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Eleanor of Aquitaine Ralph V. Turner

Eleanor of Aquitaine By Ralph V. Turner

Eleanor of Aquitaine by Ralph V. Turner


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Summary

Proud daughter of a distinguished French dynasty, Eleanor of Aquitaine married the king of France, Louis VII, then the king of England, Henry II, and gave birth to two sons who rose to take the English throne - Richard the Lionheart and John. This title offers an account of the most important queen of the Middle Ages.

Eleanor of Aquitaine Summary

Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England by Ralph V. Turner

Untangling the myths and legends of many centuries, this biography gives us the real Eleanor-tenacious, defiant, and powerful

Eleanor of Aquitaine's extraordinary life seems more likely to be found in the pages of fiction. Proud daughter of a distinguished French dynasty, she married the king of France, Louis VII, then the king of England, Henry II, and gave birth to two sons who rose to take the English throne-Richard the Lionheart and John. Renowned for her beauty, hungry for power, headstrong, and unconventional, Eleanor traveled on crusades, acted as regent for Henry II and later for Richard, incited rebellion, endured a fifteen-year imprisonment, and as an elderly widow still wielded political power with energy and enthusiasm.

This gripping biography is the definitive account of the most important queen of the Middle Ages. Ralph Turner, a leading historian of the twelfth century, strips away the myths that have accumulated around Eleanor-the black legend of her sexual appetite, for example-and challenges the accounts that relegate her to the shadows of the kings she married and bore. Turner focuses on a wealth of primary sources, including a collection of Eleanor's own documents not previously accessible to scholars, and portrays a woman who sought control of her own destiny in the face of forceful resistance. A queen of unparalleled appeal, Eleanor of Aquitaine retains her power to fascinate even 800 years after her death.

Eleanor of Aquitaine Reviews

'Eleanor's remarkable career is done full justice in this life, which is readable, lively, and convincing. It provides insights into many aspects of the twelfth century as well as a radically new assessment of the queen herself. Many myths are exploded, and a thoroughly realistic picture of a politically ambitious and independent-minded woman emerges.' (Michael Prestwich, University of Durham)

About Ralph V. Turner

Ralph V. Turner is emeritus professor of history, Florida State University. He is the author of King John and The Reign of Richard Lionheart, among many other publications on European medieval history. He lives in Tallahassee.

Additional information

GOR013370252
9780300178203
0300178204
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England by Ralph V. Turner
Used - Well Read
Paperback
Yale University Press
20111014
416
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book. We do our best to provide good quality books for you to read, but there is no escaping the fact that it has been owned and read by someone else previously. Therefore it will show signs of wear and may be an ex library book

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