-discover anew the role of women in history. However, now, 20 years later, after reading this book, no one would disagree, that the author overpraised her heroine - Eleanor of Aquitaine well deserves remembrance and admiration.

Meade does an extremely good job in writing Eleanor's biography and is able to let her readers get to know Eleanor intimately. Eleanor of Acquitaine was an exceptional woman, in that she changed the course of history for both England and France when she divorced the King of France, Louis and eight weeks later, married the King of England, Henry II. When she was with Louis, she was unable to produce male heirs but when she married Henry, she was able to produce a few male heirs.

Meade brought us back to when Eleanor was a child and how she grew up to be as powerful as she did. During the medieval period, women were powerless and they were only used to produce male heirs. Eleanor, however, was different. She was manipulative, cunning, intelligent, highly educated, cultured and ambitious.

After her marriage to Henry, Meade examined her relationship with Henry and her sons. Henry, like most Kings, was extremely unfaithful and brought his mistress, Rosamund to replace Eleanor, unofficially. Eleanor, took her revenge on Henry by encouraging her sons to rebel against their father.

That is the gist of the book but it consists a lot more dramas and turmoils than I am able to write here. This book is extremely readable.... Even if you don't have any previous knowledge on Europe medieval history. It's in a way very "soap opera" like and very exciting to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about medieval history and who is interested in Eleanor.

This was a wonderful book. I would read as much as I had time to each day and then spend time thinking about Eleanor until I could get back to her story. I have read other accounts, one historical, of Eleanor of Aquitaine, but this one brings her to life more than anything else I have read about her. She truly was a remarkable person by any standards and Meade made me feel as though I was right there watching it all unfold. I would highly recommend this book, particularly, if you have not read anything else on Eleanor and I guarantee you will want to find out more.

Marion Meade's book is indeed entertaining, and paints a vivid portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine--one that many readers have complained is missing from other biographies of this most fascinating queen. The problem, however, is that a substantial proportion of that portrait is conjecture, built out of an uncritical examination of literature and legend. Do not think that after reading Meade's book you will come away with true history. For a truer, less romantized account, read Amy Kelly.

This is a comprehensive story of one of the most interesting women in history. Marion Meade gives us everything we would ever want to know about Eleanor of Acquitaine. Of course, what makes the book more interesting is the huge cast of supporting players in Eleanor's life. The story begins with her father and his castle of courtly romance. We then see Eleanor married to Louis Capet, King of France. He takes Eleanor on crusade to the Holy Land where their marriage falls apart. This sets the stage for her marriage to Henry Plantagenet - one of the greatest kings of England.

We get the full story of Henry's struggle with Thomas a Beckett. We see the gradual dissolution of his marriage to Eleanor, and we see the famous children they sire - especially Richard Coeur de Lion.

This is a long book but it is a well-written and fascinating read for anyone with even the most casual interest in history.

Name 5 important women born between 100 a.d. and 1900 a.d. Eleanor of Aquitaine has to be on your list, perhaps in the first or second postion.

Born in the 12th century, she married Louis VII of France, divorced him and married Henry II King of England. She bore 10 children, 2 to Louis, and 8 to Henry. Among them Prince John and Richard the lion hearted of Robin Hood fame.

It was a time of great change. The Church was changing. It no longer saw women soley as the spawn of Satan. The cult of the Virgin Mary was taking hold. The politics of monarchy were changing. King Louis VII ruled only a small portion of what is modern day France. King Henry II wasn't even English, but a French nobleman who benefited from the untimely death of William the Conqueror's heir, and Civil War in England. He could "seize the day".(Horace) The second crusade led by Louis, failed miserably; perhaps some of modern day Muslin/Christian conflict has roots here. It appears that Louis did not heed Horace's advice.

And Eleanor, where was she? Well she joined Louis on the Crusade. In fact she was blamed for the outcome of the first disasterous battle. It seems that it is easier to blame the queen and her excessive luggage, than the head of the crusading army. Thousands began the Crusade, only hundreds returned. It is not hard to imagine how Eleanor and the others felt. But, she was stuck with Louis. Or was she? Louis needed a male heir, and Eleanor had not produced one. Divorce was not what Louis wanted, but he did need that male heir, and Eleanor was not getting any younger. And so, he freed Eleanor.

Imagine Louis' surprise at her marrying Henry just 8 weeks later. By the way she forgot to ask his permission. Louis was not happy.

But Henry was. He got Eleanor and Acquitaine, 5 sons of which 4 survived to manhood, 3 daughters who through marriage, could be used to achieve his political ambitions. Everything is going so well. Then what does he do? Well, Henry falls in love. Eleanor moves out, back to Aquitaine. And then? The male children of this estranged couple plot against their father, then seek asylum with Louis Capet, Eleanor's X. Of course, mother Eleanor is easy to blame.

In modern terms we might refer to this family as disfunctional. However, that disfunction had a price, and a payoff. France and England warred on and off over the next 300 years. Eleanor's decendants sat on the thrones of England, France, Jerusalem, and the Holy Roman Empire. We remember her today. And unlike many of the middle ages chroniclers, we think that she was important and we admire her.

It is difficult to write a biography from the distance of eight or nine centuries. There are few reliable, contemporay sources. It is most difficult to write one about the most powerful woman in Europe, since few thought that women were important enough to chronicle except in the blame game. Marion Meade has done such an admirable job. Her biography make Eleanor come alive. That this book, copywrited in 1977, remains in print is a testament to her impecable research and excellent writing.

I highly recommend this book.

Eleanor is a fascinating subject and Meade portrays her intimately considering the time span and lack of historical details available. When Meade isn't sure she admits it willingly yet appears to make sound judgments on what Eleanor's feelings, motivations or actions might have been and why. She doesn't make excuses for Eleanor but definitely is written in a style that says "I am a fan." It isn't always an objective view but what historical perspective really is, at least with this book you know that. The book is enjoyable and has few slow points if any. Although written in the 70's, Meade's feminist commentary does not overshadow the true subject matter. Eleanor of Aquitaine is a true "great dame" and the world should know her as such. It is unfortunate that her contributions to history have not commanded more attention.

Just as with most world-wide examples today, the historical lives of English monarchs and other persons of power and fame was dominated by men. But, as women mature I personally believe we grow weary of so much exposure to one-sided male perspective. This book helped alleviate my weariness. Meade does Eleanor, and the rest of us, a service by telling Eleanor's incredible story of power and politics and gender with a historians well researched, reasoned clarity, a scholar's forth-rightness, and a woman's sensitivity. And what a story did Eleanor's life make!

'Eleanor of Aquitaine' is the story of the 12th century French queen of both England and France. Hers was an interesting life, and Marion Meade tells it quite well. In a real Epic, Eleanor marries the kings of France and of England, goes on a crusade, gives birth to no less then 10 children, including Richard Lion Heart and King John. She divorces one husband and participates in a rebellion against the second. She helps to of her sons reign as kings, and finally dies before watching the collapse of the empire she so desired.

The problem with Meade's narrative is that much of what she describes seems debatable. As a previous reviewer noted, this seems as much fiction as fact. hardly a page goes by without the words 'must have' appearing somewhere. Much of the thoughts, plans, and ideas of Eleanor and other characters is pure speculation. Worse yet, often some of the actions and whereabouts of characters are given based on extreme circumstantial evidence.

Meade is also trying to hard to model Eleanor into a modern style feminist. Although she constantly attempts to depict Eleanor as an active, resourceful and wise woman, who rarely if ever makes mistakes, it is quite clear that Eleanor does not fit into that model. In fact, I got the impression you could easily have written the story of Eleanor as an essentially passive bystander in the political dramas involving her parents, husbands and children.

The footnotes, by the way, are complete waste of time for anyone trying to distinguish fact and fiction in Meade's work, unless one is a scholar of the period.

Ultimately 'Eleanor of Aquitaine' is a very good read, but one suspects it is a poor history.