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The Secret Eleanor: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine

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Eleanor of Aquitaine was an amazing queen who reigned over two kingdoms, first France and later England. She lived to a grand old age, dying in her early eighties. Most of the previous books based on her life try to capture the entirety of it, and decades' worth of events fill the pages. Cecelia Holland takes a different approach in her latest novel, `The Secret Eleanor', narrowing her focus to one of the pivotal years in Eleanor's life. In the opening pages, Eleanor meets Henry, son of the Count of Anjou, and instantly falls in love (or is it her great lust for his power?) with him. They meet secretly, and plan to marry as soon as Eleanor can get out of her current marriage to the King of France. One of their assignations lands Eleanor in an uncomfortable situation, and she must use all of her cunning and the aid of her sister, Petronilla, to hide the secret from her enemies.

For the most part, the book focuses on the two sisters, Eleanor and Petronilla. There is such a sharp contrast between them. Petronilla, crushed by her husband's rejection of her, begins shy and demure, but events force her out of her shell and remind her that a failed marriage doesn't mean she's useless. Meanwhile, Eleanor is the picture of confidence and seductive power. She's used to getting what she wants, when she wants it. People bend over backwards to please her. When necessity forces Eleanor out of the limelight for a time, she's shocked to realize that she could easily be replaced by another woman. The jolt to Eleanor's confidence shatters her ability to trust even those closest to her.

We also see a bit of what life is like for those on the fringe of the royal court in the lives of a troubadour and his wife. They may sing for the nobility, but they are not of that class, and it's fun to see how this changes their outlook and actions.

I enjoyed this microscopic look at a brief period of Eleanor's life. Holland captured the power and allure of the legendary Queen while still capturing the flaws in her character. She also skillfully brings many of the minor characters in Eleanor's circle to life, creating lively individuals from figures who are little more than footnotes to history.

Holland's novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine focuses on the meeting of Eleanor and Henry, second son of the Count of Anjou, while Eleanor is still wife to the pious Louis VII of France. A beautiful woman with great appetite and brilliant political instincts, Eleanor finds in the decade younger Henry what is so lacking in her union with Louis, a marriage that has produced only two daughters in fifteen years. Suddenly, a new course is opened to Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, fed by the spark of her volatile attraction to Henry, as dreams become plans and Henry plots to rule not only Normandy and Anjou, but England and Aquitaine, with Louis's queen at his side. Of course, political expediency intrudes, Holland setting the stage in 1151 for conflict and intrigue as Eleanor convinces Louis to agree to an annulment that he might wed another and bear sons.

And while Henry begins his quest for the throne of England in earnest after the untimely death of his father, Eleanor is bedeviled by a more serious dilemma, one that threatens her bright future at Henry's side. It is to her sister, Petronilla, that Eleanor turns in confidence, terrified of betrayal in the treacherous months between the release from Louis and Henry's embrace. Eleanor's beauty and acumen are hidden in the dusty halls of Louis's court. Without the aid of her sister, perhaps Eleanor would be doomed to a smaller role. But while the men near the king of France scheme to advance their own agendas, Eleanor begins only one of the many skirmishes that will define her life on the world stage, a woman equal in ambition to any man and often just as ruthless. But this is Eleanor in love, passionate, determined and filled with the glow of passion.

The author captures the political tension surrounding Louis's throne, Henry's greedy ambitions and Eleanor's aptitude for politics, even in the darkest days of her struggle to be with Henry. A woman who must survive by her wiles in a man's world, Eleanor is an extraordinary historical figure, as gifted as any man while burdened by the usual court prejudices against females. Before she can become Henry's fertile queen, she must outwit those in the French court who would see her remain at her husband's side or tucked away in a convent. Only the queen's women know her most intimate secrets, and the inscrutable Petronilla, but success hinges on the unraveling threads of loyalty. Great secrets beget treachery; this novel illustrates how easily a queen's plans may be turned to ashes. Luan Gaines/2010.

This has been the year of Eleanor of Aquitane novels. No less than three novels have been published this year about the famous queen, so I was hoping that Cecelia Holland's The Secret Eleanor would stand out from the crowd. Eleanor is such a fascinating woman, but all of this year's Eleanor novels I've read so far have turned out to be boring. I had high hopes for The Secret Eleanor. I thought it could stand out from the pack, but it didn't. It just stayed flat.

In fact, I didn't even finish the book. Yeah, I pretty much never leave books unfinished, so that's pretty bad. First, The Secret Eleanor focuses on the events within just one year of the eventful Queen's life. Eleanor is struggling since she cannot bear King Louis of France a male heir, and Eleanor and Louis are considering getting an annulment. But Eleanor has a secret, she has a burning desire for the young Henry, son of the Count d'Anjou with a strong claim to the British throne. After an unfortunate decision, Eleanor becomes pregnant with Henry's child, putting the pending annulment and her possible marriage to Henry in jeopardy.

That's basically the entire book. While there is some discussion of French, British and Aquitane politics, much of the book is spent hiding Eleanor's pregnancy and waiting for her to have the baby. That's it. There are a few subplots that Holland tried to weave into the story, such as the musicians Claire and Thomas and Henry's struggle against his brother Geoffrey, but they either didn't go anywhere or didn't seem to have much of an impact on the overall plot. Not only was it confusing and jarring to suddenly swap between first-person viewpoints, but there was so much that could have and should have been cut out. Perhaps Holland could have talked about more events in Eleanor's life?

While I wouldn't discourage readers from picking this book up, just be warned that it's very simple, linear and not much happens -oh, and there's a quite a bit of romance too.

By 1151, the Duchess of Aquitaine is perhaps the most powerful female on the continent even before she marries elderly French King Louis VII. However, being the Queen of France fails to live up to the title as expected by Eleanor. In fact she is treated with scorn and feels she has lost some of influence rather than see it expand as she anticipated.

When he son of the Duke of Anjou Henry visits the royal court, Eleanor feels the younger man is her male counterpart especially since he has a strong chance of becoming the King of England. Although her husband has her constantly watched, Eleanor and Henry secretly meet and plot for her to dissolve her marriage to Louis and wed Henry.

Although Eleanor has been the star of biographical fiction (see The Captive Queen by Alison Weir, The Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy, and Eleanor The Queen by Nora Lofts) numerous times, Cecilia Holland provides a strong tale that focuses on her motivations. Although the key historical events are not new to sub-genre fans, readers will enjoy the latest Eleanor of Aquitaine fictionalized account as Ms. Holland affirms the two-time Queen set the stage for powerful females who follow her lead over the centuries

Harriet Klausner

This book needs at least one 5 star review, so I'm going to give it those 5 stars. The author is an old favorite of mine. For some reason I stopped reading her a decade or so ago, but decided to pick this one up and was right back to thinking that this is an unusually competent author.

The basic facts in Eleanor's life are known. Her father died when she was 15 leaving her heir to a large section of what is now France and she was forced into a marriage with the man who became the King of France. For some reason she only managed to get pregnant twice in the 15 years of their marriage and only produced 2 daughters and no sons. She was divorced for being barren, married the man who became the King of England, and went on to have at least 5 sons and 3 daughters in the next 15 years.

This novel takes place in the year of the divorce. The facts of that year are known. The story is Holland's take on what really happened to the people involved in those facts.

One of the things I've always liked about this author is that she stays in period. The book begins on the day that Eleanor sees her second husband (Henry II of England) for the first time. Her current husband is sitting on a throne. She is sitting on a low stool not quite on his side. The ugliness of the building and the room she is in gets described in terms that someone living in that time and place would see it. Banners in the rafters, and the spider webs moving in the breeze. Different from the buildings in the south of France. And very obviously ugly to someone who has seen the first of the great cathedrals that are being built in the new style. And you get a good feel for the people who were known to have been present on that day and what their personalities were like.

The book is partly Eleanor's story, but it is also the story of her sister. There isn't a whole lot known about Eleanor's sister except that she was with Eleanor in France, but not in England. I like what Holland did in her descriptions of that sister as an invisible woman forced by circumstances to become the opposite from what everyone thought she was.

Definitely recommended, especially if you get frustrated with books by Phillips and Weir. It isn't that I think that this is what actually happened to Eleanor of Aquitaine during that year when she left one husband and married another. It is just that it COULD have happened that way and I enjoyed the story.

Always looking for different perspectives on my favorite historical figures, The Secret Eleanor gave me a different angle to think about. Written through the figure of Eleanor's sister this book helps to flush out the enigmatic Eleanor.

Being a fan of the great Queen Eleanor, one doesn't need to create fiction, when her life was vivid enough. Her first husband, King Louis, was not significantly older than her. Louis would have been a much better priest/cardinal than King. While he was jealous of her ( for valid reasons) the real reason for their divorce was that in nearly 15 years of marriage, they only had 2 daughters. Since France was under the Salic law ( only male issue could rule)he had tremendous pressure to have another wife. I'm sure it was sweet revenge for Eleanor when she had many sons with her much younger husband.

I agree with previous reviewers who said that Holland's novel is boring. I felt no sympathy for Eleanor or any of the supporting characters. The "J-word" scene just seemed icky. The ending was weird, confusing, and forced. I prefer "Eleanor The Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine" by Norah Lofts. Also, for a fictional account of one brief time in Eleanor's life, watch "The Lion in Winter"--it's infinitely more entertaining than Holland's work.

History and romance can be interwoven. Add an intriguing figure and you the perfect combination for an historical romance. Cecelia Holland gives us a unique perspective on the early figure of Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Secret Eleanor.

This is not a biography of Queen Eleanor. It is not an account from those around her. It is, as the author says, "a novel interpretation" of what little we know of Eleanor. It gives a "what if" scenario.

It all begins in the last year of her reign as Queen of France. She has been married fifteen years and has given Louis VII two daughters. Life is boring for her in France. It is even more difficult for her with a husband who was not one to command respect and let others lead him down any path. She is still a young woman at the age of thirty and is a ravaging beauty. Her love affairs become legendary as does her fair and wise diplomatic acts.

This book covers many historical facts but opens the door to possibility of the truths of rumors that circulated during Eleanor's time and right after her death in 1204. Her romance with Henry of Anjou, soon to be Henry II of England causes quite a stir in Europe and possibly could have helped give Henry VIII some leverage in divorcing Katherine.

Holland is telling the tell of Eleanor, but in reality the story is more about the secret Eleanor, her sister Petronilla. It is Petronilla that comes to Eleanor's rescue time and time again even acting as a double to save her sister's life and to help protect her darkest secrets. Reading this book you will learn a little more about the infamous queen, but you will learn more about her sister that history has glossed over down through the years.

Keep in mind that this is an historical romance. There are a few steamy scenes that are described short and sweet. You will not find pages of one scene intimately described. The focus is more on the relationships and how a sister who spends her life in the shadows finds herself standing tall.

This is a very good read is you are looking for something casual and light yet with a history foundation, this is a book that would meet your needs. I was slightly disappointed that it was not more focused on more of Eleanor's life, but considering that the woman lived long and full, it did a great job of pulling one episode of her life out and give it more attention than most have.

Another plus with this book was the author's historical note at the end that explained what was truth and what was fiction. The discussion group questions at the end were also a great bonus. Great for book clubs. A great read for anyone who loves historical romances.

This book focuses on Eleanor's life at the end of her marriage to Louis VII of France. In the fifteen years of her marriage to the King of France, she has gone with her husband on crusade, meddled in the politics of France, and birthed her husband two daughters. Eleanor finds her life with her husband, Louis, to be trying; she believes him to be more a monk than a husband and king and she desperately wants to be rid of him as her husband, mainly so that she can return to her lands of Aquitaine to rule them in her own right as well as live her life as she pleases. Other factions are looking at ways to be rid of her as well, so the King can marry again to produce a male heir to the French throne, which is one of the points Eleanor pushes as part of the reason she wants to dissolve their marriage.

Not long into the book, the Queen of France becomes romantically involved with Henry d'Anjou (later Henry II of England) and becomes pregnant with his son. To hide her pregnancy in the later months, her sister Petronilla begins taking her position at court, as Eleanor and Petronilla are often mistaken for the other.

The timeline of this book runs from about the last year of her marriage to Louis VII to the time she marries Henry II. The author inserts a rumored pregnancy that Eleanor had; I felt that this pregnancy was inserted into the novel mostly as an avenue for the author to explore the relationship between Eleanor and her sister and possibly to explain why Petronilla seemed to disappear from the history books. I also felt that some action in the book that did not involve Eleanor or her sister was inserted in the book to make it a longer book. And while I enjoyed the book, I felt it could have been better, and I think this was partially because I was not all that interested in the relationship between Eleanor and her sister. I was more interested in her relationships with Louis and Henry which this book touched on just barely.