Eleanor of Aquitaine

[diamondlil]

Eleanor did go on crusade, and there were rumours of her having a relationship with her uncle, but they have mostly been dismissed now.

[EC2]

Eleanor did go on crusade, and there were rumours of her having a relationship with her uncle, but they have mostly been dismissed now.

Alison Weir says Eleanor did have relations with her uncle - based on one very dubious chronicler who was most likely lying through his teeth to give Eleanor a bad name. Which is why I read Weir with a huge pinch of salt!
Has anyone read the Eleanor of Aquitaine novel Power of a Woman? Forgotten who it's by.

[Misfit]

Is that the Ellen Jones book Misfit - Beloved Enemy? Not read it, but I've heard about it. Jean Plaidy based a novel on that premise too. It's all down to some comment in a chronicle where Stephen says something loving towards Henry and it's been (wilfully) misconstrued by modern mindset. A bit like trendy historians at one time saying Richard I was gay because he shared a bed with Philip of France.


That's the book. Rumor or not about Eleanor it was very eewwww the way it was portrayed in the book.

[JaneConsumer]

Has anyone read the Eleanor of Aquitaine novel Power of a Woman?

I haven't read it. But it looks like Robert Fripp is the author.

[Ash]

One of my favorite Eleanor novels (aside from the Penman books) is Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords. The book itself is really about the crusade as seen through the eyes of the Byzantines in the area, but there is a great bit of Eliz leading the army into battle

My fav non fiction is Amy Kelly's Eleanor and the Four Kings. I don't remember any mention of a relationship with her uncle; I suspect like many bright, powerful and outspoken women, rumors flew around her unchecked.

[Carine]

I read The Plantagenet Prelude by Jean Plaidy and it also says that Eleanor went on a crusade and had a relationship with her uncle !

[Amanda]

Eleanor is one of my favourite historical characters!

I think she makes mention of the Uncle in The Lion in Winter too. Though the writer of that play seemed to like to bring in all the salacious gossip.

[princess garnet]

I've read Plaidy's Courts of Love and it also has Eleanor having a relationship with her uncle.

[LCW]

One of my favorite Eleanor novels (aside from the Penman books) is Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords. The book itself is really about the crusade as seen through the eyes of the Byzantines in the area, but there is a great bit of Eliz leading the army into battle



I have that book so I'm so glad to hear that!! :)

[Melisende]

Then I don't recommend the novel "The Tiger & The Rose" by Richard Cameron Low, who not only says that she went on crusade but also infers (in the novel) that:

1. she was a virgin at the time - not true
2. she had an affair with a Kurd called Ayub at Antioch, the resultant offspring being Saladin himself! - far from true (i guess that beats the uncle theory!)
3. that Henry met Rosamund in the early stages of his marriage to Eleanor and fell in love with her then - though the "affair" takes place much later.



let's hear some more wild theories on Eleanor in fiction or non-fiction!

[Carine]

In the Plantagenet Prelude Jean Plaidy also refers to Eleanor having a fling with Saladin.

[diamondlil]

It's strange isn't it. I would have thought her real life was amazing enough as it was without adding in extra bits as well!

[Ash]

Hee, really.

[EC2]

One of my favorite Eleanor novels (aside from the Penman books) is Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords. The book itself is really about the crusade as seen through the eyes of the Byzantines in the area, but there is a great bit of Eliz leading the army into battle

My fav non fiction is Amy Kelly's Eleanor and the Four Kings. I don't remember any mention of a relationship with her uncle; I suspect like many bright, powerful and outspoken women, rumors flew around her unchecked.

Yes, Queen of Swords is just beautifully written. It's on my keeper shelf. I also have Amy Kelly's bio on my reference TBR although I've only skimmed it. I've been pretty impressed by Douglas Boyd's Eleanor: April Queen of Aquitaine.

[annis]

I'm intrigued to pick up from Ariadne's "Reading the Past" (http://readingthepast.blogspot.com/) blog that Cecelia Holland has a novel about Eleanor due for publication in 2010.

<Cecelia Holland's THE SECRET HISTORY OF ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE, the intriguing and sensual life of one of history's most fascinating queens, to Susan Allison at Berkley, for publication in Spring 2010, in a two-book deal, by Susanna Einstein at LJK Literary Management (NA). [Wow. The choice of subject took me by surprise, and with the switch to a new publisher, this means we'll be seeing her books in stores once again].>

It will be very interesting to see what CH does with the subject.

[Leyland]

I'm intrigued to pick up from Ariadne's "Reading the Past" (http://readingthepast.blogspot.com/) blog that Cecelia Holland has a novel about Eleanor due for publication in 2010.

It will be very interesting to see what CH does with the subject.

I'm totally with you, annis! I'll definitely get a copy the day released.

[EC2]

There's an Eleanor novel by a man called Power of a Woman. Anyone read it? I've forgotten his name without looking it up.

I have to admit that Eleanor has been on my list to write about for some time.
But then one doesn't want to get into the Boleyn situation - where the world and his wife are writing about the woman and it just becomes overkill.

[annis]

The author of "The Power of a Woman: Eleanor of Acquitaine" is Robert Fripp, EC. I haven't read it, though it's had good reviews.
A bit from his website:
http://robertfripp.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=ArticleList&SectionID=152

[EC2]

The author of "The Power of a Woman: Eleanor of Acquitaine" is Robert Fripp, EC. I haven't read it, though it's had good reviews.
A bit from his website:
http://robertfripp.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=ArticleList&SectionID=152

Thanks Annis. I remember being intrigued because he says he knows from studying the sources what Eleanor looked like and that (I think) her eyes were blue. I wondered what sources they were. It was a book I thought about ordering and didn't get around to. I've just been to look again and it's interesting that it is endorsed by Melissa Snell because she writes a regular internet newsletter about medieval history and doesn't generally like historical fiction.

[cw gortner]

[QUOTE=Ash;3858]One of my favorite Eleanor novels (aside from the Penman books) is Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords.

Queen of Swords is one of my favorite historical fiction novels, though I think it got poor marketing support from the publisher. Tarr went on to make a big splash with her prehistoric horse /goddess series, but I didn't like those nearly as much. I remember the bit of Eleanor riding on crusade, too; she's portrayed vividly, as is Melisande of Jerusalem. Excellent book!

Another Eleanor book I liked quite a bit was Margaret Ball's Duchess of Acquitaine, which has a fascinating publication story attached to it. In it, Eleanor has a pagan bent; but it's far less pronounced than, say, the women in The Mists of Avalon. Plus, the writing is quite beautiful.

[diamondlil]

I have to admit that Eleanor has been on my list to write about for some time.
But then one doesn't want to get into the Boleyn situation - where the world and his wife are writing about the woman and it just becomes overkill.

I would love to read your take on Eleanor. I do know what you mean by overkill though. I have to say that despite the Boleyn overkill, I still enjoy it when there is a well written Boleyn novel that comes out. It's all about finding the quality books among the dross.

[LCW]

I too would love to read an EC novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine. She's fast becoming one of my favorite historical characters (I know, join the club, right??) so I'm eager to read more about her.

[Misfit]

I would love to read your take on Eleanor. I do know what you mean by overkill though. I have to say that despite the Boleyn overkill, I still enjoy it when there is a well written Boleyn novel that comes out. It's all about finding the quality books among the dross.

I'll join that party, but DL's right. Its all about quality of story.

[Michelle]

Is it true that her son King Arthur had a thing for men?

[Ash]

I don't believe she had a son named Arthur. She had a son named Richard who, rumor had it, was gay, but that seems to have been dismissed of late.

[Misfit]

Eleanor's son Geoffrey had a boy named Arthur.

Question - why is the Eleanor thread showing up under later medieval? Or am I missing the boat again?

[boswellbaxter]

Eleanor's son Geoffrey had a boy named Arthur.

Question - why is the Eleanor thread showing up under later medieval? Or am I missing the boat again?

Only because the admins in their arbitrary way have two periods: early medieval (before 1000) and later medieval (after).
:)

[annis]

Geoffrey's son Arthur of Brittany only lived to about the age of 16, so I don't think the issue of his sexual orientation arose. He mysteriously disappeared around April 2003 and according to legend he was murdered by his uncle, King John with the assistance of John's knight, William be Braose.

From the Margam Annals:
<After King John had captured Arthur and kept him alive in prison for some time, at length, in the castle of Rouen, after dinner on the Thursday before Easter, when he was drunk and possessed by the devil (ebrius et daemonio plenus), he slew him with his own hand, and tying a heavy stone to the body cast it into the Seine. It was discovered by a fisherman in his net, and being dragged to the bank and recognized, was taken for secret burial, in fear of the tyrant, to the priory of Bec called Notre Dame de Pres.>

The story of the de Braose family is a violent and fascinating one and it's an entertaining read to go through the de Braose family history
http://freespace.virgin.net/doug.thompson/BraoseWeb/frames.htm

[Misfit]

Only because the admins in their arbitrary way have two periods: early medieval (before 1000) and later medieval (after).
:)


Thank you. Somehow later medieval sticks in my feeble brain as wars of roses and Richard and such :):o

[Telynor]

Is it true that her son King Arthur had a thing for men?

You're thinking of Richard I, who did penance for his great sins, as the chroniclers put it. The earliest that I can find for Richard's sexual orientation being mentioned was with the Victorians, who seem to think that the greatest of sins was that of homosexuality. They based it around that Richard's queen, Berengaria, didn't have any children, and that the Victorians themselves were pretty messed up when it came to sex -- The book, The Worm in the Bud makes for some pretty enlightening reading.

But to the medieval mind, I think that it was pride that had the most damage, and given Richard's fondness for picking a fight with anyone, and his general bloodthirsty nature... Who knows? He did have one illegitimate child, Philippe de Fauconbridge, so he may well have been bisexual.

[boswellbaxter]

There's a new biography of her due out, I see on Amy's blog. EC or anyone else know anything about it?

http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Aquitaine-Queen-France-England/dp/0300119119/ref=sr_1_566?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233353374&sr=1-566

[annis]

The Amazon blurb says <Turner focuses on a wealth of primary sources, including a collection of Eleanor’s own documents not previously accessible to scholars>

I'm curious about what this collection of documents might have consisted of.

*EDIT This other book mentioned on Amy's blog about about Eleanor Talbot also looks interesting.
"Eleanor, the Secret Queen: The Woman Who Put Richard III on the Throne" by John Ashdown-Hill
http://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=7613&ProductID=8190

[EC2]

Boswell, I hadn't heart of this one, but I shall certainly be buying it. I have the Turner book on King John but it isn't actually that good. It relies mainly on secondary sources and is basically a much weaker and less detailed rehash of the W.L. Warren. I'm gathering material on Eleanor at the moment though, so I'll add it to my research shelf anyway. Thanks for the heads up Boswell and Amy.

[LCW]

One of my favorite Eleanor novels (aside from the Penman books) is Judith Tarr's Queen of Swords. The book itself is really about the crusade as seen through the eyes of the Byzantines in the area, but there is a great bit of Eliz leading the army into battle

My fav non fiction is Amy Kelly's Eleanor and the Four Kings. I don't remember any mention of a relationship with her uncle; I suspect like many bright, powerful and outspoken women, rumors flew around her unchecked.

I finished Queen of Swords a few weeks ago and I loved it! Most of what I know about Eleanor of Aquitaine came from SKP's novels which present somewhat of a romanticized version of her. This novel, I thought, presented her in a much more brutally realistic way. It protrayed her as a power hungry temptress and showed so clearly how different she was from the women in her time. It was a very interesting take on her.

Like Ash said, the novel wasn't focused on her but she showed up quite a bit, esp the last half of the novel. I highly recommend that one and it's going on my keeper shelf!

ETA: SKP presents her as more of a grand larger than life, a "force to be reckoned with", whereas here she seems more human and flawed. Not that I don't think SKP's version is realistic, and I certainly don't think it's shallow or one dimensional, it's just a very different portrayal than what is presented in QoS, that's all!

[EC2]

I loved Queen of Swords too, LCW. In some ways Judith Tarr reminded me of Dorothy Dunnett in that novel with her employment of language. I must re-read it at some point. Definitely a keeper as you say.

[enelya]

Eleanor is certainly one of my favorite characters...so fascinating.I think the dubiuos, scandalous things being written about her were mainly used for propaganda purposes, and it is very hard for modern people to sift the truth from the chronicles.
What I like about her is that she was so active, untill very late in her life. She traveled over the Pyrenees to fetch her son a bride.
I have to add, I would love to read an EC book on her, those books always seem so much more tactile. It feels like I can step in the pages.
I will make sure tp pick up the Judith Tarr book as well.

[Susan C]

I'm sorry, I'm new here. Which author is being referred to as EC?

[EC2]

I'm sorry, I'm new here. Which author is being referred to as EC?

Hi Susan C. It's me - aka Elizabeth Chadwick. I'm here as a reader of Historical fiction and to generally hang out - only do the writer thing if asked something specific. :)

[zsigandr]

I love books about Eleanor of Aquitaine and will be looking for Queen of Swords now. I had never heard of this book so I will now try to find a copy. There are always so many great recommendations on this site!

I too, would love to see EC write about her enelya!
Andrea

[SonjaMarie]

So has anyone read "Beloved Enemy" by Ellen Jones? I can't tell if it was that book that had a ewww scene with her uncle or a different one, if it's this one, then no thanks!

SM

[Misfit]

So has anyone read "Beloved Enemy" by Ellen Jones? I can't tell if it was that book that had a ewww scene with her uncle or a different one, if it's this one, then no thanks!

SM

I did a couple of years ago and I believe that's the one with the scene with her uncle. I'd call the two books a bit on the fanciful side.

[SonjaMarie]

I did a couple of years ago and I believe that's the one with the scene with her uncle. I'd call the two books a bit on the fanciful side.

Ok, thanks! EWWWW! I prefer to avoid anything that has incest in it if I can!

SM

[Misfit]

Ok, thanks! EWWWW! I prefer to avoid anything that has incest in it if I can!

SM

Better stay away from the author thread on Alan Savage then. I will be getting back to his book on Eleanor soon and it puts this one in the dust tacky wise.

[SonjaMarie]

Better stay away from the author thread on Alan Savage then. I will be getting back to his book on Eleanor soon and it puts this one in the dust tacky wise.

Thanks for the warning!

SM

[Misfit]

Yeah but you're missing the laughs. It's unintentionally funny and the only reason I bought it.

[Chatterbox]

SM, Yes, I've read it, and yes, I think you're right about the 'ewww' scene with uncle. I just skipped right over it, however. Not a great book, but not a downright bad one. SKP still has the best fictional portrayal of Eleanor, IMO.

[cw gortner]

Has anyone else here read Margaret Ball's book on Eleanor? It came out to little fanfare but I really enjoyed it. She's a bit fey in it; it has some marvelous descriptive passages, too. It's called Duchess of Aquitaine. Eleanor, I believe, is not an easy character to write well. Like Anne Boleyn, she has tons of mythological baggage and readers have come to "see" her in a certain way. But Margaret Ball did something interesting and different with her that still stayed within the realm of historical possibility.

I thought it was sad to see how that book just faded away, especially as I heard that the publisher took almost eight years after the ms. was delivered to actually publish it:eek:. You can find copies at BookCloseouts.com

[Misfit]

I had had that one my to read list a while ago and not sure why I'd forgotten it and/or dropped it. Library has several copies (and all checked out so someone is reading it).

[Chatterbox]

CW, just went to Amazon & it's Kindle-able -- so I now own it again! I think I got bogged down last time by some new-agey dance, but will give it another shot.

Shame that Norah Lofts did such a half-a**ed job of her book about Eleanor.

[Ariadne]

I really enjoyed Duchess of Aquitaine (and think I remember our discussing it a while back, CW). It's set wholly in Aquitaine and France and focuses on her younger years, a place and period not often touched upon. Now that Eleanor is set to become the It Girl of historical fiction in the first half of 2010 (there are, I believe, at least four novels about her set to appear then, including a reissue of the Lofts!) perhaps this slightly older novel about her will get some long overdue attention.

The cover art was a painting done by a noted artist in the fantasy field, one whose work is recognizable to fans of that genre. I think it's gorgeous, but it may not have worked well for historical fiction fans. The novel has a mythical bent, but it's not fantasy.

[Tanzanite]

Shame that Norah Lofts did such a half-a**ed job of her book about Eleanor.

I thought the Lofts book was awful.

[boswellbaxter]

I thought the Lofts book was awful.

I have a copy but I don't think I ever ventured beyond the first page. Can't remember why, but maybe it's just as well!

[4ever Queen]

I did like it a lot, and i have it as part of my little library. i also love her other few books that i've been able to come across at my local library. sorry to hear that they didnt make a good impression on you. Happy readings!

[Ash]

I have a copy but I don't think I ever ventured beyond the first page. Can't remember why, but maybe it's just as well!

I remember why - the writing is horrible. I remember thinking someone else had to have written this, not Norah Loft.

[Tanzanite]

I remember why - the writing is horrible. I remember thinking someone else had to have written this, not Norah Loft.

lol! I agree that the writing seemed totally different from her other books. I really liked The Concubine and her one on Katherine of Aragon (can't think of the title off hand).

[Nefret]

lol! I agree that the writing seemed totally different from her other books. I really liked The Concubine and her one on Katherine of Aragon (can't think of the title off hand).

The Katherine one is called The King's Pleasure. I just finished reading it.

Have not read her Eleanor book. Might get it from the library just out of curiosity. Who has novels about her coming out next year?

One of my favourite novels about her is Courts of Love by Jean Plaidy.

[robinbird79]

Has anyone else here read Margaret Ball's book on Eleanor? It came out to little fanfare but I really enjoyed it. She's a bit fey in it; it has some marvelous descriptive passages, too. It's called Duchess of Aquitaine. Eleanor, I believe, is not an easy character to write well. Like Anne Boleyn, she has tons of mythological baggage and readers have come to "see" her in a certain way. But Margaret Ball did something interesting and different with her that still stayed within the realm of historical possibility.

I thought it was sad to see how that book just faded away, especially as I heard that the publisher took almost eight years after the ms. was delivered to actually publish it:eek:. You can find copies at BookCloseouts.com

I checked this one out of the library a couple months back and enjoyed it well enough. It did center on her early years and stopped I think right before (like literally the night before or something like that) she and Henry were married. Interesting to read about that period in her life since most works about her focus on her years as Queen of England.

[Nefret]

I own the Margaret Ball book, but have not read it yet. Picked it up on my vacation earlier this year. Wanted to read about her, and it had a very nice cover. Shall have to get it out of Mt TBR soon.

[enelya]

I loved the Margaret Ball book, the atmosphere was a bit different from regular novels

[boswellbaxter]

I see that Anne O'Brien has a novel planned about her for 2011:

http://www.anneobrienbooks.com/news/

[EC2]

I see that Anne O'Brien has a novel planned about her for 2011:

http://www.anneobrienbooks.com/news/

Can't spell Aquitaine though!

[Misfit]

Can't spell Aquitaine though!

;)Blame it on the webmaster?

[Divia]

Can't spell Aquitaine though!

minor detail :p

I know nothing about her. Well, I can't remember anything about her. I'm sure I learned about her in my history classes.

[Miss Moppet]

I see that Anne O'Brien has a novel planned about her for 2011:

http://www.anneobrienbooks.com/news/

I'm not that enamoured of the excerpt:

Now I have reached my fifteenth year. One day I will be Duchess of Aquitaine and Gascony, Countess of Poitou. My lands will be vast, wealthy, well-governed. I have been brought up to know luxury, sophistication, the delights of music and art. I will be influential and—so they say—beautiful. Do my father’s renowned troubadours not sing my praises?

It sounds a bit like she's applying for a university place. I almost expect her to add, 'I play both the clarinet and the piano and will take the Grade 7 Theory of Music examination in May.'

[EC2]

The author's earlier work was published by Mira in the UK, which is the mainstream arm of Mills & Boon.

[EC2]

Isn't it now accepted that she was actually born in 1124, so 15 would put her at 1139 and already married for 2 years to Louis of France?

[Misfit]

The author's earlier work was published by Mira in the UK, which is the mainstream arm of Mills & Boon.

I think I've heard that she wrote romances and she's just come out with one on Anne Neville. Been out in the UK for a while and due out soon in the US. I believe BB has read a galley copy of that one. I'm hoping to win it off LT or the library will purchase, just out of curiosity's sake.

[Miss Moppet]

The author's earlier work was published by Mira in the UK, which is the mainstream arm of Mills & Boon.

Didn't know M&B had a mainstream imprint. That's interesting. The Virgin Widow (Anne Neville book) is on my list of books to read.

Isn't it now accepted that she was actually born in 1124, so 15 would put her at 1139 and already married for 2 years to Louis of France?

I thought so. The 2004 Jean Flori biography I am reading says 1124 (although curiously, the family tree in the book says 1122 - guess it may have been reproduced from an older work).

I took 'fifteenth year' to mean Eleanor was fourteen as your fifteenth year is actually the year leading up to your fifteenth birthday. So that would make the date 1138? Doesn't solve the problem though, she would still have been married.

[Vanessa]

I have the Anne O'Brien book on my TBR pile. I've never actually heard of her but it sounds quite good.

[EC2]

[QUOTE=Miss Moppet;72579]Didn't know M&B had a mainstream imprint. That's interesting. The Virgin Widow (Anne Neville book) is on my list of books to read.

Yes. My friend Penny Jordan writes for them. She's a doyen of Mills and Boon as everyone knows them, but also writes for Mira. I've just edited this. I put up an url to what I thought was a Mira title of hers, but it's actually an Avon one. - duh. But yes, Mira are a branch of Mills&Boon.


I thought so. The 2004 Jean Flori biography I am reading says 1124 (although curiously, the family tree in the book says 1122 - guess it may have been reproduced from an older work).


Yes, it's more recent research than some, but it's been known for a while and any new writers coming on board should be aware of it. SKP mentioned it a little while back. AW still has it at 1122 on her "facts" ;) about Eleanor at Amazon.com.

[Misfit]

I have the Anne O'Brien book on my TBR pile. I've never actually heard of her but it sounds quite good.

My county didn't order this, but the City of Seattle did so I can ILL it if I don't win the LT giveaway. I am curious. I've heard the relationship between Margaret and Edward is a tad...unusual.

[Sintra]

I will finally read Penman's Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy this June probably (i wish i could just go to the bookstore, but no, i have to wait for them to come for two months:(), and i know that i'm going to love it, but are there any other good books on her?

For now i've only read about her in Coventry's The Queen's Daughter, but she was hardly in it and the book itself was more like a sketch of an okay novel.

[boswellbaxter]

Christy English, whose latest novel about Eleanor, To Be Queen, came out this week, has kindly contributed a guest post for my blog:

http://susandhigginbotham.blogspot.com/2011/04/eleanor-of-aquitaine-medieval-queen-by.html?spref=fb

[annis]

And for those who haven't yet caught up with the happy news, Elizabeth Chadwick has announced on her blog that she has signed a deal to write a trilogy about Eleanor -cool, or what? The books will be called THE SUMMER QUEEN, THE WINTER CROWN and THE AUTUMN THRONE.

http://livingthehistoryelizabethchadwick.blogspot.com/2011/04/eleanor-at-last-i-can-tell-you.html

[Misfit]

Way cool. Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh boy.

[Ash]

What? You meant The Captive Queen isn't the standard by which all Eleanor books must be compared with? :) I am very very very excited about this and just hope the next year goes quickly! Congrats to you!

[EC2]

Thank you! I haven't posted here yet because I didn't want to be seen as bragging too much!
Anyway, I am thrilled to bits to be still in a job for the next few years at least, and also really pleased to be writing about Eleanor. I think you can safely say my take will be my own. ;):)

[Tim Woods]

Eleanor has to be the coolest woman in history. What a life she led. Can't wait to see a movie made of her worthy of her legacy.

[annis]

Posted by EC
Anyway, I am thrilled to bits to be still in a job for the next few years at least, and also really pleased to be writing about Eleanor. I think you can safely say my take will be my own.

And maybe Eleanor herself might get a say as well, thanks to the akashic connection!

[EC2]

Posted by EC


And maybe Eleanor herself might get a say as well, thanks to the akashic connection!

Oh yes indeed. I started work on that several months ago and am building up an interesting picture, not just of Eleanor, but of Louis (I think this is a perfect description of his personality if you take him as The Lady in this cartoon http://www.reallyfabcards.com/EM29.php ) and Suger and Eleanor's sister Petronella. It mostly agrees with known history, but there are different slants and facets - as I always expect. It is also interesting to see how much secondary sources take one facet and run with it so often that the weight of history becomes very lopsided. You have to strip it back to the original source if possible and then ask who was writing it and why they chose their words.
When I said the take was my own, I suppose I was being sensitive to the awareness that some readers don't believe in, or have difficulty getting their heads round the psychic side of my research. As far as I'm concerned I've done too much of it now and had such consistent results for it not to be bang on the money, but I know not everyone agrees.

[Misfit]

Oh yes indeed. I started work on that several months ago and am building up an interesting picture, not just of Eleanor, but of Louis (I think this is a perfect description of his personality if you take him as The Lady in this cartoon http://www.reallyfabcards.com/EM29.php ) and Suger and Eleanor's sister Petronella. It mostly agrees with known history, but there are different slants and facets - as I always expect. It is also interesting to see how much secondary sources take one facet and run with it so often that the weight of history becomes very lopsided. You have to strip it back to the original source if possible and then ask who was writing it and why they chose their words.
When I said the take was my own, I suppose I was being sensitive to the awareness that some readers don't believe in, or have difficulty getting their heads round the psychic side of my research. As far as I'm concerned I've done too much of it now and had such consistent results for it not to be bang on the money, but I know not everyone agrees.

I don't care how you do what you do, it just works ;)

So long as Alison doesn't come across Eleanor sleeping with Uncle Raymond, or Stephen being Henry's father :o

[EC2]

I don't care how you do what you do, it just works ;)

So long as Alison doesn't come across Eleanor sleeping with Uncle Raymond, or Stephen being Henry's father :o

If she does I'll be stuffed! :eek::rolleyes:
But it's so like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates that we never know what's going to turn up. I often think one thing because of what secondary sources have said, and it turns out to be something completely different, but still totally plausible within historical parameters - and sometimes more likely - than the things modern historians have assumed to 'doubtless' or 'probably' be true.

[Madeleine]

Congrats on the Eleanor book deal EC -saw it on your blog! Great titles, and good luck with the writing.

[Vanessa]

Just noticed this - that is good news. Something to look forward to! Misfit will be tapping her fingers impatiently for the next three years or so, then!!! LOL.:p;):D Is.....it......June.....yet?:D

[Misfit]

Just noticed this - that is good news. Something to look forward to! Misfit will be tapping her fingers impatiently for the next three years or so, then!!! LOL.:p;):D Is.....it......June.....yet?:D

It is about time to start that chant isn't it? :D

[Vanessa]

I reckon it could be!:D

[noodles]

I'm new here, and have not read anything about Eleanor before. After reading this thread, I think I may try Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball, Queen of Swords, and/or maybe the Robert Fripp book, Power of a Woman.

Glad to see EC has something in the works, too! I'm sorry to say I've not read any of her books yet, but I shall remedy that asap!