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Summary: AWESOME WAY TO LEARN ABOUT HISTORY!
Review: I think that this is a good way to learn about history! I belive that when I read it from this book, I think that I was more interested on reading it that way. Actually, I loved it so much, I did a book report on it. I liked seeing how Eleanor's life was like by reading it from different point of views. This is one way you'll get me to read about history and really understand it.
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Summary: A real mixed batch
Review: I thought that this book was interesting, but it is not really a story. It is better than the history books but still not as good as it could of been. Certain parts were a bit lenghty. But I still thought that it is hard to beleive that this is a real person you are reading about. I enjoyed this book more than I would have expected form a historical book. Beware, certain parts are rather boring.
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Summary: An Excellent Book
Review: I thought this was an excellent book. It was impeccably researched, and the writer made the time period come alive. I also thought the writing style was wonderful. If you don't already have this book, buy it!
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Summary: I also remember this book from my childhood...
Review: I, too, remember this book vividly. I went on to study the medieval/Renaissance period at a major university, and I don't doubt that -this- book sparked my interest. As a portrait of a powerful woman, as a work of imaginative biography, and as a good read, it's marvelous. It may be billed as a children's book but many adults (myself included) still enjoy it.
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Summary: HUMOROUS HISTORICAL FACT AND HEAVENLY FICTION!
Review: If this is historical, it is hysterical: give me more! What a delightful presentation of what is usually dry, historical fact. This book is the perfect vehicle to introduce middle school students to the Middle Ages, where human nature is revealed at its worst (just like nowadays). Let's hear it for the start of the Women's Movement --centuries before Elizabeth I. Between the covers of this literary gem is related the life of a determined, capable and ambitious woman--Eleanor of Aquitaine. The four sections are narrated Canterbury Tales style by different characters: Abbot Suger, Empress Matidla, William the Marshall, and Eleanor (the Incorrigible) who lived to be 80, herself. These first-person tales are interspersed with witty conversatons on a cloud in Heaven, as the speakers reminisce while awaiting the iffy arrival of King Henry II. It seems that his earthly career requires the skill of many lawyers to argue his case--a breed which is not plentiful in Heaven....But for Eleanor Waiting itself is Purgatory, since she is a woman of decisive action. Still as we eavesdrop on their frank discussions, we enjoy many chuckles and glean much information about the life and tumultuous times of this extraordinary woman. After so many centuries, will Henry finally make it Up? This is the monarch who loved then mourned Thomas a BECKET; the king who sired Richard the Lion Heart, as well as that much-despised creep, evil Prince John (who got his royal come-uppance at Runnymede). We learn about Eleanor's considerable improvements, courtly embellishments and Crusader importations in order to "civilize" both England and France. Of course there is nothing like royal famlily squabbles (The Lion in Winter) to keep us glued to the pages! It was her eldest daughter, Marie of Champagne, who created L'Amour Courtois, the philosophy of Courtly Love as a pleasant pasttime, which inspired most medieval literature and influenced the etiquette of the upper classes, even to present days. I tip my hat (or crown) to Konigsburg for this highly-readable account of an unforgettable lady.
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Summary: A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver
Review: In 'A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver', a teen named Eleanor of Aquitaine is married to Prince Louis of France. They live happily until the crusade, where she disobeys her husband, now King, and is very unpleasant after that. So Eleanor leaves that marriage behind, and marries King Henry. She feels that she has never met a person so devious and sharp-witted like herself, and becomes very pleasurable around him. She gives birth to three sons and one daughter, but they all disagree with each other. And to make it worse, King Henry is becoming more and more angry at both his sons and Eleanor. SO she lives in Aquitaine. But what will he do to Eleanor? Read this book! Im not sure that I liked this book, because it was pretty hard to follow. It was an interesting read, and I would reccomend it to people that like medieval tales, but NOT anything like science fiction, like me. Only if you like fantasy and are willing to cope with a broken-up story, from several characters' points of view. Read something else instead.
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Summary: All girls should know about Eleanor...
Review: In college, during a summer session, I had to take a dreadful Medievel History class. The instructor sat on the desk and droned on for the entire class period. We each had to draw names and do a research paper on someone or something from that period. I drew the name of Eleanor of Aquitaine...never heard of her. For some reason, the library had quite a bit of information on her (they must have heard of her!). Besides reference book information, I found 2 historical novels on her. My goodness, WHAT A WOMAN!! She was the queen of both England and France, the mother of future kings of England and France. She was under house arrest for years. The life story of this woman could have been a college class in itself. My mother is a librarian in small town and I was telling her about my project. She said, "I think we just got a children's book in on her." It happened to be "A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Minerva." I went home to pick up the book and it was better and more informative than any of the college material I checked out. WHY hadn't any history teachers pointed out this facinating figure??? History could be so interesting if it were taught with an historical fiction reading list instead of textbooks. I have since traveled to Europe several times and just can't get enough of history. When I think of that dreadful history professor and what a horrible injustice he did to this period of time. However, he DID introduce me to Eleanor. And for that I will be forever grateful.
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Summary: Another Konigsburg classic
Review: It's turning into a year of Elaine Konigsburg for me. After reading her newest (The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place), I decided that I missed her books a lot and began to sprinkle them in with my regular consumption of adult reading. I remember tackling this one as a kid and instantly falling in love with all things Eleanor or Aquitaine. And I'm glad I remember enjoying it when I was young, because if I had just picked this one up, I would have been tempted to say something like "This is great, but will kids get it?" The answer, obviously, is to never underestimate a young reader. And always trust a brilliant writer like Elaine Konigsburg.
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Summary: A "Proud Taste" for Writing
Review: Konigsburg has painted the portrait of Eleanor of Aquitaine with the brushes of four observers: her priest, her mother-in-law, her jailer, and Eleanor herself. From each of these artists, we see a part of Eleanor's life, through their sometimes limited senses. The section told by Abbot Suger is full of color and music; the tale by the jailer, William the Marshall, is gray, matter of fact. Konigsburg's subtleties of characterization, use of language, and her ability to manipulate point of view contain incredible opportunities for teaching about writing and how writers work. Konigsburg stretches the minds of all who pick up this amazing book. The four tales are held together by an over-arching story: Eleanor and the story-tellers are in Heaven, awaiting the arrival of King Henry II, Eleanor's second husband. While they wait, they fill each other in about Eleanor's long life and influences.
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Summary: One of my favorite books
Review: Mother-in-laws, Abbot's, Marshal's, and Eleanor of Aquitaine herself, all narrate the life of Queen Eleanor while she patiently awaits the judging of her husband, King Henry II.
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