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halkid2's review against another edition
4.0
Sound Retelling of Eleanor's Last Years
This is a very satisfying conclusion to Elizabeth Chadwick's three-volume tome to Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the greatest medieval queens and feminist role models of all time. Beginning with the years of her imprisonment by husband Henry II until her death at Fontevraud Abbey -- The Autumn Queen spans 30 years. But don't think that because these were Eleanor's final years that they were anything staid and quiet.
After Henry II's death, Eleanor is freed from imprisonment by her famous son, Richard I "the Lionhearted", and plays a pivotal role in governing England while he goes off on Crusade. Eleanor takes on dangerous and lengthy journeys, raises a ransom to free her kidnapped son, is besieged in a tower, and grieves the loss of several of her many children, including Richard. She then goes on to provide key support to her son John's reign (pre Magna Carta) and arranges strategic marriages for several of her grandchildren. In short, Eleanor remains the brilliant powerhouse depicted in history, up to the end.
I am a big fan of Elizabeth Chadwick's historical novels. And this series shouldn't be missed.
This is a very satisfying conclusion to Elizabeth Chadwick's three-volume tome to Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the greatest medieval queens and feminist role models of all time. Beginning with the years of her imprisonment by husband Henry II until her death at Fontevraud Abbey -- The Autumn Queen spans 30 years. But don't think that because these were Eleanor's final years that they were anything staid and quiet.
After Henry II's death, Eleanor is freed from imprisonment by her famous son, Richard I "the Lionhearted", and plays a pivotal role in governing England while he goes off on Crusade. Eleanor takes on dangerous and lengthy journeys, raises a ransom to free her kidnapped son, is besieged in a tower, and grieves the loss of several of her many children, including Richard. She then goes on to provide key support to her son John's reign (pre Magna Carta) and arranges strategic marriages for several of her grandchildren. In short, Eleanor remains the brilliant powerhouse depicted in history, up to the end.
I am a big fan of Elizabeth Chadwick's historical novels. And this series shouldn't be missed.
annie_t's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
loreofthebooks's review against another edition
4.0
The final book in the series, and this one felt much slower than the other two, but it is slightly hard to write a book when the main character is missing most of the action.
Nevertheless, Chadwick does it well. She gets very creative at times, and I appreciated it. I had to keep a close eye on the dates though, as those went by fast, which was nice.
Alienor -- still an amazing woman even in her seventies. Doing things that would seem to be impossible, and continuing to be a force for her children.
Here, we see some of the most famous people -- Richard the Lion Heart, John, and all the rest from their mother's eyes, and not front and center like they are in many books. Alienor isn't with them all the time, so we only hear bits and pieces of it.
A wonderful conclusion to an amazing series.
Nevertheless, Chadwick does it well. She gets very creative at times, and I appreciated it. I had to keep a close eye on the dates though, as those went by fast, which was nice.
Alienor -- still an amazing woman even in her seventies. Doing things that would seem to be impossible, and continuing to be a force for her children.
Here, we see some of the most famous people -- Richard the Lion Heart, John, and all the rest from their mother's eyes, and not front and center like they are in many books. Alienor isn't with them all the time, so we only hear bits and pieces of it.
A wonderful conclusion to an amazing series.
roelmoeurs's review against another edition
5.0
Don't really know what's real and what's not (tho author does provide some information at end) and don't really care. it moved me me and didn't let go until the end. Which I'm not ashamed to say had me in anguish and tears
meks17's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
goannelies's review against another edition
4.0
Alienor is opgesloten in Sarum door haar man koning Henry II. 15 jaar lang zal ze ver weg van het politieke spel moeten zien te overleven. Ondertussen vechten haar zonen onderling en tegen hun vader om land en macht. Na de dood van haar man wordt haar favoriete zoon Richard koning van Engeland en terwijl die op kruistocht vertrekt staat Alienor voor heel wat uitdagingen. Zo trekt ze in volle winter de Alpen door om haar zoon zijn bruid te brengen en zorgt haar jongste telg John voor allerlei problemen. Om van de koning van Frankrijk nog maar te zwijgen.
Dit is het laatste boek uit een heuse trilogie over Eleanor Of Aquitaine. Ook wel de meest bad ass queen uit de vroege middeleeuwen genoemd. Ik vond dit zeker het beste boek uit de reeks. In boek één is Eleanor nog vrij jong, in boek twee baart ze het ene kind na het andere maar in dit boek wordt ze echt koningin. Ook al start het verhaal met haar 15-jaar lange opsluiting. Dan merk je dat ze wel veel verder van de actie afstaat, dus dit deel was tegelijk boeiend om te lezen, maar soms ook frustrerend.
Halverwege wordt ze de befaamde queen mother zoals we haar kennen. Ik vond het ook enorm fijn dat al haar kinderen, ook haar dochters, een plaats krijgen in het verhaal. Op het einde past alles mooi in elkaar.
Is dit beste historische trilogie die ik ooit gelezen heb? Neen, Chadwick overtuigt me nog net niet voldoende. Maar dat ik nog boeken over Eleanor wil lezen, dat staat vast. Het is een periode waar ik nog te weinig over lees. En ik vond de personages echt goed neergezet. Zelfs John was nog vrij genuanceerd, wat met zo'n door en door slechte koning niet eenvoudig is. Ook haar kleindochter Blanche of Castilië fascineert me door dit boek. Dus hopelijk kom ik haar nog eens ergens tegen.
Mooie afsluiter! Ik pak ooit nog wel eens een Chadwick op.
Dit is het laatste boek uit een heuse trilogie over Eleanor Of Aquitaine. Ook wel de meest bad ass queen uit de vroege middeleeuwen genoemd. Ik vond dit zeker het beste boek uit de reeks. In boek één is Eleanor nog vrij jong, in boek twee baart ze het ene kind na het andere maar in dit boek wordt ze echt koningin. Ook al start het verhaal met haar 15-jaar lange opsluiting. Dan merk je dat ze wel veel verder van de actie afstaat, dus dit deel was tegelijk boeiend om te lezen, maar soms ook frustrerend.
Halverwege wordt ze de befaamde queen mother zoals we haar kennen. Ik vond het ook enorm fijn dat al haar kinderen, ook haar dochters, een plaats krijgen in het verhaal. Op het einde past alles mooi in elkaar.
Is dit beste historische trilogie die ik ooit gelezen heb? Neen, Chadwick overtuigt me nog net niet voldoende. Maar dat ik nog boeken over Eleanor wil lezen, dat staat vast. Het is een periode waar ik nog te weinig over lees. En ik vond de personages echt goed neergezet. Zelfs John was nog vrij genuanceerd, wat met zo'n door en door slechte koning niet eenvoudig is. Ook haar kleindochter Blanche of Castilië fascineert me door dit boek. Dus hopelijk kom ik haar nog eens ergens tegen.
Mooie afsluiter! Ik pak ooit nog wel eens een Chadwick op.
sarabr's review against another edition
5.0
Il trono d’autunno è il capitolo conclusivo della trilogia su Eleonora d’Aquitania.
Stanchi di non avere poteri perché il padre non si fida di loro, i figli di Enrico si ribellano alla sua autorità e cercano di spodestarlo. Il re dichiara responsabile Eleonora e la rinchiude in una prigione, una gabbia dorata in cui si trova isolata e impotente. Passano così molti anni, Eleonora entra nella mezza età e pian piano riconquista qualche fugace libertà.
Questo è un romanzo profondamente triste: molti dei figli di Eleonora muoiono prima di lei, e le perdite si accumulano fino a consumarla. È un romanzo dove il dolore diventa sempre più forte, si percepisce lo spaesamento e l’indebolimento di Eleonora, che vede tutto ciò che ha costruito crollare a poco a poco davanti a lei.
Man mano che i personaggi maschili, i futuri eredi, muoiono, diventano sempre più importanti quelli femminili, tanto che Eleonora arriva a pensare che la sua discendenza sarà perpetuata proprio dalle donne che tutti ritengono inferiori.
Nonostante le sofferenze e i duri colpi del destino, Eleonora rimane forte e dedita al dovere fino a tarda età, compiendo lunghi viaggi per il bene dei figli e del suo regno.
Stanchi di non avere poteri perché il padre non si fida di loro, i figli di Enrico si ribellano alla sua autorità e cercano di spodestarlo. Il re dichiara responsabile Eleonora e la rinchiude in una prigione, una gabbia dorata in cui si trova isolata e impotente. Passano così molti anni, Eleonora entra nella mezza età e pian piano riconquista qualche fugace libertà.
Questo è un romanzo profondamente triste: molti dei figli di Eleonora muoiono prima di lei, e le perdite si accumulano fino a consumarla. È un romanzo dove il dolore diventa sempre più forte, si percepisce lo spaesamento e l’indebolimento di Eleonora, che vede tutto ciò che ha costruito crollare a poco a poco davanti a lei.
Man mano che i personaggi maschili, i futuri eredi, muoiono, diventano sempre più importanti quelli femminili, tanto che Eleonora arriva a pensare che la sua discendenza sarà perpetuata proprio dalle donne che tutti ritengono inferiori.
Nonostante le sofferenze e i duri colpi del destino, Eleonora rimane forte e dedita al dovere fino a tarda età, compiendo lunghi viaggi per il bene dei figli e del suo regno.
rfwads's review against another edition
5.0
It's bittersweet!!! An end to an amazing life and yet, your left wanting more and it not to end! This was an amazing finale to Eleanor's life and I enjoyed reading it. She is a very fascinating woman and role model for all! Elizabeth does a great job portraying her story. I highly recommend!
lisa_bergin's review against another edition
4.0
Another great book by Elizabeth Chadwick and a good conclusion to the trilogy on Eleanor (or Alienor as in these books) of Aquitaine. Look forward to her next novel.
kikiandarrowsfishshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good conclusion to Chadwick's series about Eleanor. If anyone captured the queen, I think it was Chadwick. The conflict between her sons and their heirs forms much of the book.