Rating: 
Summary: One of my all time favorites!!
Review: A wonderfully written story, lovable characters and does anybody write steamier sex scenes than Ms.Henley? I doubt it. What a wonderful storyteller!! Ms.Henley is certainly a "jewel" to the romance industry!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After reading 'Falcon and Flower' and 'Pirate and Pagan', I was quite disappointed in 'Dragon and Jewel'. The beginning did not captivate me as others. I was disappointed in the spoiled and coveted Eleanor being a manipulative child - coveting a man old enough to be her father (usually it is the other way around). In actuality, Simon was too good for Eleanor! I usually construct a more literal review of the romance novels that I've read, however, this one doesn't deserve enough of my time to pen a more flattering review.
Rating:
Summary: Upgraded my assessment
Review: After writing a research paper on the Platagenet's of this reign, I decided to re-read 'Dragon and Jewel'. Again, I cared little for Eleanor's spoiled, petulant behavior, but if her mother was the previous child bride from Spain, then I can understand the characteristics Eleanor portrayed. But I respected Simon de Montfort more after re-reading a second time, however was quite disappointed to learn during my research that Simon was lead an oppositional nationalist uprising against King Henry, resulting in a civil war in which Henry was defeated and Simon de Montfort became a dictator, and called a Parliament that included not only knights of the shires, but burgesses from towns representing the commoners. This was the first time the commoners were represented! However, King Henry revailed and Simon de Montfort was later killed at a battle lead by his nephew, the king's son Prince Edward. I would have liked to know how Eleanor spent her days as a widow of Simon's. Was she imprisoned? (Not uncommon for relatives to be imprisoned and later murdered). Was she banished to Spain to spend her remaining days with relatives there, or was she, since she was a wealthy heiress, married to a powerful war lord or knight loyal to the king to ensure power, funding, and strength, or were Simon's heirs stripped of all belongings, titles, property, etc. and left at the mercy of any knight willing to marry a beautiful but penniless woman. If Ms.Henley answered these questions at the end of the book, I am unaware of such due to the fact that the book was a library paperback copy and rumpled with back pages missing. I feel that Simon's love for the ridiculous Eleanor was in vain! But we all must meet our maker, and leading a revolt against a king is a sure way to meet your maker!
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: I have read this book numerous times and it is still one of my favorite. The story of Simon and Eleanor is one of the greatest love stories of all time. The only fault I have is with the third book in the series. If u love this book as much as I do DON'T read the third book u will cry. I know history tells of the demise of Simon but if u are a romance buff like me don't read the Marriage Prize. Instead read this book and laugh, cry and love and remember this character was for real.
Rating:
Summary: Romance? Yes. History? Please...
Review: I liked the book well enough (even though I agree with a previous critic that Henley gives us all the reasons for feminism), but the reviews here that hailed the book as a store of historical facts raised my eyebrows. I happen to know a few things of the period, and glaring mistakes just jumped out of the text at me.Those who consider the book educational might like to ponder this: 1) One has to be both very cynical and uninformed to refer to Simon de Montfort the Elder's exploits in the south of France as "brutal but effective." The man was guilty of some of the worst war crimes in medieval history, for starters, but efficient he was not. He left the place in a state of a vicious civil war, which he was effectively losing by the time he died. However, his death was a momentous event for France and England, which had its own interests in the region -- so I find it laughable that the two royal princes would need 13 years and Simon the Younger to tell them the news. 2) Language is another thing. First, Eleanor was sure to know French -- it was the language the court spoke exclusively -- but it is highly doubtful that she, and Simon, spoke any English. English did not become the court language until Edward III, a good century after. The cursing contest was nice... except that the curses should have been the other way around. Unlike us, medieval people were far more offended by any curse implying God than any physical profanity. So the little aristo girl was in fact much more coarse in her swearing than the "saucy wench". There are lots of small lapses, factual-wise, but the first of the ones I listed really stung me, while the second was very indicative of Henley's general failing -- the tend to over-modernize the reactions and behavior of her characters. So if you think of nothing but romance, this is good; if you want history, I suggest -- no, not a grain, a full pound of salt.
Rating:
Summary: .Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down.
Review: I love medieval historical type novels and this story by Virginia Henley was written beautifully. Simon de Montfort and Eleanor were each very passionate with their own ideas about justice and commitment. Eleanor does find her soulmate in Simon and he in her. I wish the rest of their story could have been as wonderful. Despite that fact, I am looking forward to reading the sequel to their story.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I love Virginia Henely and I have never read one of her books that has disapointed me. The Dragon and the Jewel was no exception! This story was wonderful and the best thing about it is that Simon and Eleanor were actually a couple in 13th century England. That made the book all the more apealing to me. This is definalty without a doubt the best love story ever!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I loved it! Ms. Henley can't go wrong! Reading about Simon & Eleanor threw me back into history! I would love to have been around to have seen such a magnificent man such as Simon.
Rating:
Summary: Virginia Henley Rules!
Review: I loved this book. Ms. Henley is definately one of my favorite authors if not my very favorite. Her men are the ULTIMATE and Simon De Montfort is no exception! The only thing I think would have made this book better would have been if eleanor had deeper feelings for Rickard De Burgh. Ms. Henley if you are out there, a novel about him would be absolutely delicious!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Best from the Best Historical Romance Writer!
Review: I loved this story and can't wait for the sequel, even thoughwe know that a grisly death await Simon de Montford. Eleanor's spoiledbehavior didn't bother me since it seems to be a Plantagenet genetictrait. I was most interested in the first half, which outlined the history of the Marshal family and has me wondering if I am really a descendant of Gilbert de Clare! Perhaps Virginia can clear this up, since I am directly related through Isabel Marshal (lover to Richard, Duke of Cornwall) to William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke, as well as laterally through the Marshal surname. I always wondered how the five sons of the Earl (William, Richard, Gilbert, Walter and Anselm) could pass through this world without issue. Surely, Peter de Roches didn't poison them all! The three reference books I have don't explain the facts of their demise. My Marshall family arrived in Maryland in 1635 from Devon, England and built Marshall Hall on the Potomac in 1730, across from Mount Vernon.
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