The Plantagenet Prelude cover art

The Plantagenet Prelude

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The Plantagenet Prelude

By: Jean Plaidy
Narrated by: Jilly Bond
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About this listen

When William X dies, the duchy of Aquitaine is left to his 15-year-old daughter, Eleanor. But such a position for an unmarried woman puts the whole kingdom at risk. So on his deathbed William made a will that would ensure his daughter’s protection: he promised her hand in marriage to the future King of France. Eleanor grows into a romantic and beautiful queen, but she has inherited the will of a king, determined to rule Aquitaine using her husband’s power as King of France. Her resolve knows no limit and, in the years to follow, she is to become one of history’s most scandalous queens.

©1976 Jean Plaidy (P)2010 Isis Publishing Ltd Fiction Historical Fiction Royalty Marriage

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The life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine make a great subject for a book, or several books, but Plantagenet Prelude missed the mark for me. Mostly I didn't care for the readers voice, I think it would be better suited to reading books for children. I wanted to spend more time getting to know Eleanor, Henry, Thomas and other important characters of that time, but I would recommend the book for introducing its readers to the times of the early Plantagenets.

An incredible woman

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This is a well written and insightful book. well worth a read or indeed a listen. Personally this is my second round of this book 😉

Henry ll

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This was written in the 1970s and it shows. This Eleanor is a spoilt, meddling brat, completely devoid of the political understanding or even comprehension of danger when on crusade, which leads to unbelievable interpretations of history. Basically take the classic, sexist, medieval church view of women and you've got this book's main character.

I got to the battle of Mount Cadmun and couldn't take it any more.

Check out the Elizabeth Chadwick books on Eleanor, starting with The Summer Queen. Much more historic detail, more realistic characters and they even have better narration.

buy The Summer Queen instead

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if you want to learn more about Aliénor of Aquitaine, do not read. It is full of clichés and inaccuracies. Avoid at all costs.

Dreadful.

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