Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (Library Binding)

by E. L. Konigsburg (Author) "KING LOUIS VI and I were staying in a hunting lodge outside Paris when word came that William, Duke of Aquitaine, had died..." (more)
Key Phrases: worthless nephew, Young Henry, Abbot Bernard, Queen Eleanor (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
While waiting in heaven for divine judgement to be passed on her second husband, Eleanor of Aquitaine and three of the people who knew her well recall the events of her life. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher
Eleanor of Aquitaine has every reason to be upset.

For centuries she's been patiently waiting for her husband, King Henry II, to meet her in Heaven. Luckily, she's sharing a cloud with some old friends who knew her when she and Henry ruled supreme. As long as they're together, they might as well gossip about old times--and soon all of Eleanor's adventures in the Middle Ages spring to life again.

Finally, just when they're about to give up on Henry, Eleanor spots three men floating toward them. After all this time, could one of them be Henry? --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Rebound by Sagebrush (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0808540580
• ISBN-13: 978-0808540588
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,530,069 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent intro to one of history's most powerful women, August 15, 2002

By	C. Quinn (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I first read this book at least 15 years ago and have never forgotten it. This book and The Daughter of Time launched my ongoing love affair with British history. After reading this book, I was so inspired that I dressed as Eleanor of Aquitaine for Halloween; I was shocked and astonished to discover that she was far from a household name and I spent my entire evening of trick-or-treating explaining my costume. If more books for children were as historically accurate and entertaining as is Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver, I think more people would have recognized and appreciated my costume. E.L. Konigsburg writes some of the best children's books I've ever read and they stand the test of time- I enjoy reading them now as much as I did then. By writing about an often ignored yet fascinating woman, Konisburg opened my eyes to a range of historical characters usually excluded in traditional history books. I highly recommend this book for any child, but especially for young girls who are looking for more female characters to shape their understanding of world history.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All girls should know about Eleanor..., June 11, 2002

By	'70s survivor (South Dakota,United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (Hardcover)

In college, during a summer session, I had to take a dreadful Medievel History class. The instructor sat on the desk and droned on for the entire class period. We each had to draw names and do a research paper on someone or something from that period. I drew the name of Eleanor of Aquitaine...never heard of her. For some reason, the library had quite a bit of information on her (they must have heard of her!). Besides reference book information, I found 2 historical novels on her. My goodness, WHAT A WOMAN!! She was the queen of both England and France, the mother of future kings of England and France. She was under house arrest for years. The life story of this woman could have been a college class in itself. My mother is a librarian in small town and I was telling her about my project. She said, "I think we just got a children's book in on her." It happened to be "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Minerva." I went home to pick up the book and it was better and more informative than any of the college material I checked out. WHY hadn't any history teachers pointed out this facinating figure??? History could be so interesting if it were taught with an historical fiction reading list instead of textbooks. I have since traveled to Europe several times and just can't get enough of history. When I think of that dreadful history professor and what a horrible injustice he did to this period of time. However, he DID introduce me to Eleanor. And for that I will be forever grateful.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "Proud Taste" for Writing, December 14, 1999

By	Jean A Babb - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver (Paperback)

Konigsburg has painted the portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine with the brushes of four observers: her priest, her mother-in-law, her jailer, and Eleanor herself. From each of these artists, we see a part of Eleanor's life, through their sometimes limited senses. The section told by Abbot Suger is full of color and music; the tale by the jailer, William the Marshall, is gray, matter of fact. Konigsburg's subtleties of characterization, use of language, and her ability to manipulate point of view contain incredible opportunities for teaching about writing and how writers work. Konigsburg stretches the minds of all who pick up this amazing book. The four tales are held together by an over-arching story: Eleanor and the story-tellers are in Heaven, awaiting the arrival of King Henry II, Eleanor's second husband. While they wait, they fill each other in about Eleanor's long life and influences.