Captive Queen

In the twelfth century, women, no matter how intelligent or rich, were dependent on their husbands for life, purpose, and power. Eleanor of Aquitaine chafed at these restrictions and became one of the most powerful and famous women of any age, setting the stage for European alliances for generations. Weir focuses her novel on the end of her marriage to King Louis VII of France and her tumultuous union with King Henry II of England. Rosalyn Landor narrates with a regal tone. Her careful, well-paced delivery allows listeners to immerse themselves in this epic tale of love, lust, conspiracy, and cunning as it weaves history and imagination into a seamless tapestry. N.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

June 28, 2010
Weir (Innocent Traitor) captures the perspective of the subject of her bestselling biography, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the medieval duchess who wielded power across Europe at a time when women were required to cede all possessions to their husbands. Both of Eleanor's husbands were kings—she divorced Louis VII of France to marry the soon-to-be Henry II—and Weir offers a vivid history of Eleanor's second marriage, highlighting Henry's fiery temper, unflagging energy, and obsession with loyalty. Weir's portrait of Eleanor reveals a mother devoted to her children, even as they grow up to rebel; a queen dedicated to her native land, even when governed by husband or son; and a woman yearning for love. Part of a wave of fiction re-interpreting famous female figures, Weir gives a credible account of an encounter between Eleanor and the girl reputed to have replaced her in Henry's affections, and a convincing explanation of how Henry and Thomas Becket became mortal enemies. Although her style is more studied and sedate than, say, Philippa Gregory's, Weir doesn't skimp on the sex-obsessed court, and her weaving of personal and political narratives with minor details, social trends, and history-defining events creates a surprisingly modern-feeling romance.