Eleanor the Queen [Mass Market Paperback]

Norah Lofts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 12, 1981

Elenaor is young, high-spirited, supremely intelligent, heiress to the vast Duchy of Aquitaine - at a time when a woman's value was measured in terms of wealth. Her vivid leadership inspired and dazzled those about her. And yet, born to rule, she was continually repressed and threatened by the men who overshadowed her life. This is the story of a brilliant, medieval figure - of a princess who led her own knights to the Crusades, who was bride to two kings and mother of Richard the Lion Heart. It is the rich, incredible story of Eleanor Of Aquitaine.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for NORAH LOFTS 'One of the most distinguished of English women novelists' THE DAILY TELEGRAPH; 'A natural storyteller whose characters are neatly and believably portrayed: whose prose is smooth and readable' THE NEW YORK TIMES; 'Has a deft chroniclers way with her characters' THE EVENING STANDARD. NORAH LOFTS was a bestselling author. Reviews in the paperback review sections of national daily and Sunday newspapers to include The Times, The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Mail. Reviews also in women's weekly and monthly magazines, to include Vogue, Red, The Lady, Glamour and Woman's Own. Arrow books sold million copies of Georgette Heyer's 42 historical novels relaunched in 2005 as GBP6.99 trade paperbacks, most of which were written in the 1940s. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Norah Lofts was one of the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, known for her authentic application of period detail to all her books. She was a bestselling author on both sides of the Atlantic, was born in Norfolk. She taught English and History at a girls' school before turning to writing full time in 1936. Her passion for old houses and their continuing history sparked off her much praised Suffolk trilogy, The Town House, The House at Old Vine and The House at Sunset. These were followed by the bestselling The Concubine, about Anne Boleyn and by The King's Pleasure, a novel about the life of Katharine of Aragon. Lofts wrote more than 50 books, including historical non-fiction and short stories. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (September 12, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449228487
• ISBN-13: 978-0449228487
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,344,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A QUEEN OF LEGENDARY BEAUTY AND EXTRAORDINARY INTELLIGENCE.., January 1, 2004

By 

Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eleanor the Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an interesting work of historical fiction by a noted writer of historical fiction and gifted storyteller, Norah Lofts. the author capably details the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most famous and celebrated women of the middle ages. Touted by the troubadours of her time as being a woman without compare, Eleanor of Aquitaine could certainly be held to be the first feminist.

Married first to the pious King of France, Louis VII, she bore him two daughters and went with him on an unsuccessful Crusade, where she was to have a number of adventures. Stifled by the King's somewhat misogynistic advisors, she and the King would come to a parting of the way after fifteen years of marriage. No sooner was she divorced and returned to her Duchy of Aquitaine, than she met eighteen year old Henry Plantagenet, who was to become King Henry II of England. Nearly a dozen years separated them but this was to be no bar to their marriage.

Eleanor and Henry were to marry, and she bore him numerous sons and daughters. She lived happily with Henry for many years, until she discovered that he had a mistress, the fair Rosamonde of legend. The break in their relationship would eventually result in the estrangement of Henry from his sons and the imprisonment of Eleanor for nearly eighteen years.

This is an excellent work of historical fiction, filled with the political intrigues of the day, historical events and personages, and a story that has withstood the test of time. It is a book that those who like well-written historical fiction will, undoubtedly, enjoy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical Fiction at its Best, November 13, 2001

By 

DONALD G. FOX "Santee Sioux" (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eleanor the Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book back in 1978. I was still in middle school back then and it intrigued me so much that I eventually came to do a lot more reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II, Richard the Lionhearted, King John (Lackland)and the Plantagenet intrigues and accomplishments of the 12th century. Ms. Lofts had a way of really engaging the reader in making Eleanor a real woman: a woman both vulnerable and truly strong. Indeed, she was both. I recommend this book wholeheartedly for those who might like to get a feel for what medieval life for the Plantagenets was like as well as what it might have been like for a very priveleged noblewoman of great intelligence and legendary beauty.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Bits of excitement nearly lost among long stretches of dullness, January 15, 2006

By 

S. E. Kennedy "ocinnedeagh" (Minnesota, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Eleanor the Queen (Mass Market Paperback)

Eleanor of Aquitaine must be one of the most interesting women in history. Her intellegence, her legendary beauty and her joint crusade with her first husband, the King of France would make for an amazing story alone. Now add to it that she was also the wife of King Henry II of England and the mother of Richard the Lionheart (and SEVERAL other children) and you have the makings of an epic story filled with love, betrayal, political intrigue and so much more! Instead, Lofts tells a nice story though uninspiring which touches areas of excitement briefly toying with them and then instead wanders down the a road that is interesting but dull. This is my third Norah Lofts novel and I am still seeking the same talent and style I found in A Wayside Tavern. I am again left disappointed and wondering how the same woman wrote that book and this.