The Autumn Throne (Eleanor of Aquitaine #3) by Elizabeth Chadwick

[gilda_elise]

England, 1176. Imprisoned by her husband, King Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England, refuses to let her powerful husband bully her into submission, even as he forces her away from her children and her birthright. Freed only by Henry's death, Eleanor becomes dowager Queen of England. But the competition for land and power that Henry stirred up among his sons has intensified to a dangerous rivalry. Eleanor will need every ounce of courage and fortitude as she crosses the Alps in winter to bring Richard his bride, and travels medieval Europe to ransom her beloved son. But even her indomitable spirit will be tested to its limits as she attempts to keep the peace between her warring sons, and find a place in the centres of power for her daughters. Eleanor of Aquitaine's powerful story is brought to a triumphant and beautiful close by much-loved author Elizabeth Chadwick.

After enjoying the first two books in this series, I was somewhat disappointed with this one.

The part of the book that covers Eleanor’s years of imprisonment by her husband, Henry II, were actually the more interesting part of the book. Henry would pull her out of her captivity from time to time, usually during the holiday season, so it wasn’t as if Eleanor never saw anyone, including Henry. Their confrontations were the most interesting part of the book, so when Henry dies, so too does the heart of the story.

A little over half the book takes place after Henry’s death, and though Eleanor is now free, the life seems to have gone out of her. At least out of her story. Because now she’s not really the center of things, but rather someone who is there only to do her son’s bidding.

And I had to wonder if she had been so pliable with Henry as she is with Richard, if maybe her marriage would have been more of a success. Because she dotes on Richard. I mean really dotes on him. At times it was almost creepy. The speculation regarding his homosexuality are only hinted at, and the failure of his marriage is placed squarely on his wife. When Richard dies, Eleanor decides that she’s done with life and plans to enter the Abbey at Fontevraud. She would die there two years later.

So it seems that, once the entire story is told, my good opinion of Henry II has returned.




Links are to more information regarding each book or author, not to the review.

1. The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
2. The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig
3. The Autumn Throne (Eleanor of Aquitaine #3) by Elizabeth Chadwick







A. The Autumn Throne by Elizabeth Chadwick

B. The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig

M. The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

Comments

[honor-reid.livejournal.com]

I could see how Eleanor's pov could be good because she is a fascinating woman in history it sounds like this wasn't quite the thing.

Congrats on another one!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

She did an awfully lot in her life; It's just a shame that she would ultimately be betrayed, or at least taken in by, so many men.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

And I had to wonder if she had been so pliable with Henry as she is with Richard, if maybe her marriage would have been more of a success.
I haven't read the other two books, but on top of this Imprisoned by her husband, King Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England, refuses to let her powerful husband bully her into submission, even as he forces her away from her children and her birthright. Freed only by Henry's death I must admit I'm rather worried by that statement! So her life would have been better if she'd given into the man who was bullying her to the point of imprisoning her and taking her children away from her? Never mind whatever is covered by and her birthright, which sounds like stolen lands and titles to me...

What did she do when she was married to deserve all that, to the point that the husband comes off as a good guy in the end? (You probably explained in your reviews of the two previous books, which I either can't remember or didn't have time to think about properly — but now I'm curious! *g*)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

She encouraged her sons to rebel against their father. One wanted the throne of England, one wanted Aquitaine, another wanted, well everything. Once she was locked up, the sons fell into line.

How much of her dissatisfaction was because of Henry's affairs, or because she wanted more power, is hard to know. But Henry is known to have been one of the better kings, his sons, both Richard and John, two of the worst.

[severina2001.livejournal.com]

Congrats on one more!

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've had something of a slow start, but I'm finally picking up speed.

[wpadmirer.livejournal.com]

Have you ever seen the play or the movie, A Lion in Winter? It's the same story, and it's one of my favorite plays.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I've seen the movie. Actually, I have the movie. Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn are great in it. O'Toole is fantastic in Beckett, too. Probably because of O'Toole, I tend to see one as the sequel to the other.

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

I haven't read the book but I can't imagine it's easy being a woman in those times. Especially when wanting the power and wealth that was due only to men back then.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think that was her main problem, unable to accept that she would never have the power that she craved. I think her life could have been a lot better if she had learned to play her cards right. But I got the impression that "playing the game" was something she couldn't make herself do.

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

There is a Chinese saying that gets mentioned a lot in regards to capable/smart women: "If only Heaven made you a man."

Many of these so-called powerful women had tragic histories/end. In order to assert themselves, they had to be more cruel than male rulers. But I digress.