Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia at The Printed Page but is currently on a monthly tour. The month of February is hosted by the Library of Clean Reads. Stop by and check them out!
One book arrived in my mailbox this week from my lovely friend Ms. Lucy at Enchanted by Josephine! This was one of the prizes for participating in the French Historicals Ooh La La! challenge in 2010. I selected Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball. Here is the blurb:
"Beautiful and brilliant, Eleanor is the daughter of the duke of Aquitaine, whose glittering court is the twelfth-century birthplace of courtly love. For all of the duke’s boasts that Eleanor has the brains of a man and the soul of a warrior, everyone knows that a girl of fifteen cannot possibly hold the richest dukedom in France. Everyone, that is, except her dying father, who insists on leaving Eleanor his most valuable provinces---and making her prey to the first baron who rides in to kidnap her.
"Beautiful and brilliant, Eleanor is the daughter of the duke of Aquitaine, whose glittering court is the twelfth-century birthplace of courtly love. For all of the duke’s boasts that Eleanor has the brains of a man and the soul of a warrior, everyone knows that a girl of fifteen cannot possibly hold the richest dukedom in France. Everyone, that is, except her dying father, who insists on leaving Eleanor his most valuable provinces---and making her prey to the first baron who rides in to kidnap her.
Eleanor, though, is not content to sit idly by and let herself become a victim, and devises a plan to marry the heir to the throne of France. While her alliance to Louis VII may be a dazzling one, her husband is a cautious man whose wit and courage do not always match Eleanor’s own, and she ultimately finds herself seeking an even greater match with Henry II of England. Sweeping from the courts of Paris to the perils of the Crusades, Duchess of Aquitaine gloriously illuminates the life of one of the most powerful, resourceful, and fascinating women in all of history."
Thanks Lucy!
What came in your mailbox this week?
Love that Eleanor! And that is a gorgeous cover...
ReplyDeleteOooooh, this looks terrific! (I definitely judge a book by its cover!)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Christy and Joanne. That's a fabulous cover. I've not read Ball before, so I looked her up. Her previous books have been fantasy and science fiction. It's interesting to see authors who have such breadth in their talent.
ReplyDeleteChristy - I figured that you would be interested in that one!
ReplyDeleteJoanne - I think it is an interesting cover, but not my favorite.
Christine - I think that is interesting that she had previously written sci-fi and fantasy - I am interested in seeing what her style is like.
oh my gosh, what a gorgeous cover!! I haven't read anything about eleanor, but i need to!!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good and what a strong, beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover. She was certainly a fascinating woman.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome Heather:) I hope you enjoy it and can't wait to read your review on it. xoxo
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteI can hardly wait to read your thoughts on Duchess of Aquitaine. It sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteI received 3 books, one is my most coveted of 2011.
Carrie - I would recommend Christy English's books - which I haven't reviewed on here yet - The Queen's Pawn and the upcoming To Be Queen - both about Eleanor and are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMystica - it definitely shows off her strength.
Oh, I hope you enjoy it!
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