Book Review: TO BE QUEEN by Christy English

“To Be Queen”, queen of France that is if you are Eleanor of Aquitaine. I think this read can be summed up in one sentence: “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it”. Eleanor of Aquitaine; what a mighty woman she was not just in spirit but in heart. She has been labeled as a villainess by men throughout history for centuries but in truth no man could rule Eleanor she was her own woman. As a child the only request she ever put at her father was that he would push to make her queen of France by marriage to Louis of France. Sadly Eleanor’s father would pass away under strange circumstances before he saw Eleanor’s betrothal to Louis reached full actuality. Eleanor’s father was a very smart man and before his death he made sure Eleanor made all the Aquitaine’s nobility proclaim their love and devotion to her. Eleanor made a game of their proclamations of love by having her nobles sing or read her poetic tales of love for their Duchess and praise her beauty. It was the beginning of what history has labeled as “courtly love”. Courtly love would become the norm in Eleanor’s court but when her father passed away so suddenly Eleanor knew the one way to protect herself and what was rightfully hers by birth right was to finalize her marriage to Louis of France and become queen

The marriage negotiations were under way but things had hit a bit of a bump in the road in the form of Eleanor’s rights and property. Can we say pre-nuptial please? Louis’ camp wanted Aquitaine and Eleanor would never let that happen. For that to come to pass it would have to be literally over her cold dead body. In the end Eleanor got what she wanted and she did not sacrifice Aquitaine to get it. It came down to Eleanor would keep her land and when she produced an heir and he came of age the Aquitaine would pass to him. When the moment finally arrived for her to meet her all but legal new husband Louis it was love at first sight. Louis was a handsome man but to Eleanor it was wasted on his pious ways. Eleanor would come to find out that Louis had not always been destined for the throne and he was not the man she thought he should be.

Louis was not originally meant to rule France and that was because he had an older brother. His brother from a young age was in kingly training and since Louis was the younger brother he was sent to the church. He was destined for a life in the church and grew up believing he would be a very active part of the church. His brother would pass away and Louis would become the new heir. It would be an understatement to say Louis was pious because the reality of his and Eleanor’s situation is that Louis even as King Louis lived like a monk in a monastery. Louis was pious and a bit too zealous in his practice for Eleanor's taste. That was not the kind of life Eleanor signed up for she did not want to live like a monk. Eleanor was a woman that was built for passion and Louis would never be able to give that to her and it would be their marriages undoing.

4/5 I love me some Eleanor of Aquitaine. She is by far the most intriguing woman of the medieval time period because no man could hold her down. Christy English captured the heart and soul of the woman who held captive so many courtly hearts in medieval Europe. Bravo to Christy English she once again brings another historical fiction novel that even Eleanor herself would be proud of. Recommended reading for medieval historical fiction lovers.

• PG-13 Rating for some sexual references
• FTC-This novel was sent to me by the publisher for review.

Check out the HFRT Giveaway for an autographed copy of To Be Queen"

Guest post by Christy English on Eleanor of Aquitaine

On the group site is an extra special giveaway too!

Amazon

Author Christy English on Eleanor of Aquitaine and The Court of Love

HFRT is featuring author Christy English this month and for more on the event you can check out the group page or the calender of events. I can not wait to post my review of Christy's latest release "To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine" but that will have to wait a little bit more but in the mean time if you want to you can check out my review of Christy's previous release "The Queen's Pawn". Now it is time to give a warm welcome to author Christy English who has graciously written a guest post on the lady we are all dying to learn more about Eleanor of Aquitaine. You can also click on the "To Be Queen" cover art on the side bar and follow the link to the now running giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Christy's wonderful novel.
 

Eleanor of Aquitaine and The Court of Love

Guest Post by Christy English, Author of

To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine

The Court of Love was begun in Aquitaine by Eleanor’s grandfather, William IX, the troubadour duke. A great lover of ladies, he had three wives and countless mistresses, and to seduce them all, he wrote love poetry and set that poetry to music. A few of his poems and songs survive, some written to muse on God, others a rapture to Love. Though the language of troubadour poetry is flowery, no doubt the good duke’s goal was the same as that of many men: to seduce a woman, or women, into his bed.

William IX, Duke of Aquitaine

Eleanor’s Grandfather

William IX was a notorious or a romantic figure, depending on who you asked at the time. He kidnapped his third wife, Eleanor’s grandmother, away from her rightful husband so that she might leave all behind and marry him. It was a happy marriage from all accounts, and both William X and Raymond, later Prince of Antioch, were products of that union. The rounded tower, the Maubergeon Tower, shown in this photograph of the Palace at Poitiers, was built by William IX for his new bride, Dangerousa.

The Palace at Poitiers

View of the Tower Built by William IX for His Third Wife, Dangeousa

Eleanor’s Grandmother

Though her grandfather was very successful in establishing the Court of Love in Aquitaine and Poitiers, it was Eleanor and later her favorite son, Richard the Lionheart, who kept the tradition alive. Eleanor transformed the court of love to suit her needs as duchess. She rose to rule her barons and fighting men at the very young age of fifteen, and as she was unable to lead them into battle herself, she had to compel them to fight for her for other reasons. Love is one of the best.

Of course, courtly love is not romantic love as we understand it today. The men who vied for and pined after the love of their lady never expected this love to be fulfilled. Unlike the Court of Love under Duke William IX, who did indeed expect women to fall to his songs and to his charms, Eleanor lived her life untouched and untouchable, the Lady for whom all men were dying of love, but who no man could approach. Eleanor changed the Art of Courtly Love to mean that all men loved her from afar, all men might sing for her, write poetry to her, and most importantly, fight her wars for her. For a woman ruling in a time when men would simply bash another’s head in to take what they wanted, she had to use every advantage she had to keep her fighting men in line. The Court of Love was simply one tool in Eleanor of Aquitaine’s arsenal, but it served her well all her life.

The Great Hall in Eleanor’s Palace at Poitiers

Where Eleanor’s Troubadours Sang of Her Beauty

Eleanor’s first daughter by Louis VII of France, Marie of Champagne, continued the Court of Love in her husband’s domains. She sponsored many famous troubadours, among them Chretien de Troyes and Andreus Capellanus, who wrote The Art of Courtly Love.

Eleanor’s influence on the Court of Love is far reaching. Even today the chivalric notion of a knight fighting for his lady fair is a common theme. The idea of courtly love is just one more way Eleanor’s influence still lives on.

 

Lizzy, thank you so much for hosting me today. TO BE QUEEN: A NOVEL OF THE EARLY LIFE OF ELEANOR OF AQUITAINE is available for pre-order and will be in bookstores on April 5. 

Amazon. For those who want to know more about Eleanor’s adventures, please find me on my blog at http://www.ChristyEnglish.com , on Twitter and on Facebook

 

Thank you Christy for the enticing post on Eleanor and her court of love. I especially enjoyed the pictures since it visually gives me an idea of where she lived. I can just see her now in her hall listening to the swoony songs of love.

HFRT event Christy English and giveaway

Announcing a grand HFRT event! This time around the group is featuring the fabulous Christy English and her latest release "To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine". For more on the event: check out the groups main site and schedule for the down low on what will be going on in the next week or so. I can not wait to feature this one because I know the ladies have some wonderful posts up their sleeves just waiting for us all to ooh and ahh over.

"The author of The Queen's Pawn delves into the early life of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine in her new historical novel.
After her father's sudden death, fifteen-year-old Eleanor is quickly crowned Duchess of Aquitaine and betrothed to King Louis VII. When her new husband cannot pronounce her given name, Alienor becomes Eleanor, Queen of France.
Although Louis is enamored of his bride, the newly crowned king is easily manipulated by the church and a God that Eleanor doesn't believe in. Now, if she can find the strength to fight for what she wants, Eleanor may finally find the passion she has longed for, and the means to fulfill her legacy as Queen".

Amazon

To Be Queen: A Novel of the Early Life of Eleanor of Aquitaine
The Queen's Pawn

To celebrate the event kick off Historically Obsessed is having a Giveaway!

Open to EVERYONE this one is INTERNATIONAL

Up for grabs is one finished autographed copy of To Be Queen by Christy English

The ONLY rule is you MUST fill out the form below.