2009 Books
14. Eleanor of Aquitaine - Alison Weir
One of the better historical biographies i've read, this seems to have been meticulously researched. As with most historical female figures beyond the last 150 years, there never is a lot to go on because women were disregarded for the most part. Even so, the author has pieced together a pretty good supposition of Eleanor's life, debunking most of the myths and legends that gushed forth after she died. Since there isn't a lot to focus on Eleanor to fill the whole book, there's lots of history about other figures in her life, her husbands and sons. Of course it went into all the ins and outs of the Thomas a Beckett conflict which took place over quite a number of years, more than i realized. Eleanor was extraordinary and was practically a Methuselah, living into her 80s.
One of the better historical biographies i've read, this seems to have been meticulously researched. As with most historical female figures beyond the last 150 years, there never is a lot to go on because women were disregarded for the most part. Even so, the author has pieced together a pretty good supposition of Eleanor's life, debunking most of the myths and legends that gushed forth after she died. Since there isn't a lot to focus on Eleanor to fill the whole book, there's lots of history about other figures in her life, her husbands and sons. Of course it went into all the ins and outs of the Thomas a Beckett conflict which took place over quite a number of years, more than i realized. Eleanor was extraordinary and was practically a Methuselah, living into her 80s.