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Summary: Grandmother of Medieval Europe
Review: The author Weir does an admirable job fleshing out the few established facts known about Eleanor of Aqutaine. A great heiress in her own right, she first married King Louis VII of France, later divorcing him to marry the much younger King Henry II of England. Bearing nine children, she sided with her adult sons against her husband Henry and the most interesting part of the book concerns the incessant plottings of her sons against their father. What is most remarkable is that very little contemporary evidence exist regarding Eleanor but the author takes what is available and weaves it into an interesting story. The writing is clear and concise with much information given on all the major historical characters of the time. In addition, the author does a fine job of debunking most of the myths regarding Eleanor (her conduct on the Crusades, her involvement in the death of Rosamund, lover of Henry II)and instead concentrates on explaining the political and clerical revolts of the time.
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Summary: Alison Weir Strikes Again
Review: Eleanor of Aquitaine is another fine book to add to the many historical books Alison Weir has already produced. This reaches the same high benchmark set by the previous books in terms of the width and breadth covered by the topic and the immense readability of its style. The limited sources create more of a problem than when Weir covered the Tudors or the Wars of the Roses in her previous (marvelous) books but she still manages to pull all the pieces together and present a portrait of a woman who grew into her power and prestige over the years. This book is neither hagiography or bitchography (not a word, per se, but descriptive enough of many writers take on Eleanor over the years). Alison Weir's Eleanor was a woman who lived in and was of her political times. To state that she was wife to two kings and mother to two others is to say a lot but that is only scratching the surface of this marvelous woman who was a power in her own right with her own land. A good book on an amazing woman that also captures the times and personalities occuring throughout her story. Context is everything in biography and Alison Weir successfully achieves that.
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Summary: Enigmatic Eleanor - Dive in
Review: Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most famous English queens. Eleanor reigned her domains at a time when women had no power, no prestige and her achievements are therefore all the more remarkable. Such a snakepit she had to operate within. Eleanor reigned, however, during a time when England was never more Continental. Her story is a fascinating introduction to this period of English and medieval history. It is a shame, however, that there is not more information extant about this significant woman. Her children were no less than Richard the Lionheart and King John; her husband, Henry II, the king who created the common law and the king who also ordered the murder of Thomas Becket. Eleanor would be top on the list of any fantasy dinner party. An interesting and enigmatic woman, Alison Weir's book is a welcome addition to the genre of historical biography.
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Summary: A Great Overview of Medieval Europe
Review: Alison Weir has the ability to bring the Angevin Empire of the Plantagenets alive to those readers who have no foundation in Medieval European history! That is truly a remarkable feat when you think about it. History should be approachable. Even though I am fortunate enough to have a BA in History, I am grateful to writers like Weir who use a style that is so enjoyable. I hope that folks who think history dry and boring happen upon Weirs treatments somewhere along the line. They'll be pleasantly surprised!
Rating: 
Summary: A decent book for an over-rated subject
Review: Personally, I always thought that Eleanor was over-rated by historians. She dominated life while married to the weaker Louis, and was just as dominated herself by the charismatic and brilliant Henry. This is the reason for the huge gaps in the historical record. As for the book, Weir makes the same mistakes she made with her others books: she has a theory then finds facts to support it. Her assumptions in this book are more sound than the ones made in her Richard III book, however. Personally I believe Eleanor, or Elizabeth I for that matter, did not have affairs as there was way too much at stake politically. The question of Richard I's orientation is so open to debate that I question whether it even merits mention in a history text. These are only some of the exceptions I take and mention them because they have been brought up by others. Like all of her books, it is highly readable. I do not question her skill as a writer, merely her methodology as an historian.
Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating book on a fascinating individual
Review: Once again, Weir does not disappoint. She fully admits that the historical sources she draws on for her Tudor research are lacking on Eleanor. However, her historical background has helped her draw interesting conclusions about Eleanor's life. She also provides an in-depth look at the complexities of Henry II & his sons--particularly the violence that arose between them. I've always loved "The Lion in Winter," so I'm always looking for books about the complex subject that is Eleanor. This one is excellent. Weir manages to flesh out all of the major characters of the time--Louis of France, Philip his son, Richard, Geoffrey, John, etc. She also manages to evoke the smells & sights of a very violent period. Eleanor emerges as a truly remarkable woman--& Henry as an equally remarkable, & unfairly underappreciated, sympathetic king. The Angevin empire the two managed to create, & Henry's skill in holding together a fractious England recently emerged from civil war, emerges as a truly remarkable achievement.
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Summary: Not Quite As Good
Review: This book is exhaustively researched, but lacks the style and emotional impact of Weir's earlier works. Perhaps this is due to the dearth of reliable information on Eleanor of Aquitaine. Certainly, she was no less interesting than Elizabeth I!
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Summary: Very Readable Biography
Review: This is an excellent biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine. All the others that I have tried to read are bogged down in footnotes and geneologies, but Ms. Weir turns her into a person, something more biographers should try for. I would recommend this book to anyone.
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Summary: Well written but a little light on Eleanor
Review: This was a very well written book about the early Angevin family, with Eleanor of Aquitaine as perhaps the common thread uniting Henry II, Richard and John. To call it a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine is inaccurate: she is absent (or only speculated about) for large portions of the book. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in European history.
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Summary: Not her best work
Review: I too, have collected all of Weir's work, and was really looking forward to this book. It's not Weir's best. Despite Weir's good research techniques, she can't really draw a good portrait of the Queen, with the information presented. Weir has always made some big assumptions in her books, and this one is no different. There is just less substance to the arguments, because as Weir admits so many times, no one knows much about the Queen. Certainly buy the book if you enjoy Weir. But remember that this introductory biography is not of the same quality as that of Elizabeth I.
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