The summer queen : a novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine

Title:

Author:

Chadwick, Elizabeth.

ISBN:

9781410485236

Personal Author:

Chadwick, Elizabeth.

Edition:

Large Print edition.

Physical Description:

765 pages (large print) : maps, genealogical tables ; 23 cm.

Series:

Thorndike Press large print historical fiction

Thorndike Press large print historical fiction.

Abstract:

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the legendary 12th century queen of France and later of England, is one of the most powerful and irrepressible women in medieval history, and her story of romance, scandal and political intrigue has fascinated readers for centuries. Young Eleanor has everything to look forward to as the heiress to the wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father William X suddenly dies, childhood is over. Sent to Paris and forced to marry Prince Louis VII of France, she barely adjusts before another death catapults them to King and Queen. At the age of just 13, Eleanor must leave everything behind and learn to navigate the complex and vivacious French court. Faced with great scandals, trials, fraught relationships, and forbidden love at every turn, Eleanor finally sees what her future could hold if she could just seize the moment.

Subject Term:

Eleanor, of Aquitaine, Queen, consort of Henry II, King of England, 1122?-1204 -- Fiction.

Large type books.

Geographic Term:

France -- History -- Louis VII, 1137-1180 -- Fiction

Format:

Books

Document ID:

SD_ILS:1526842

Availability:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Shelf Number	Material Type	Status
Searching... Central Services	L P CHAD	English Large Print	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Chadwick brings Eleanor of Aquitaine to life with breathtaking historical detail in the first volume of this stunning new trilogy.

Young Eleanor (or Alienor as she was known) has everything to look forward to as the heiress to the wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father William X suddenly dies, childhood is over. Sent to Paris and forced to marry Prince Louis VII of France, she barely adjusts before another death catapults them to King and Queen. At the age of just 13, Eleanor must leave everything behind and learn to navigate the complex and vivacious French court. Faced with great scandals, trials, fraught relationships, and forbidden love at every turn, Eleanor finally sees what her future could hold if she could just seize the moment.

The first in this highly anticipated trilogy, The Summer Queen follows Eleanor through the Second Crusade to the end of her marriage to Louis VII. The author's meticulous research (including delving into the Akashic records) portrays the Middle Ages and Eleanor with depth and vivid imagery unparalleled in historical fiction that will keep readers riveted and wanting more.

Reviews (1)

Library Journal Review

Historical fiction novelist Chadwick (The Greatest Knight; A Place Beyond Courage) launches a new trilogy centered on Eleanor of Aquitaine. Alienor (Eleanor) is only 13 when her father dies on a religious pilgrimage, leaving behind a plan for her to marry the French heir to the throne and one day become queen of France. Initially pleased with the dashing young Louis, Alienor soon finds that his obsessive piety and dependence on ambitious advisers make it almost impossible for her to play the powerful role at court she had anticipated. Caught between her need to appease Louis and her own desires and passions, Alienor struggles to discern where her ultimate loyalties should lie. Verdict Chadwick is extremely popular among readers of medieval historical fiction owing to her meticulous research and attention to detail. Fans of her previous novels should enjoy getting a closer look at Eleanor, who has appeared in several of her other books, while newcomers will find this to be a pleasurable introduction to Chadwick's work.-Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.