The Plantagenet Prelude

The first in Plaidy's Plantagenet series it starts off kind of in the nearing middle of the end of the last book. It deals mostly with Eleanor and her marriage to Louis VII of France. Now I've read The Courts of Love before I read this, and this depiction of Eleanor is so very different from the latter book. Eleanor in this one is seen to be a bit of a wench. She's still a really strong woman, but compared to The Courts of Love, she's not really that nice. I think Plaidy, in the COL has Eleanor as a more sympathetic character than in this one maybe because it was written from a first person perspective than in third like this one. From the very beginning Eleanor knows she's meant to rule, and tries hard to rule over the men she has to share space with. But because of the times she's not given her proper due, and I believe she resents this immensely. She's upset because her husband, Louis VII, is weak and other men see her in a way her husband doesn't. A more mysterious and loving way. She's not adverse to sleeping with a few. Her uncle and Saladin were just a few of the men she's supposed to have slept with, and in this book, it's accepted that she was 100% ok with this. In the second half it doesn't really deal all that much with the marriage between herself and Henry II, but with Henry and Thomas Becket. That was where the book really picked up for me because I felt this relationship was explored more fully than in COL. You felt the love and hatred between these two men really well, though more on Henry's part than on Thomas's. Eleanor features in this half of the book, but more as an interferring wife than in a real political role. I felt that was a bit unfortunate. But being that this is very Henry focused it does work. The moments leading up to the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew what was going to happen. Plaidy writes it with a bit of suspense, which is a nice way to end the novel. I think this is a good start to a series and I can't wait to read and learn more about this all important House.

The Plantagenet Prelude is yet another Jean Plaidy novel that I throughly enjoyed. It's filled with lust, deceit, anger and jealousy. And to think it's all based on true events. The novel starts off with the beautiful Eleanor of Aquitaine. She's overbearing and lustful, a lover of poetry and romantic song. Upon her father's death, she's marries King Louis of France, who was meek and could not satisfy Eleanor's desires, for he had longed to lead his life in the church. She accompanies Louis on his crusade to the Holy Land and after meeting the Infidel, Eleanor, King Louis and his army rest in Antioch where Eleanor has lustful affairs with two men. After some time, having grown horribly bored with her husband, who loves her more than she could ever know, she beds the next king of England, Henry Plantagenet and is granted the divorce she so longed for. Quickly after, she and Henry marry. Soon after King Stephen of England dies, Henry is crowned King. Eleanor is blissfully happy with her passionate husband, some twelve years her junior. But Henry will soon disappoint her as he is incapable of being faithful. And so, Eleanor's happiness turns into anger. Eleanor is pregnant throughout this book, it seems she has a child every year-give or take. In all, Eleanor bares Henry seven living children! (She had two daughters in her first marriage!) The book turns towards Henry's relationship with his Chancellor, and soon to be Archbishop, Thomas Becket. They have a kinship, but Henry's desire for ultimate power and Thomas's faith in God soon destroys that. Jean Plaidy is a master at bringing the reader into the medieval world, opening many windows and leading us towards a hidden door that begs to be opened!

A totally engrossing book, one which covers the Plantagenet years under Eleanor of Acquitaine and her husband, King Louis of France. Eleanor was a strong, forceful character, as different from her husband as oil and water. She created the courts of love, reviving the code of chivalry in the French nobility. Through her marriage to Louis, she virtually redrew the map of France. Eleanor was the epitome of the saying, "Behind every successful man is a strong woman." Here Jean Plaidy brings these characters and more to life with a sumptuous look at the way royalty lived in the 11th and 12th centuries. I am hoping this book will come out in a reprint, as it is a classic Plaidy. It is a strong, powerful book about a crucial period in French and English histories.

This book is the first book in Jean Plaidy's Plantagenet Saga. The book starts off with the beautiful Eleanor of Aquitaine. She's 15 and her father goes off on a pilgrimage because he wants a son to be the duke of Aquitaine. But he doesn't survive. Eleanor is now the duchess of Aquitaine. France wants Aquitaine to go with the crown of France, so they marry Eleanor to the Dauhpin, Louis. At first they like eachother and get along. Louis admires her and loves her very much. He was scared about getting married, but beautiful Eleanor made in better. But Louis stays up all night praying. Eleanor feels that she has married a monk. She finds life in the court of France different than spirited Aquitaine. She only has a daughter, Marie, who she does love, but she wants a son too. When Louis goes on a crusade, Eleanor comes along with her ladies. She brings many gowns and jewellery. But during a battle it is all ruined. She's furious. When she gets to Antioch, where her uncle is Prince, she rejoices in the nice clothes and the life there. Soon her and her uncle, Raymond become lovers. But, she is caught by one of Louis' men and they leave Antioch. At this point, Eleanor hates Louis. She asks him for an anullment, but he says no. She states that they only have one child, and they are fourth cousins. She appeals to the pope, but he make them bed his own bed. She does get with child and has another daughter named Alix. After returning to France, she meets Count Geoffrey Plantagenet. She becomes his mistress, but when she hears about his son, Henry who already has bastards, she goes to Henry's bed. She loves Henry and desperately seeks an annullment from Louis. He reluctantly agrees. Eleanor says goodbye to her daughters and goes to England and marries Henry. In this book, you will see more about how Henry and Eleanor's marriage went sour. You will meet her sons and daughters. There is also the Thomas Becket episode. This is my favourite book in the Plantagenet Saga. If you like this, you should read "The Revolt of the Eaglets," and all of the other books in the Plantagenet Saga.