Power of a Woman, Memoirs of a Turbulent Life: Eleanor of Aquitaine

Medieval times rage as Eleanor of Aquitaine relates her memoirs in stories and adventures from a long, turbulent life. Recalling her triumphs and trials her spirit soars. 'Power of a Woman. Memoirs of a turbulent life: Eleanor of Aquitaine' is truly the book worthy of this queen!

This historical fiction novel has Eleanor telling tales of wars -- 'Oh, the indignity of being a woman at war' -- crusades, bards and ruthless diplomacy, while confessing love and hopes for her many children and their fates.

Eleanor seems to have lived several lives. Adventure, betrayal, grace and loyalty: all find place in her stories from stormy marriages to two warring kings; first France's Louis VII, then England's Henry II. At 81, Eleanor has salted away an odyssey worth telling.

She takes pride in the Grace she enjoyed as the femme fatale of her day: 'This old carcass once embodied the feminine ideal,' she tells her young secretary. Later in life, Eleanor's Court of Ladies in Poitiers helped lift feminine minds from their domination by the twin male hierarchies of Church and state.

Eleanor spent much of her life listening (to Peter Abelard perhaps), certainly to Abbot Suger, several bards, and William Marshall. Her life was a fight, as she pleaded, loved, hated, counseled and argued with an A-list of medieval luminaries: husbands Louis VII and Henry II, Thomas Becket, several popes, more bishops, the future Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, the Holy Roman Emperor, dukes and lesser nobles.

She also had eight children, by two kings -- especially troubling were three power-hungry sons, Young Henry, Richard the Lionheart and King John. She voices sharp opinions of just about everyone in her family and her circle before she tells us, 'They left me worn, these men, but they didn't level me!' No human could do that. Eleanor leaves us a medieval memoir worthy of her life.