Rating: 
Summary: Accurate, readable biography of legendary Queen
Review: Ever since I saw Katherine Hepburn play Eleanor of Aquitaine in the film Lion in Winter, I have read everything available on this fascinating 12th century woman - and this book was, by far, the most readable, and probably the most accurate. Though Allison Weir avoids over romanticizing the story by passing along legends as facts (that Eleanor murdered her husband's mistress or the many tales surrounding her Court of Love), she still weaves a fascinating tale. Because Weir is such a stickler for researched facts, there are long sections where she admits that very little is known about what exactly Eleanor was doing at the time (most notably during the murder of Thomas Becket), but I still never lost interest - and she provides enough balanced background on the many characters that you develop a true understanding for their complicated motives. After reading Weir's other books (especially the definitive "Six Wives of Henry VIII"), I was positive that this would be another enjoyable history lesson - and Ms. Weir, as usual, did not disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: A truly extraordinary book
Review: She was the wife of two kings (Louis VII of France and Henry II of England) and a fascinating and controversial woman in her own right. Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, was one of the most important and influential personalities of the Middle Ages and she truly comes alive in Alison Weir's masterful biography. After a short introduction on the history and culture of Southern France, Ms. Weir describes Eleanor's life in wonderful detail, examining contemporary sources, modern historical investigations, myth and reality. Everything you ever heard about Eleanor is here: her marriage to King Louis, her journey to Constantinople and Jerusalem during the Second Crusade, her marriage to King Henry, her emotional and political relations with her sons (two of them were also kings of England: Richard the Lionheart and King John), her role as Queen Regent, the legendary Courts of Love, and her imprisonment and eventual release are all told in Alison Weir's wonderful style. The author also includes a lot of information about other fascinating personalities of the time, such as Bernard of Clairvaux, Thomas Becket and William the Marshall, and she always manages to evoke the feeling of the period. This is a very well researched and brilliantly written biography that reads like a historical novel.
Rating:
Summary: Another great one by Weir.....
Review: Well, I think I read enough praises of this book from reading all the past reviews written prior to this one. I supposed another one probably won't hurt. And I am sure that some other person will come along after me to say the same thing.So having got that off my chest, I would say without a doubt that this book is probably the most readable biography on Eleanor of Aquitaine you will probably ever read. Its not only the most readable but its probably one of the best (although I enjoyed Amy Kelly's book just as much). The book was well written and with honesty, without much bias although it was pretty clear that Weir admired her subject. I liked that Weir tries to cut through many of the mediveal bias against Eleanor, especially on the Rosamund la Clifford affair. Only real complaint I would have is that its need more maps - for the casual readers whose knowledge of mediveal European geography may be lacking. But no one can go wrong reading this book and enjoying it at the same time.
Rating: 
Summary: Impeccable scholarship
Review: Weir's breadth of scholarship is astounding but for the reader interested in details about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Weir makes it quite clear that s/he is sure to be sorely disappointed. Although ostensibly a biography of Eleanor there is little about her in the book due to a decided absence of information regarding her life in contemporary sources. I was disappointed in this lack of detail but, not knowing much about 12th-13th century England and France, found myself reading on just to learn about the era. Weir writes with a real objectivity that I appreciated. I recommend this book to the reader interested in the general history of the Plantagenets and the period in which they lived.
Rating:
Summary: Mmm...Meddling
Review: As with all of Weir's work, with one figure's biography you learn about everyone and everything they encounter. She explores the life of Eleanor, of Europe, her husbands, their culture and history, and then proceeds to the reigns of her sons. I find that spectacular in her biographies, the introduction to these people not as just an historic figure, but as a multi dimensional personality, taking not only their actions into perspective, but also the accounts of those around them. How Eleanor affected the world around her is astounding in a time so riddled with masogynistic ideals. I have become a plethera of knowledge due to my fanatic attraction to the Alison Weir biography, and this is a prime example why.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good Read
Review: This book on Eleanor of Aquitaine is a very good biography of the wife of two kings, and mother of two more (unless you count the Young King). It is very accuture and makes the people come to life again. Very good read-though not for first-timers of Eleanor, because you could feel very confused because Weir combians legands in this book and explains their untruth and why they are untrue.
Rating:
Summary: One Incredible Lady! One Fascinating Book!
Review: This is the book that inspired my first and only (so far!) trip to France. Alison Weir has captured the essence of who Eleanor was and has brought her to life in such a way that I had to stand where Eleanor stood! Have read several other books on Eleanor, but this one is the absolute best. I teach 7th grade World History and Reading/Literature. A book entitled, "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver" introduced me to Eleanor, but Alison Weir made her my most favorite historical figure. This is an adult level book, but several of my better 7th grade readers have enjoyed it, too. It is filled with incredible details of medieval life, setting the stage with background glimpses that complete the picture for anyone new to the 1100's. For the past 2 Christmases, I've had "Any book by Alison Weir" at the top of my list!
Rating:
Summary: Eleanor the Enigma
Review: Alison Weir is meticulous in her research and insistent on contemporary collaboration of fact. Given these strictures, our picture of Eleanor is cloudy indeed. In the 12th century, women were rarely mentioned, let alone chronicled no matter how lofty their status. We know Eleanor was the greatest female landholder of her time (and almost any other time as well), married Louis VII of France, went to Jerusalem on the Second Crusade, divorced (had the marriage annulled) Louis and married Henry, Duke of Anjou, subsequently Henry II of England, the first Plantagenet king. She had two daughters by Louis VII and nine children by Henry. Three of her sons were kings of England: Henry (who co-reigned with his father), Richard I (Lionhearted) and John who was forced to sign the Magna Carta. She lived to the extraordinary age of 82. Everything else is conjecture. Ms. Weir's book is by necessity more about the times, Henry II, Louis VII, Richard I and John than it is about Eleanor. There are many years of her life completely undocumented. There is no portrait, only a sculpture and an effigy, neither meant to be likeness. The shadowy picture we see is of a lively and adventurous woman. Alas, the story of her charging at the head of battle, bare breasted like an Amazon is only a myth. Yet she did go on the Crusade, almost an unheard of for a woman in her time. It appears she became restless in her marriage to the very pious Louis VII, and it was she who forwarded the annulment. Chronicles state Louis loved her "beyond all reason." It was rumored she dallied with Geoffrey of Anjou, Henry's father, before she married Henry. Geoffrey was noted for his blinding handsomeness and "lustful ways." Her marriage to Henry, though fruitful, was probably a political affair. She had tremendous influence over her three sons, particularly Richard I, who was her favorite; yet she left her two daughters by Louis, never saw them again and made no apparent effort to do so. The lovely tale of Rosamund, living in a tower in the midst of a maze only to be reached by a golden thread and cruelly poisoned by the jealous Eleanor never happened. Henry had many mistresses, including his son's betrothed; none seemed to distress Eleanor unduly. Those of us who have seen "Lion in the Winter" with Katherine Hepburn playing Eleanor will be doubly fascinated by this biography. Ms. Weir discounts Richard being a homosexual (the only "proof" being that once he shared a bed with Philip of France. This was common practice at the time as beds were in short supply.) Far from being oafish, John was thought to be very fastidious, it is recounted he actually took eight baths in six months time! My overall impression was of the barbarity of the times. Henry was thought to be cultured and scholarly. Yet he would fly into rages, roll around on the floor and chew out hunks of straw out of his mattress. When Eleanor was between marriages, other men didn't exactly woo her; they tried to abduct her on the highways. Henry's sons were like a pack of jackals trying to wrest the crown from their father and each other. There was not a scrap of filial loyalty or love among them. This is an interesting, well-researched book of the mid-12th century. I'm sure Ms. Weir got as much factual material on Eleanor as is extant at this time. She does complain a little overmuch about the paucity of material. I think this period of history is a little removed from her usual field.
-sweetmolly-Amazon.com Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Fantastic, engaging, clear, in-depth historical portrait of a fascinating figure. Well worth the time and money for anyone interested in classic political intrigue, medieval life, women in historical contexts, or Eleanor specifically. She was one of the greatest historical forces (male or female) in the medieval world whose influences are still felt today. This book makes you wonder what could have been were more women allowed political rule throughout time. Written wonderfully like all Weir's work, this book paints a vivid world by an historian whose greatness lies in tying both accessiblity and research together seamlessly.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging Non-Fiction
Review: Alison Weir has a way of writing non-fiction that keeps you on the edge of your seat with the best of fiction. She is able to guide you through what is often confusing twists in history without leaving you confused and bored. Elinor is the most facinating of all the characters of this wonderful time. She was a woman ahead of her time and Alison Weir shows her strengths with her weaknesses in equal measure. I would recommend this book to anyone.
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