| Title | : | To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0451232305 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780451232304 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 380 |
| Publication | : | First published April 5, 2011 |
The author of The Queen's Pawn delves into the early life of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine in her new historical novel.
After her father's sudden death, fifteen-year-old Eleanor is quickly crowned Duchess of Aquitaine and betrothed to King Louis VII. When her new husband cannot pronounce her given name, Alienor becomes Eleanor, Queen of France.
Although Louis is enamored of his bride, the newly crowned king is easily manipulated by the church and a God that Eleanor doesn't believe in. Now, if she can find the strength to fight for what she wants, Eleanor may finally find the passion she has longed for, and the means to fulfill her legacy as Queen.
To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine Reviews
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I would describe To Be Queen as a definite page-turner, though that descriptive alone doesn’t suggest any positive or negative implications, rather it’s what makes it a page-turner that counts. I would say that the novel is partly a page-turner because it’s an enjoyable read. I was entertained enough to apply myself and stick with it pretty consistently, reading it cover to cover in two days non-continuously. However it is also a page-turner because it’s easy to read. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Well, neither I would argue. When I say the book was easy to read, I mean that it was clear, accessible, and flowed well – which is definitely good – but at the same time I also mean that I found it pretty unchallenging. Again this has neither positive nor negative connotations for me – I could have handled something more challenging had it been played that way, and I do take enjoyment from challenging novels, but equally I didn’t need this novel to be challenging in order to enjoy it. A book being easy to read only becomes a bad attribute if it ends up being overly patronising to its readers or oversimplifying its plot. I did notice that perhaps the plot of To Be Queen was somewhat on the simplistic side, but it wasn’t too simplistic and it never patronised. I’m quite happy to say that in the vast majority the ease of reading To Be Queen was a positive attribute.
Expanding on my comment about the relative simplicity of the plot – and I do stress the word relative here – Christy English does cover all the necessary bases and key points in Eleanor’s early life, and believe me there is a lot of material to sift through. I never felt like she left out any of the major points out that one would want to see in this story. However, there was an element of paring down and keeping things simple. English doesn’t attempt to cover every event in Eleanor’s early life – which would admittedly be a monumental task. In places we jump ahead a few years, and whilst I would have been eager to read more and have those gaps filled, this was not a major detriment to the book, there was enough material there that we could join the dots and it wasn’t strictly necessary to the plot to cover those extra events. At other points, events from Eleanor’s life that are part of the story are pared down or simplified, or else are given a different focus if you will. For example, Eleanor’s time on Crusade is not covered wholesale, , and then later events on the Crusade are mentioned in passing because the rest of that tale is given more of a personal focus, and is concerned with events in Eleanor’s personal life rather than the military goings on. Would I have preferred a more complex plot that covered events in more detail and had greater historical accuracy? Probably, but as I said, English hits all the key bases and provides a solid outline of this period of Eleanor’s life, and I can understand where creative decisions have been taken and why. All I would say to those with no prior knowledge of Eleanor’s life is don’t take the novel completely at its word – I would view the novel as an enjoyable, solid outline and jumping off point, and I can well imagine that those who enjoyed To Be Queen might want to read more about Eleanor.
Historical accuracy? Well, that rather ties in with my point about the plot. It’s reasonably good, but a looser plot does mean looser historical accuracy, and as aforementioned some facts have been somewhat altered in order to make the plot smoother and simpler. The biggest alterations to historical accuracy are simplifications and alterations to the events of Eleanor on Crusade, though Eleanor’s travails on her return to Europe and meeting with the pope are also somewhat altered, and events going on in the French court are simplified and omitted in some cases. Two of the biggest alterations of historical fact are that
Speaking of Eleanor’s affairs, I have joked with a few friends, during the course of reading this novel, that the love scenes between Eleanor and her various lovers felt like moments where I’d suddenly slipped into a parallel dimension in which I was actually reading a Harlequin romance. That was meant in good fun, but it’s not that bad. The language does rise towards purple prose in these scenes, but I think English toed the line well in these scenes. They made me roll my eyes and chuckle, they didn’t make me cringe. I was laughing with the scenes, I was having fun with their corniness, I wasn’t groaning and putting the book down in disgust. Love scenes aside, I found English’s writing style competent and enjoyable as well as being clear, accessible, and readily flowing, and I most enjoyed the chance she got to be descriptive when Eleanor goes on Crusade. English painted a wonderful picture of exotic eastern palaces and beautiful flower gardens, and the sights, sounds and smells Eleanor encounters therein. Her description of Persian roses was simply gorgeous.
Christy English hoped that I would love her Eleanor. Did I? The Eleanor of this novel is certainly forceful, and passionate, and she does have a unique stamp compared to all the other Eleanors I’ve read. She was a little romanticised, with all those love affairs, and I think certain of her traits were exaggerated slightly. I think she would have had a bit more canniness and cunning than to go so far as to , but she was clever. But the Eleanor of To Be Queen captures enough of Eleanor’s forcefulness and passion to be a credible version of the fascinating real woman, and this Eleanor certainly stamped her own unique interpretation into my memory.
7 out of 10. The novel is more than entertaining and well-written enough to warrant a rating well above average, and To Be Queen is a thoroughly decent read and an enjoyable book. -
Eleanor of Aquitaine reigns supreme as a woman who fails to be properly described by mere words, alone. Her fire, strength, intelligence, and personal ardor barely skim the surface of the mighty woman ranking with goddesses since the first moment she drew a breath at birth. Eleanor’s life is largely known as a Duchess of Aquitaine, wife to King Louis VII of France, wife to King Henry of England, and the mother of Richard the Lionheart. Christy English highlights the early life of Eleanor during her marriage to Louis in order to reveal the woman who subsequently became the Queen of England in, “To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine”.
“To Be Queen” opens with an immediate interjection into Eleanor’s childhood lacking the sort of build-up or introduction common to most historical-fiction novels. This strategy is a useful device, however, as Christy English figuratively ignores the ‘small talk’ and readers feel a familiarity and loyalty to Eleanor, instantaneously. On the other hand, readers new to the topic may seek a more thorough background.
Expanding on this, English undoubtedly has a way with words and successfully infuses “To Be Queen” with flowery, literary language that not only illustrates a vivid and colorful scene; but also draws readers in ways that one feels he/she is actually ‘living’ the story. “To Be Queen” has a clear element of authenticity and realness.
The early portions of “To Be Queen” can be deemed as somewhat thin. Although an attempt is made to show Eleanor’s exemplary strength; her character arc is underdeveloped and not much seems to happen on the pages. It would seem that English follows a character study model for the novel and yet this is absent in practice. This makes “To Be Queen” better as an introductory novel to Eleanor or as a quick read. English doesn’t dive deep enough into Eleanor’s feelings or politics and therefore “To Be Queen” is certainly not a heady piece.
Fortunately, this does not mean that “To Be Queen” is a pure ‘fluff’ piece. Although English does insert some romantic/sexual flair; this isn’t overly done and doesn’t illicit groans. “To Be Queen” also includes some historical liberties taken to drive the plot and build on Eleanor’s character. The flaw is that these fictional threads will only be recognized by those readers familiar with Eleanor’s life and English doesn’t include a note explaining the purely fictional and/or rumored aspects of the story.
English’s writing strengthens as “To Be Queen” progresses with a heightened enticement of the climax (which is the entrance of Henry later in the novel). The heartbeat of the story quickens and the plot encourages page-turning. English still shows some restraint that readers fervent on history would prefer to have knocked down; but “To Be Queen” is gripping enough, nevertheless.
The final chapters of “To Be Queen” are best described as ‘juicy’ with the most candor and edge. Eleanor’s fire is clearest while the storyline with the meeting of Henry is riveting, to say the least. Yet, it can still be said that ending is slightly rushed and cut-off in a way that would usually signal a follow-up novel. Despite these complaints, the conclusion is memorable and does not damper “To Be Queen” overall.
English includes an afterword (not detailed) concerning the real-life events of Eleanor after the story within the novel wraps up.
“To Be Queen” is a light (but not too fluffy) look at the early life of Eleanor and showcases the events that created the figure/woman that she was known to be. The novel isn’t mind-blowing but is still a pleasant read for those new to Eleanor of Aquitaine or even those well-versed on this remarkable lady. -
I cannot believe that I've overlooked Christy English's books so long. I absolutely loved her portrayal of the young Eleanor as Queen of France. There's so much made of her life in England as the mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John, that I felt this take on her earlier life very refreshing. English's Eleanor is clever and cunning, as she navigates the realm of both church and state, a role that not many of the women of her time were able to do.
English makes it very clear throughout the text that Eleanor was master of her own destiny. She loved and was loved in return. Yet, I found all the love scenes were tastefully written. Perhaps my favorite scene was the write up of Eleanor 's first meeting with Henry. It's easy to see why they became quite the pair!
I'm looking forward to my next read by this author! -
WOW!
Christy English brings Eleanor to life! Housework be damned when you pick up this book. She tells the story through the eyes, mind, and heart of Eleanor herself.
A story full of dreams and accomplishments, of love and hate, of murder and revenge. There was a time while reading that I felt shock, amazement, and love all at the same time. Thunderstruck is how I can describe it. I told Christy that I felt my emotions were full throttle. I was brought to tears as Eleanor faced this love that was forbidden then pulled herself from the depths at it's ending. Her marriage to Louis is a ride to be taken as Christy weaves her magic with them. His last words to her in the book left me in tears. I do believe in the beginning that there was love and as time went by, that love was lost on Eleanor's side. Henry......oohhhhh Henry! My favorite king in history. Christy portrays him as I've always imagined him from what history recalls. This man with great intelligence full of power and energy and life. He walks into Eleanor's life and in finding equals within each other, they turn each other upside down. I was left smiling at these two.
The most powerful statement for me in this book was, "One must cut out one's heart, to be free". There have been times in my own life that my soul has felt that and it resonated within me.
This is a book to be purchased and treasured.
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Is there anything sadder than marrying a man who loves another more than he loves you? In the case of Eleanor of Aquitaine, her new husband Louis – heir to the throne of 12th century France – is more in thrall to the Catholic Church than he is attracted to her.
Like other women in her situation, Eleanor tries to seduce Louis away from her rival, hoping that Louis will eventually realize that a clever, ambitious wife is more valuable to him than the Church. But in the end, she, like so many other women with a too-powerful rival, escapes her bad marriage. Fortunately Eleanor retains her dignity, and also hangs onto Aquitaine.
I loved TO BE QUEEN. My only wish is that we had seen more of Eleanor’s romance with Henry of Normandy. Could this fiery couple be the subject of Christy English’s next book? This reader fervently hopes so. Thanks, Christy, for a great read! -
الست دى بقي الملهمه لهدى شعرواى اول من اظهرت حريه المراه في اوربا عصور الظلام ومش كده وبس دى كانت ملكه فرنسا وملكه انجلتر وابنها مين ريتشارد قلب الاسد
اول وحده اخترعت محكمه الحب
ُيُزعم بأن محاكم الحبّ ، كانت تُعقد لمناقشة المسائل المتعلقة بالحب والعلاقات الرومانسية بين الرجال والنساء . وكان
من بين الموضوعات التي نوقشت وساد فيها الجدل ، حول الحب الرومانسي ، وهل يمكن أن ينشأ من خلال الزواج ؟ (تقرر أنه لا يمكن أن يكون) . وأيهما أسوأ: أن تفقد حبيباً بموته ، أم بخيانته ؟ (اعتُبرت الخيانة الزوجية أسوأ من موت الحبيب ، لأن الطرف الثالث لم يستحوذ على
المستقبل فحسب ، بل أيضاً على ذكريات الماضي التي جمعت الحبيبين ). في نفس الوقت ، كانت ماري أبنتها راعية لأحد أعظم أدباء القرون الوسطى (كريتيان دي تروا ) ، الذي شاعت رومانسيته الآرثرية في مفهوم الحبّ والتضحية .
في السابق ، كانت المرأة تُعد ملكية من أملاك الرجل الخاصّة ، وليست ذات القيمة . في القرن الثاني عشر الميلادي ، عَكَس
الشعر الرومانسي هذا النموذج السلبي تجاه المرأة من خلال تشجيع النهوض بالمرأة ، التي كان من المفترض أن تُحظى بالحماية اللازمة والاحترام الكبيرين من قبل رجل نبيل راقي ، وفارس شهم . إذ كان لهذه الأعمال الأدبية تأثير كبير على أرستقراطية أوروبا في القرون الوسطى
، كما كتب الباحث (نورمان كانتور) :
” بجعل منزلة المرأة عالية في المجتمع ، عزز الشعراء الرومانسيون كرامة المرأة وجعلوها كائناً ذات صفات مميزة وقيّمة.”
استمرت حياة النساء في القرون الوسطى المتأخرة على غرار هذا النمط ، مع بقاء الطبقات العليا والدنيا ثابتة إلى حد ما ،
مال بيزان الخاصة ، فإن والدها كان يشجعها في تطوير قابلياتها واهتماماتها الأدبية
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She is my ancestor. I'm looking forward to reading about her!
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It's to the credit of Christy English that the Eleanore of Aquitaine we meet in "To Be Queen" is--while absolutely compelling--not completely likeable. Here as in her first novel "The Queen's Pawn" English's great strength is her skill in using a spare and efficient prose style to bring to life the emotional world of these historical figures. In the case of Eleanore of Aquitaine, this world is that of a shameless egotist who can, to paraphrase Jane Austen's Mary Crawford, find nothing in twelfth century Europe so interesting as the presence of herself in it.
This makes for some delicious storytelling. Again and again, Eleanore's narration subordinates momentous historical occurrences to private events. A devastating military defeat dealt to her first husband Louis VII in the mountains of Anatolia while he is on crusade with Eleanore is incidental, compared to how she was spending her time that day a few miles away. Likewise, Eleanore's reasoning for personally participating in the crusade in the first place is presented--fascinatingly--as a gambit in her strategy with respect to her marriage to Louis and an effort to support her kinsman Raymond of Antioch. Larger commitments to God or Church do not really enter the picture. Of course, given Eleanore's attitude towards religion as it's presented here, this is hardly surprising. But it's nonetheless an amazing display of self-regard and cynicism. And it's the best example of how English both writes as her narrator and skillfully articulates that narrator's excesses.
And these excesses themselves are great, sometimes eye-rolling fun. Eleanore is not just a narcissist, she's sure-footed, subtle, and witty, the sort of narrator and character a reader can conceivably pass an unlimited number of pages with. But to a certain extent Eleanore's outsized personality and her omnipresence in the novel as both narrator and principle character creates a serious problem. Simply put, Eleanore's narration is from behind the wheel of the steamroller. And from her perspective, her choices are all quite acceptable and sound. So we never have the opportunity to truly savor just how transgressive those choices are to the people who witness them and who otherwise share the world with her. Of course, Eleanore shares "To Be Queen" with her husband, the long-suffering and somewhat pathetic King Louis. But Louis usually only knows what Eleanore chooses for him to know. And likewise, the scheming churchmen who provide "To Be Queen" with its villains only occasionally interact with Eleanore directly, and the courtiers whose disdain Eleanore continually shrugs off the reader seems never to encounter at all.
So "To Be Queen" is in sore need of a Greek chorus, a character or set of characters near enough to Eleanore to observe what she does, and close enough to the mores of the time that the novel has a way to register just how beyond the pale Eleanore is. Unfortunately Amaria, Eleanore's principle lady-in-waiting, is presented as strangely opaque and yet utterly committed to Eleanore's well-being. It's in this lack of a foil that makes "To Be Queen" less satisfying in some ways than English's previous effort, "The Queen's Pawn."
However, even apart from the zest and complexity of Eleanore's portrayal, there's much ambitious about "To Be Queen" that recommends it. Rather than confining her story to a single palace or a court, English moves the action from Aquitaine, to Paris, to sites along the march of the Third Crusade eastward, to Constantinople, to points between, to Antioch, to Sicily, and back to Paris. In each case, English provides a welcome sense of place. Her description of the Byzantine capital in all its glory is one of "To Be Queen"'s most riveting passages.
When all is said and done, "To Be Queen" manages to be both brisk and complex, to be compulsively readable and to portray its subject in a way that--by presenting these imperfections--humanizes her. Obviously Eleanore fascinates English, and that's a good thing, because I for one am eager for further installments of Eleanore's story as reimagined by English. -
I loved this book. The cover drew me in – especially the unusually silky textured paper – and sitting in my garden, I was transported to a bygone era, lost in a world of kings and queens and religion and politics and ambitions and dreams. While the book is full of romance, the focus on telling a tale grounded in history is the priority, and this leads to a compelling page-turner.
There is a wonderful sense of setting in the book – from the Aquitaine to the East – and the depiction of life for a twelfth-century duchess/queen felt realistic. I have always loved the power of historical fiction to show how life differed for our ancestors, but also which common themes echo across the centuries. In this book, I was delighted by the strong characters (particularly the females), their ambition and, most of all, the pull of their love over righteousness and politics.
Christy’s writing style is poetic and fitting for the era she depicts. She is careful to include vivid descriptions, allowing the reader to understand how this old world looked and felt. It is her romantic prose, though, that most draws me. My favourite phrase is this: ‘Once he met me, and saw his own soul in my eyes...’ What a beautiful way to capture the love at first sight between two characters.
For me, the greatest strength of the book lies in the characterisation. Eleanor is a heroine with whom you identify, and from early on in the book I found myself admiring her courage and her strength in such a male-dominated world. I think Christie finds the perfect balance between making Eleanor ruthless and treacherous when the need arises, but at heart a good, loving woman whom we respect and wish well. And her love interests – well! Attractive, intriguing, a wonderful mix from the alpha male to the devoted worshiper.
The ending of the book was perfect – freedom at last, and the hope of new love and a whole new level of power and accomplishment. I found the afterword of the book most fascinating, and I would have loved a sequel to the book in which Christy explored the rest of Eleanor’s story, particularly her marriage to Henry and her connection to English history.
Overall, this is a book I would recommend to anyone who loves romantic historical fiction. -
Eleanor of Aquitaine is a legend. Period.
The early years of her life, particularly her tenure as queen of France are often overlooked in favor of her time as England's queen and consort to the first Plantagenet monarch.
This isn't a bad book, or a bad telling of this early period of Eleanor's life, but it isn't the best version of this story. In a nutshell, it sells the time frame short. First of all, it's a very simplistic version of this piece of history. It being so simplistic cuts off a lot of the connectivity that a reader gets from the narrator, in this case Eleanor herself. Not only does the shortness of the book hurt the story, but English's portrayal of Eleanor herself. She writes Eleanor has being a clever, brave, confident woman. While she certainly was all of these things, there is a lack of emotion from Eleanor that hurts her character in this book and the portions of the story that do show her weaker, emotional side are few and far in between. This makes Eleanor appear only as half of the woman she was by omitting her humanity.
That said, as this is English's second novel and she's improved tenfold as a writer. She really seemed to settle into a proper narrative rhythm and was able to capture not only the feeling of the era and its atmosphere and without a doubt the history is clear cut and accurate. My biggest suggestion to her as a fan of her work and a fellow historian and Eleanor fangirl is to embrace length, fully transport the reader to the Medieval period that Eleanor lived, don't sell her character short either, make her both strong and weak, because she was indeed human. Another hundred pages of details, atmosphere, character development. With English's improvement, I do look forward to her third novel.
Above all, if you're curious about Eleanor, and don't know where to start, this is a great and fairly accurate novel that's perfect for a new reader. -
Once again, Christy English dons the mantle of one of history's most fascinating women for this enthralling biographical novel. That Ms. English knows her subject on a very intimate level is evident from the very start, and this same feeling of intimacy captivates the reader from the first page.
As the title clearly states, TO BE QUEEN chronicles the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, beginning at age ten while still under her father's tutelage, until her divorce from Louis VII, and her subsequent union with Henry II.
Told in a silky-smooth first person narrative, the author spins her tale of Eleanor's rise in a world of conquest, crusades, and ever shifting political sands; where land barons often rivaled kings, and the church looked to control it all.
A captivating tale of this strong and savvy woman's ambition, passion, and rise to power, will keep readers entralled and eagerly hungering for more.
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Everything a historical novel should be- exciting, educational and deeply affecting. Ms. English is clearly at the very top of historical fiction writers today, one who takes the time to research her subject, and translate the facts into a brilliant fictional tale that catches the reader from the firstpage and doesn't let go! To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine is a book that should appeal to both historical fiction fans and those who simply love GREAT storytelling!!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
Rick Friedman
Founder
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB -
I read this book about the young years of Eleanor Of Aguitaine in one day.
Smoothly written and well characterized, it showed me a better picture of Louis, The Pious than the other books I have read about her. I have four books about Eleanor and now I have five!
I wish this had been longer as after Eleanor's divorce from the King Of France, she went on to marry Henry Of Normandy who reclaimed his mother's land and was crowned King Of England but that is another story. Perhaps we will hear about that from Ms Christy later. I really enjoyed this book. -
I really enjoyed this story. It was the first EofA book I have ever read so that was a nice treat. The book flowed really well and read very quick because it kept my interest. I found myself forcing myself to read only my daily allotment to keep on track with my other books.
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Highly romanticized portrayal of the young Eleanor of Aquitaine, following her from youth through her marriage to King Louis VII of France, the eventual end of that marriage, and the beginning of her marriage to Henry II of England.
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Can you imagine my surprise when Christy English asked me If I would like to review her book? I was leaping up and down inside but had to rail myself in as I warned her she must expect a honest review...she expected nothing else. Now all I had to do is wait for the book to arrive!
Who would I meet? Would it be the lady depicted in "Becket" who was not beautiful in her brief appearance as a shrewish looking and acting woman surrounded by a passel of young children. Or it be the strong, Eleanor of "Lion in Winter" (but a younger version)?
As I read "To Be Queen", I saw Katherine Hepburn's Eleanor, the child and young woman of "Lion in Winter". She was smart quick child who adored her instructor father who taught her more than reading and writing. He taught her statesmanship, as she would one day be the ruler of his vast estates. She was taught critical thinking as well as controlling her facial expressions.
Her father's home was one of "courtly love" with troubadours who sang songs in tribute to a woman's attributes as well as did most men. The court was lively with music, dancing, and innocent flirtations (well, ok, some were not so innocent). What better muse could there be but the duke's daughter, Eleanor (think of the young Elizabeth Taylor's startling beauty).
As Eleanor was to be his inheritor, it was important to father and child that a great marriage be arranged. What greater prize for the largest land holder than Louis of France (future King Louis VII)! Their goal will be obtained, but at what price?
Louis, unlike his queen, was not raised to rule. He was raised by very devout catholic churchmen to be the most devoted of the devout. They are therefore his most trusted advisers necessitating Eleanor to practice all the lessons learned at her father's knee. Though he loves her, Louis's catholic guilt is most strong in the bedroom causing him to visit there infrequently.
If Aquitaine is brightness, freshness, joyous, and musical, Paris is its opposite! It is gloomy and smelly. Between the priests and the court, Eleanor must be on constant guard as they would all destroy her if they could. In many cases, it is more than dislike and disapproval, it is hate.
Yes, this was the Eleanor I wanted to meet! The woman of strength and passion who will leave her husband, the King of France, to marry the future King of England, Henry, a man who saw her as an equal in all things.
There is so much more to this story but I don't want to spoil it for you! It is well worth you time! -
In her follow-up to the highly enjoyable
The Queen's Pawn,
Christy English brings us back a few years to a young Alienor who is just coming into her own as the up-and-coming Duchess of Aquitaine. We have the great privilege to follow Eleanor from Aquitaine to France, to the Holy Land and finally (at the very end) on to England. This novel allows us to really get a sense of how she came to be the powerful woman we know and love – the one who constantly opposes King Henry in The Queen’s Pawn. I really found myself liking this young Eleanor much more than the hardened Eleanor of later life – she was just so passionate.
I was also allowed the chance to get to know characters that were less familiar to me. Eleanor’s sister, Petra, plays an important role in the running of Aquitaine after Eleanor becomes Queen of France – I didn’t even know she had a sister but I quickly became a fast fan. King Louis was a more complex character than I initially thought. The relationship between him and his wife was interesting to watch develop – it was also painful to watch fall apart. You also get to see what attracted Eleanor to a young Henry of Normandy – he was determined and powerful – how could you not be attracted to him?
One of the strengths of the author in this novel was the ease in which she evokes the senses – sight and smell particularly. It really builds and adds to the descriptions of the world around us. The trip to the Holy Land was nothing like I imagined whenever I would hear that Eleanor went on Crusade with Louis. This trip was less focused on the events transpiring while en route and more on the evolution of Eleanor as a person. Building upon this, Christy develops a total woman in Eleanor – she is not just the stereotyped woman, although you can see where these famous stereotypes come from. We get to see a woman with flaws, but a woman who learns from them and grows.
A wonderful novel – just slightly more enjoyable than The Queen’s Pawn, mostly because I liked this version of Eleanor better. I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
This book was received for review from the author - I was not compensated for my opinions and the above is my honest review. -
$3.99
While King Stephen and Matilda were fighting over control of England, Eleanor of Aquitaine was living a full life of her own. Before her father died, he made her duchess of Aquitaine and made sure that King Louis would be her protector in addition to marrying his son. When both of their fathers passed away, not only was Eleanor duchess of Aquitaine, she became queen of France with high hopes that she could build another empire to equal that of her ancestor, Charlemagne. Little did she know what life with Louis would be like since he had been raised to love the church more than anything, including more than her and more than France. Still she gave it her best shot, and during his 15 years of her marriage, she traveled and lived more than most people do in a lifetime. What she didn't know was all the adventure and drama was still yet to come but Henry, Duke of Normandy and count of Anjou was determined to have her as His queen at his side so they could build in rule the empire they both dreamed of.
There is definitely some fiction in this story as it is a book in the genre of historical fiction, and Eleanor takes some risks with one of her men and later her uncle. Because Louis was so "owned" by the church, is it possible that both of their fathers were poisoned? This author creates a very believable story that this could have happened. She also includes the story of Eleanor's sister, Petra, and the "foolish" decision she makes as a young child, and yet they really only seem to have each other because as queen, Eleanor can never be close to her children and she knows this. In order to be queen, a part of your heart must be cut out she believes.
Had Eleanor been born at a later date, she could have been queen (somewhere) on her own IMO, but during her day and age, threats were all around so she really had little choice but to marry, but at least one she did, she chose Kings. She is a fascinating woman and probably one of the wealthiest and most influential of her time, and while I have learned to appreciate her even more, I don't know that anyone will take the place of Elizabeth in my heart. It makes me wonder what these two women would have done together and/or against each other, and it is probably just as well that we will never know.
This is the perfect book to read before When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman, or directly after it. Unfortunately I could not read them at the same time. -
I simply adore Queen Alienor/Eleanor. She is one my favorite historical figures. Poor girl is born in the wrong era. Luckily, her father believed she should learn to read, write, ride horses, hunt, and even have a hand in politics. He knew she would need it when he died since he left her as his heir to Aquitaine. He also planned on her becoming Queen of France as well.
I am glad we got to see her father more. Normally books end up killing him at the beginning, but not here. It was nice to see Alienor as a child and seeing her grow up into the legend she would become. I also loved that the author made her seem human with human weakness. Many authors idolize her and make her superwoman. She was a wonderful woman, but had many weaknesses like the rest of us and she accepted her weaknesses and I loved it. Main weakness...greed. She wanted so much, which I don't blame her. Aim high, but alas, there are SO many signs to run away screaming from Louis. GAH! He's a nice guy, sure, but he is a puppet of the church. It was not worth it and it took years of marriage for her to realize this and move on with her life.
There was a chunk in the middle that bored me too tears. Nothing was happening and it just went on and on for about 30 pages. UGHHHH. Finally something happened and the flow went back to normal. Gah. But that was a long 30 pages. It was defiantly the calm before the storm, but alas, boring.
I did like how she ended it. It was a nice hopeful ending even though we all know how the marriage to Henry goes...not good. But yes, hopeful and makes me want to read more. It's been a while since I've read a book on Alienor, so I want to continue and finish her story. She is an interesting woman especially for the time period.
In the end, this was certainly a good take on the famous Alienor's life. There was a dry spot in the middle, but it ending after about 30 pages, so I am content. I was worried for a while, but I knew that it couldn't last forever. I loved the fact that we got to see Alienor as a child and learn more about her father. I still want to read a book about her father and mother and their early life. I must search for that! Let me know if that exists. ;) The ending was also good and I want more. I totally recommend this to those that like history. In the end, I shall stamp this with 4 stars. -
The Middle ages did not interest me in history lessons at school, and I have neglected this period in my historical fiction reading.
I accepted a copy of this novel, from the author, as I had heard good things about her writing. Christy English has grabbed my attention with the fascinating story of Eleanor of Aquitaine's early life and first marriage. I want to know more about this little known Queen and this period in history.
Eleanor, at her father's side, had to grow up very quickly after her mother died, when she was only 8 years old. Her father prepared her to become a Queen, showing her how to command the trust and loyalty of his people, something that was not easy for a young woman.
He made arrangements for her to marry King Louis VII, making sure that her wealth and land would stay with her and pass only to her sons. The marriage was built on politics and power rather than love and, although Eleanor pledged to be loyal to her husband, for the sake of her father, King Louis was under the influence of the Church.
Eleanor served her husband, as her father wished, for many years but their marriage would not produce a male heir. King Louis joined The Crusades and Eleanor followed him as his dutiful Queen, but in that time she would seek love elsewhere. She would never be accepted by King Louis's people or the church.
I was mesmerized by my first encounter with this amazing historical figure, following her story from from a young girl at her father's side through to the annulment of her first marriage. She was an amazing woman driven by the need to be as strong and powerful as any man in the kingdom and the need to be adored by every man she came across.
I admired her strength and determination to match any man, but I am not sure about her morals.
The author leaves the ending of this novel as Eleanor begins a new chapter in her life and I do wonder if the author will return with a sequel.
4.5 out of 5 for me! I really enjoyed it! -
This novel about Eleanor ofAquitaine by Christy English tells the story of Eleanor during her time as Queen of France with Louis VII. At 15, after her father dies Eleanor becomes Duchess of Aquitaine and Countess of Poitiers and within months becomes the queen consort of Louis VII, King of France. Eleanor soon finds that being Queen of France is not what she expected. Parisians do not like her and her husband loves her but does not often share a bed with Eleanor and he prefers the church. Eleanor goes with her husband on the Second Crusade, which was not successful. After having two daughters by Louis, Eleanor wants to have her marriage annuled. The church would not allow it and the pope blessed their marriage in hopes that a son would be born for the throne. This does not happen and eventually the marriage between Louis and Eleanor is annulled. Eleanor meets the love of her life, Henry II, Duke of the Normans, and they marry after her marriage is annulled. Eleanor is the only woman to have been queen of both France and England. In this novel, Christy English has brought this era to light as not a lot novels have been written about her early years. As queen to Louis, I do not think that Eleanor was at her full potential, as we know that in later years she was a very powerful woman. I enjoyed this accounting of Eleanor of Aquitaine and hope to read more by this author. Like history?? Then this a book for your collection..
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So many books have been written of the famous woman who was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, Queen of France and Queen of England. I had been sceptical, because this had already been done by Pamela Kaufman years ago with The Book of Eleanor, which I found to be magnificent. I preface this all by stating I am a fan of this as a romance novel, not as historical fiction. There are many books on Eleanor of Aquitaine that are excellent for reference; this is not to be confused with them. I found this to be a fresh departure from the usual portrayals, as Eleanor is one of my favorite characters from history. English surpised me by rendering what I also envision Eleanor to be, brilliantly clever yet sensual and strong. This is a woman who knows herself and is sure of her destiny. English has a gift for capturing the earthiness of Aquitaine and in exotic locales during the Crusade to Jerusalem. She demonstrates her understanding of the culture of southern France in the eleventh century and of courtly love, troubadours and the customs of those who speak langue d'oc.. Despite a somewhat horrifying storyline of an incestuous (and untrue) relationship between Eleanor and her uncle, Raymond of Antioch, I found this to be a delicious aberation to Eleanor's life, not something that should be considered factual.
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Yeah, I've been giving a lot of 5 stars, but that's not because I'm trying to help out my author colleagues; it's because the writing has been so darn good! "To be Queen" is no exception, and frankly, I've added Christy English to my pantheon of historical fiction authors. I think this is one of the best portrayals of Eleanor of Aquitaine in fiction. English's Alienor/Eleanor was three-dimensional and I loved and hated her at times, some "woman what are you thinking" moments and "Yes! That's would I would have done!" moments. The first-person narrative is neither stilted or egotistical for this Eleanor. She reminds herself and us that she was born and raised to be a different kind of woman in the twelfth century, raised by a liberal, free-thinking-for-the-time parent who acknowledges her as his heir and the greatest heiress of the time. Her life is not easy despite the advantages she is born to, and she takes risks, especially with her heart and body. English doesn't side-step certain issues and plows right into them. Her portrayal of Louis is of a scared, sheltered, young man who should never have been king, and as a result, the church seizes power in his kingdom and we are shown a king who is led by puppet masters. English has a wonderful career ahead of her and I can't wait for more of her work.
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When Eleanor of Aquitaine was young, she was raised to be her father’s heir to be Duchess of Aquitaine. Soon after her father’s death, Eleanor is wed to Dauphin Louis of France and the young pair has mutual affection for each other from the start. Louis was meant for the church but his elder brother’s death changed everything. He remained very pious his whole life, preferring church to his wife.
Eleanor tries to be a good wife but she soon learns that she may not compete with the church her husband is so devoted to. When her marriage starts to deterioate, she starts to think about divorce.
And when she meets Henry Plantagenet, Eleanor sees a new start for herself.
I liked that the book focused on Eleanor’s early life because it’s less often written about. Eleanor’s marriage to Louis is usually overshadowed by her marriage to Henry II of England and I was intrigued to read about them and I wish there was more books about them.
Eleanor was determined, fierce, no-nonsense person but there were just times I wanted to shake her and yell “Why did you do that?!”. And of course all the rumours of affairs had to be included. It would have been interesting to hear Louis side of the story too.
Book was ok; it was fairly quick and easy to read. -
Full disclosure: I won this book through FirstReads.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of history's most interesting female figures to me. And reading fiction about historical figures is still fun, though you know it's fiction. This novel is fairly well written, but it does an even better job of presenting Eleanor as a young but quite mature and captivating character. Her strategic mind, clear-eyed view of the Catholic church--which essentially takes the role of villain here--and her self reliance keep her engaging from beginning to end. I love the descriptions of the far East as she and first husband Louis of France travel to the Holy Land on Crusade. There are love scenes, but they never seem too much or misplaced. And she finally meets Henry of Normandy near the end, which leaves you wanting the follow Eleanor as they go through their famous lives. Dare we hope that English continues ths story? I would read it for sure. I wish GoodReads allowed half stars because this gets 4 and a half stars from me. -
Once again, Christy English dons the mantle of one of history's most fascinating women for this enthralling biographical novel. That Ms. English knows her subject on a very intimate level is evident from the very start, and this same feeling of intimacy captivates the reader from the first page.
As the title clearly states, TO BE QUEEN chronicles the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, beginning at age ten while still under her father's tutelage, until her divorce from Louis VII, and her subsequent union with Henry II.
Told in a silky-smooth first person narrative, the author spins her tale of Eleanor's rise in a world of conquest, crusades, and ever shifting political sands; where land barons often rivaled kings, and the church looked to control it all.
A captivating tale of this strong and savvy woman's ambition, passion, and rise to power, will keep readers entralled and eagerly hungering for more.
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I really enjoyed this story!! I love things all "medieval", and this was a great read for me! I've never read anything about Alienor/Eleanor of Aquitaine, but by reading this book, I've become intrigued by her story & have begun searching online to find out more about her. She was a strong & determined woman, especially given the time she lived in, and I was amazed to learn that she was able to keep all of her lands both through her marriage & after her divorce. As much as I LOVE historical fiction, I had no idea what her connection to the English throne was. It was very interesting to learn that one of her son's was Richard the Lionheart! I enjoyed this so much that I can see myself reading it again!! My rating would be 4.5 stars!!
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I finished this book several days ago but I've been traveling though Colorado and Texas so please forgive :)
I really loved this book and felt that it was a fresh take on Eleanore. She was passionate and most books portray her in this light, yet Christy English made it easy for me to relate and really feel for Eleanor the woman, and not the larger than life character that she was. She was strong, yet feminine. The type that was not afraid to show this or use it to her abilities.
Mrs. English has a beautiful play on words and more than capable of drawing me in. I will be reading the next book and hope that there are more to come. With this book, I acutally wished that it had been longer, it was that good for me.
Great Reading Experience! -
I finished this book several days ago but I've been traveling though Colorado and Texas so please forgive :)
I really loved this book and felt that it was a fresh take on Eleanore. She was passionate and most books portray her in this light, yet Christy English made it easy for me to relate and really feel for Eleanor the woman, and not the larger than life character that she was. She was strong, yet feminine. The type that was not afraid to show this or use it to her abilities.
Mrs. English has a beautiful play on words and more than capable of drawing me in. I will be reading the next book and hope that there are more to come. With this book, I acutally wished that it had been longer, it was that good for me.
Great Reading Experience!
