Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life

An “evocative” (Newsday) biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and France, who transcended the mores of society—from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose

“An alluringly candid portrait of this most public yet elusive of medieval women.”—The Boston Globe

“[Alison Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life.”—Chicago Tribune

Renowned in her time as the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and the mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. In an era when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor defied convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons.

Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative Weir captures the woman—and the queen—in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world.