Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
14 journalers for this copy...
I love Alison Weir but I just never got around to reading this book but I thought I would try and find it a good home so if you ant it before I find it a good home let me know!
Amazon.com
Combining the pace and descriptive quality of a novel with the authority of a textbook, Alison Weir's study of the revered and reviled Eleanor of Aquitaine should be valuable to anyone with an interest in medieval European history. Wife of Louis VII of France and subsequently of Henry II of England, and mother of Richard "the Lion-Hearted," Eleanor played a prominent part in the politics of the 12th century. The author of a number of other books on the medieval period (Life of Elizabeth I, The Children of Henry VIII), Weir brings all the color and ever-present dangers of Eleanor's world to life, filling the text with absorbing background detail and revelatory contemporary anecdotes. She is concerned throughout to make critical analysis of the primary sources, the later myths about Eleanor, and other modern biographies. This results in a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the energetic life of a determined and ambitious woman living with the sexism, excesses, and violence of a society in which the word of a single man could condemn thousands to death. Eleanor of Aquitaine is a vivacious but scholarly book with extensive notes and references, giving an objective and rich account of the staunch Eleanor, her feuding family and her complex and unstable world. --Karen Tiley, Amazon.co.uk--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Amazon.com
Combining the pace and descriptive quality of a novel with the authority of a textbook, Alison Weir's study of the revered and reviled Eleanor of Aquitaine should be valuable to anyone with an interest in medieval European history. Wife of Louis VII of France and subsequently of Henry II of England, and mother of Richard "the Lion-Hearted," Eleanor played a prominent part in the politics of the 12th century. The author of a number of other books on the medieval period (Life of Elizabeth I, The Children of Henry VIII), Weir brings all the color and ever-present dangers of Eleanor's world to life, filling the text with absorbing background detail and revelatory contemporary anecdotes. She is concerned throughout to make critical analysis of the primary sources, the later myths about Eleanor, and other modern biographies. This results in a fresh and thoughtful perspective on the energetic life of a determined and ambitious woman living with the sexism, excesses, and violence of a society in which the word of a single man could condemn thousands to death. Eleanor of Aquitaine is a vivacious but scholarly book with extensive notes and references, giving an objective and rich account of the staunch Eleanor, her feuding family and her complex and unstable world. --Karen Tiley, Amazon.co.uk--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Packed up and on its way to lauraloo29 as a prize from my Holiday RABCK drawing! Hope you enjoy it!
Arrived today! Thank you very much! It looks like a lovely book. Lots of little gifts too. :) I love bookcrossing!
I'm planning on sending this out as a bookray.
Rules: Not many. Please journal the book's arrival and departure. And please keep it moving by keeping it no longer than 4 weeks. The last person is free to release the book as they wish.
1. Cross-patch - UK (Europe)
2. Mallary - France (Europe)
3. chucklesthescot - UK
4. PepeLePew - Bosnia-Herzegovina (Intl)
5. Hayes13 - Italy (Intl)
6. Elddau1 - Australia (Australia)
7. sorcha-sidhe - Australia (Intl)
8. thegoaliegirl - US (US/Intl)
9.
Beginning its journey on April 18th. Happy travels!
Rules: Not many. Please journal the book's arrival and departure. And please keep it moving by keeping it no longer than 4 weeks. The last person is free to release the book as they wish.
1. Cross-patch - UK (Europe)
2. Mallary - France (Europe)
3. chucklesthescot - UK
4. PepeLePew - Bosnia-Herzegovina (Intl)
5. Hayes13 - Italy (Intl)
6. Elddau1 - Australia (Australia)
7. sorcha-sidhe - Australia (Intl)
8. thegoaliegirl - US (US/Intl)
9.
Beginning its journey on April 18th. Happy travels!
Journal Entry 5 by 
Cross-patch
from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, April 27, 2009
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Monday, April 27, 2009
Arrived this morning - didn't it make good time? I've devoured all the maps and illustrations already and shall start to read about Eleanor as soon as possible. Thankyou lauraloo29 for sending it on its way.
Journal Entry 6 by Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, May 29, 2009
Cross-patch from Leicester, Leicestershire United Kingdom on Friday, May 29, 2009
It has taken me an age to read this book. It is absolutely packed with details of Eleanor's very full life, and I was desperate to know it all. It is very well researched and written and totally enthralling. I am very grateful to have been given this chance to read all about her and the fascinating times in England and on the Continent in the C12 and C13.
Going to Mallary this afternoon.
Going to Mallary this afternoon.
I owe you a huge apology! This is the second book just recently that I have received and forgotten to journal... it must be the heat, it's been extremely hot and humid over here, it must be affecting my brain!
This book arrived last week, thank you cross-patch for sending to me, it is next to be read straight after I finish my current read. (And once again sorry for my lapse in concentration)
This book arrived last week, thank you cross-patch for sending to me, it is next to be read straight after I finish my current read. (And once again sorry for my lapse in concentration)
Sorry this has taken me ages to read. Like cross-patch, I found this a fascinating read and I learnt so much about Eleanor of Aquitaine (and I don't live far from that region) and that era.
Thank you for sharing this book lauraloo29.
Pming chucklesthescot.
Thank you for sharing this book lauraloo29.
Pming chucklesthescot.
Journal Entry 9 by Chucklesthescot from Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, September 13, 2009
Got back from holiday today to find this book waiting for me! Cool. Will get started on it in a day or two and will PM the next in line. Thank you for sharing!
Journal Entry 10 by Chucklesthescot from Paisley, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, September 28, 2009
I couldn't get through this at all. I just found it boring and longwinded when it went back through the various generations of the family. The bit about the Crusades was quite good though. You really need an interest in this period of history to appreciate this book and I'm more of a Tudor person myself! Will post this on when these postage strikes stop disrupting the UK!
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is continuing its travels to sarajevo. Enjoy!
This book is continuing its travels to sarajevo. Enjoy!
Journal Entry 12 by PepeLePew from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday, October 16, 2009
Arrived safely today. Thank you for sending it, chucklesthescot and thanks for sharing, lauraloo. I'll start reading it as soon as I'm done with another bookring that is currently with me. It won't be long :)
Journal Entry 13 by PepeLePew from Sarajevo, Sarajevo Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday, November 14, 2009
It took me longer than usual to read this book because of the amount of information and details in it. However, it was one of the best books I read this year. I've been a big fan of Alison Weir's writing and this book is definitely one of her best. Also, almost all historic books I've been reading lately have been from the Tudor era and I was getting a little tired of it, so it was really great to read about another period, which was as interesting and eventful as any other, perhaps even more. Also, very refreshing to read a little nonfiction every now and then :)
Thank you for sharing, lauraloo29. I'll mail this book on Monday :)
Thank you for sharing, lauraloo29. I'll mail this book on Monday :)
Journal Entry 14 by PepeLePew at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, November 16, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/16/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to the next reader :)
On its way to the next reader :)
Arrived this morning... I hope there was nothing extra in the envelope--the envelope had been opened and there was just the book inside.
I don't think I'll be able to get this done before Christmas. Will mail right after the holidays. If problematic, pls let me know.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Happy Holidays everyone!
Released 14 yrs ago (1/10/2010 UTC) at
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Oops... mailed this a few days ago and forgot to make a release note...
Off to Elddau1 in Australia.
Oops... mailed this a few days ago and forgot to make a release note...
Off to Elddau1 in Australia.
Arrived in the mailbox today, thanks Hayes. How exciting, I love BookCrossing packages.
Alison Weir is a very authoritative writer so this should be well done. Looking forward to it.
Will start it after I've finished 100 pages on my curent read. :-)
Added: 15/1 reading now
Alison Weir is a very authoritative writer so this should be well done. Looking forward to it.
Will start it after I've finished 100 pages on my curent read. :-)
Added: 15/1 reading now
I've read about a third of the book to Chapter 8, to where Eleanor becomes Queen of England.
With a house move, minor renovations and now a serious family illness I won't be able to finish.
As expected, it was very well written and researched, although very dense to read. I have now learned something of this indomitable woman and experienced a Holy Crusade. I would love to learn more of Eleanor's life one day.
Thankyou lauraloo for sharing. Off to sorcha-sidhe on Monday.
With a house move, minor renovations and now a serious family illness I won't be able to finish.
As expected, it was very well written and researched, although very dense to read. I have now learned something of this indomitable woman and experienced a Holy Crusade. I would love to learn more of Eleanor's life one day.
Thankyou lauraloo for sharing. Off to sorcha-sidhe on Monday.
Released 14 yrs ago (2/28/2010 UTC) at by Post, Bookray -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted to sorcha-sidhe, the next on the ray list, on Mon 1 Mar from Gundaroo Post Office.
(sorry wasn't able to journal the release at the time)
Posted to sorcha-sidhe, the next on the ray list, on Mon 1 Mar from Gundaroo Post Office.
(sorry wasn't able to journal the release at the time)
Arrived in the post Friday, 5 March 2010.
Need to finish my current read before I start this one, but I've bumped it to the top of Mt TBR. Will journal again when I'm done!
Need to finish my current read before I start this one, but I've bumped it to the top of Mt TBR. Will journal again when I'm done!
Alison Weir has somehow managed to put together an astounding scholarly account of the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as that of her husbands and sons. Eleanor lived during a time when women were regarded as little more than the property of their husbands, so there isnt as much information about her as there is about her male relatives, a fact pressed by the author.
However, Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life provides a fascinating insight into what life would have been like for a Medieval woman of Eleanor's standing. Alison Weir writes beautifully, and has an amazing ability of making fact feel like fiction, so her non-fiction work is easier to follow and far more interesting for the reader than the work of many other historical biographers.
However, Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life provides a fascinating insight into what life would have been like for a Medieval woman of Eleanor's standing. Alison Weir writes beautifully, and has an amazing ability of making fact feel like fiction, so her non-fiction work is easier to follow and far more interesting for the reader than the work of many other historical biographers.
Book has arrived safely in Spokane. Will start this once I finish my current book.
Kindly sent to be released at the Book Buffet at the BC Boston Unconvention, August 13-15, 2010. Thank you!
Released to the Book Buffet at the Bookcrossing Boston Unconvention, August 13-15, 2010.
Very happy to find this on the Boston Book Buffet, especially since I just finished reading Weir's fictionalized version, Captive Queen. Looking forward to comparing them!
For those of us who enjoy reading history, this is just about as good as it gets. This book has everything: maps, genealogical charts, extensive bibliography and footnotes, index, photographs, and of course Weir's clear and elegant writing. It took a long time to read, but I almost feel that I've spent months living in the 12th century. What a great story!
I can guess some reasons why Weir decided to take a stab at historical fiction: it would be much easier writing than comparing and analyzing different sources, it allowed her to address questions (why did Eleanor so strongly prefer Richard to John?) for which there could be no documented answer, and probably it will make her more money. But this book fascinated and satisfied me far more than Captive Queen.
I love the way she takes a hard look at popular myths (like Richard's alleged homosexuality), and comes to a firm conclusion based on the evidence available, and I'm especially grateful to her for her notes on the chief sources she used. But best of all is the way she illuminates the time she writes about. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 7, she talks about the assumption that a crowned king was "a form of priesthood" and "was invested with divine authority." Doesn't this cast a new light on Henry VIII's claim to be head of the church in England?
I can guess some reasons why Weir decided to take a stab at historical fiction: it would be much easier writing than comparing and analyzing different sources, it allowed her to address questions (why did Eleanor so strongly prefer Richard to John?) for which there could be no documented answer, and probably it will make her more money. But this book fascinated and satisfied me far more than Captive Queen.
I love the way she takes a hard look at popular myths (like Richard's alleged homosexuality), and comes to a firm conclusion based on the evidence available, and I'm especially grateful to her for her notes on the chief sources she used. But best of all is the way she illuminates the time she writes about. For example, at the beginning of Chapter 7, she talks about the assumption that a crowned king was "a form of priesthood" and "was invested with divine authority." Doesn't this cast a new light on Henry VIII's claim to be head of the church in England?
Journal Entry 28 by JudySlump612 at Biographies and Memoirs VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, December 11, 2010
Released 13 yrs ago (12/11/2010 UTC) at Biographies and Memoirs VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Placed in JennyC1230's Biography/Autobiography/Humor/Memoirs Virtual Book Box
This book is in the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox.
I'm taking this from the JennyC1230's virtual bookbox. It has a long history with BC!
