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A review by jennutley
Captive Queen: A Novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir
3.0
One of my favorite ways to be introduced to an historical figure is to pick up some historical fiction, give it a read, and then read the real history to figure out where the author took a bit of license. This was my intro to Eleanor of Aquitaine (other than The Lion in Winter).
As usual, Alison Weir's books are pretty interesting reads. I will admit to preferring her non-fiction. I found this story to rely much too heavily on Eleanor's, shall we say, appetites. I am disappointed to think that she was driven that much by her carnal side. C'mon, she had to have been brilliant not just beautiful. (Is this wishful thinking?) I also had a hard time with the cavalier way she left her first two daughters with their father after her annulment.
I found the political maneuverings by her husbands and sons to be fascinating--more so than the love stories. But the conflict between Eleanor and Henry over the troubadors and courtly love was pretty forced.
Still, I learned a lot and was entertained to boot, so it was worth the time.
As usual, Alison Weir's books are pretty interesting reads. I will admit to preferring her non-fiction. I found this story to rely much too heavily on Eleanor's, shall we say, appetites. I am disappointed to think that she was driven that much by her carnal side. C'mon, she had to have been brilliant not just beautiful. (Is this wishful thinking?) I also had a hard time with the cavalier way she left her first two daughters with their father after her annulment.
I found the political maneuverings by her husbands and sons to be fascinating--more so than the love stories. But the conflict between Eleanor and Henry over the troubadors and courtly love was pretty forced.
Still, I learned a lot and was entertained to boot, so it was worth the time.