Discover Most Popular Audiobooks in Fiction, Historical Top Rated

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Title: Among the Wonderful

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Stacy Carlson

Narrator: Wendy Ellison Mullen

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-29-11

Publisher: steerforth press l.l.c.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 7 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

In 1842 Phineas T. Barnum is a young man, freshly arrived in New York and still unknown to the world. With uncanny confidence and impeccable timing, he transforms a dusty natural history museum into a great ark for public imagination. Barnum's museum, with its human wonders and extraordinary live-animal menagerie, rises to become not only the nation's most popular attraction, but also a catalyst that ushers America out of a culture of glassed-in exhibits and into the modern age of entertainment.

In this kaleidoscopic setting, the stories of two compelling characters are brought to life. Emile Guillaudeu is the museum's grumpy taxidermist, who is horrified by the chaotic change Barnum brings to his beloved institution. Ana Swift is a professional giantess plagued by chronic pain and jaded by a world of gawkers. The differences between these two are many: one is isolated and spends his working hours making dead things look alive, while the other has people pushing against her, and reacting to her, every day. But they both move toward change, one against his will, propelled by a paradigm shift happening whether he likes it or not, and the other because she is struggling to survive.

In many shapes and forms, metamorphosis is at the core of Among the Wonderful. Pursuing this theme, the book weaves a world where upper Manhattan is still untrammeled wilderness, the Five Points is at the height of its bloody glory, and within the walls of Barnum's museum, ancient tribal feuds play out in the midst of an unlikely community of marvels.

Critic Reviews:

"Carlson ably exploits this historical milieu, describing the milling crowds in the exhibition halls; the malodorous, dangerous alleyways of the slum called Five Points; the swampy, still-wild edges of Upper Manhattan.... [she] writes sensitively, often beautifully, of the desire to be free of the gaze of others, of the misery of serving as a mirror in which others may see themselves." (The New York Times Book Review)

"Intelligent, engrossing and utterly unique." (Library Journal)

Members Reviews:

it's a shame audible can't be bothered...

the story is absolutely fantastic. the narrator also does a good job. the editing, however, on this recording has done rough edges that could be easily fixed. there are a few errors which simply weren't omitted. Also there is no time delay between the end of one segment or chapter and the beginning of another. this can be quite confusing. I wrote to audible FIVE days ago, they did not deign to reply except with and automated message telling me someone would contract me within one business day. I guess they are on vacation.

Good novel, dreadful narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Not time well spent. The novel is good enough that I suffered through the narration, but I almost quit a dozen times.

How could the performance have been better?

I can't understand why such a dreadful narrator was given this book to read. She has only one tedious rhythm for every sentence: eventually, I came to dread her grim downward declension as each sentence ended. You could nap to her reading, as the cadence of her voice rarely varies.

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Title: The Brides House

Author: Sandra Dallas

Narrator: Nicole Poole

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-18-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 78 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The New York Times best-selling author of Whiter Than Snow, Sandra Dallas delivers a novel about the secrets and passions of three generations of women who live in a Victorian Colorado house. While the house is under construction in 1880, a 17-year-old servant imagines living in the Brides House with one of her several suitors. Decades later, the legacy and secrets of earlier Brides House women cause the current occupant to question what she really wants and who she truly loves.

Members Reviews:

Another story of courage

Where does The Brides House rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

The Bride's House is one of the best stories I've listened to in a long time. Sandra Dallas doesn't disappoint--you can count on her to to deliver a captivating story of strength and perseverance.

What did you like best about this story?

I was caught up in the plight of the characters, and I loved following the plot through three generations of women.

What does Nicole Poole bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

I judge a narrator's performance by her ability to advance the story and not get in the way of the story. Nicole Poole was just right. Her voices were distinct, and her emotions were spot on. I quickly stopped listening to her, and I listened to the flow of the story. It was a great read!

good nook

i loved the book 1 book 3 different stories its just great. really good. Good

Best book yet

I'm listening to all of Sandra Dallas audiobooks and I loved this one very much.

Skip this one!

I have read many of Sandra Dallas' books and loved them all. This one is a stinker. It's story is dull and very slow moving. Pushed through to end only because I paid for it.

The narrator is also bad. I would describe her as cheesy. Many of her voices made the characters seem ridiculous.

Basically, just skip this one. Move on to a different Dallas novel.

Not too bad

It kept my attention. There was a good twist at the end. The narrator had a decent voice.

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Title: Conquistadora

Author: Esmeralda Santiago

Narrator: Esmeralda Santiago

Format: Unabridged

Length: 17 hrs and 45 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-12-11

Publisher: Random House Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 76 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

An epic novel of love, discovery, and adventure by the author of the best-selling memoir When I Was Puerto Rican.

As a young girl growing up in Spain, Ana Larragoity Cubillas is powerfully drawn to Puerto Rico by the diaries of an ancestor who traveled there with Ponce de León. And in handsome twin brothers Ramón and Inocente - both in love with Ana - she finds a way to get there. She marries Ramón, and in 1844, just 18, she travels across the ocean to a remote sugar plantation the brothers have inherited on the island.

Ana faces unrelenting heat, disease and isolation, and the dangers of the untamed countryside even as she relishes the challenge of running Hacienda los Gemelos. But when the Civil War breaks out in the United States, Ana finds her livelihood, and perhaps even her life, threatened by the very people on whose backs her wealth has been built: the haciendas slaves, whose richly drawn stories unfold alongside her own. And when at last Ana falls for a man who may be her destiny - a once-forbidden love - she will sacrifice nearly everything to keep hold of the land that has become her true home.

This is a sensual, riveting tale, set in a place where human passions and cruelties collide: thrilling history that has never before been brought so vividly and unforgettably to life.

Critic Reviews:

Santiago brings passion, color, and historical detail to this Puerto Rican Gone with the Wind, featuring a hard-as-nails heroine more devoted to her plantation than to any of the men in her life... Ana grows up the willful daughter of aristocratic parents during the waning years of Spains colonial era. [She is] a not-so-innocent convent girl who marries her best friends fiancés twin brother, then heads to Puerto Rico without her friend, but with both twins in tow. The young men intend to make their fortunes, but it is Ana who has the savvy and determination to persevere through hurricanes, slave revolts, cholera and any other challenge the island has to offer... Santiago makes Caribbean history come alive through characters as human as they are iconic. The richness of her imagination and the lushness of her language will serve saga enthusiasts well, and she provides readers a massive panorama of plantation life - plus all you could ever want to know and more about growing sugar cane. (Publishers Weekly)

Extraordinary... a historical novel set in 19th Puerto Rico, featuring a high-handed, strong-willed woman determined to escape her boring upper-class future in Spain. When twin brothers inherit a sugar plantation in Puerto Rico, Ana marries them (who can tell them apart?), and they embark on what for the brothers is a lark, but for Ana is serious business. From the start, she takes to the land and the work of processing cane in the Caribbean, keeping the slaves inherited with the property and adding to their number over the years. She becomes the very image of a conquering hero: implacable, outspoken, demanding. Her husbands languish and fade while Ana runs Hacienda los Gemelos without their help. The issues of social caste, slavery, and sex roles make this a fascinating read. Its an outstanding story, full of pathos, tropical sensuality, and violence - but it also poses uncomfortable moral questions readers are forced to consider... Storytelling genius...

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Title: The Least Likely Bride

Author: Jane Feather

Narrator: Jenny Sterlin

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Language: English

Release date: 06-08-11

Publisher: Recorded Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 51 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Jane Feather, a New York Times best-selling author, receives many awards and international acclaim for her historical romances. There are now over four million copies of her books in print. The Least Likely Bride, filled with colorful heroes and villains, is set against the tumultuous backdrop of England in 1648. Lady Olivia Granville is a lovely, headstrong scholar. Anthony Caxton is a pirate. However he, too, is keenly intelligent and independent. When they meet on the high seas, their sparks of passion are as powerful as the wind. But those sparks soon become part of a larger flame--one that burns in the service of the King. The characters of The Least Likely Bride are thoroughly entertaining, and political intrigue adds additional drama to the tempestuous affair between lady and pirate. The sparking wit and subtle humor are highlighted through Jenny Sterlins charming narration.

Members Reviews:

Third in Trilogy

I didn't realise when I purchased this that it was the third in a trilogy of 'Bride' books, (The Hostage Bride, The Accidental Bride, The Least Likely Bride). There were references to plot contained within the preceding two books which made me flounder at a couple of points during this story (references to an evil step-brother who seems to be an ongoing theme for all three), but that didn't really detract from the story itself.

The Least Likely Bride is set in the time of Cromwell and the English civil war on the Isle of Wight where the King of England is imprisoned and it revolves around the scholarly and rich Olivia and the dashing pirate Anthony. While I felt more could have been made of their backgrounds and the opposing political views of the time, it is at the end of the day a romance and there were more than enough romantic moments to make up for that. Jenny Sterlin is an excellent narrator, once you get used to her slightly hesitant way of reading and the rather annoying noises she makes when she pauses (swallowing?). An enjoyable read!

I Had To Write A Different Review!

I read this book a few years ago and gave it a scathing 2 points. I either ignored the fact that it was the last in a series, or didn't notice. I recently decided to give JF another chance and boy am I glad I did! I read the "Hostage Bride" and was so totally engaged I downloaded the "Accidental Bride",which was not quite as good as Hostage, but was an enjoyable listen. I am now re-listening to Least Likely again, and now knowing the background and personality of Olivia, I can understand her angst and what had struck me as her silliness. This book reveals what the despicable Brian had done to Olivia that caused her to start stuttering.

Yes, this could be an ok stand alone book if the reader is only interested in the romance, but if read in sequence, it becomes a great read. The only reason I did not give it 5 stars is because the "Hostage Bride" was the absolute best in the series for me. I felt a profound sense of "ok, I get it" as I listened to "Least Likely", and knowing the background, made me realize the pirate is the absolutely best person for Olivia!

This book also answered some of my lingering questions regarding how the families handled their different stances regarding the war and the exiled king.

Read the series in order and I promise you will not be disappointed if you like hot romance with adventure and mystery!

Thank you Ms.

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Title: The Anatomy of Ghosts

Author: Andrew Taylor

Narrator: John Telfer

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-23-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 36 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

1786, Jerusalem College, Cambridge: they say Jerusalem is haunted by Mrs. Whichcote's ghost. Frank Oldershaw claims he saw her in the garden, where she drowned. Now he's under the care of a physician. Desperate to salvage her son's reputation and restore him to health, Lady Anne Oldershaw employs John Holdsworth, author of The Anatomy of Ghosts, an attack on the existence of ghostly phenomena. But his powers of reason have other challenges. Dreams of his dead wife and Elinor, the Master's wife, haunt him. At the heart of it all is the mystery of what happened to Sylvia Whichcote in the claustrophobic confines of Jerusalem.

Members Reviews:

Spooky historical mystery

I thoroughly enjoyed this intelligent book which maintains a wonderful sense of tension throughoutAre there really ghosts? How do we understand the apparent ongoing presence in our lives of those who have died? Taylor manages to conclude his story quite satisfyinglysomething that is tricky to do with this genre. Worthwhile read!

Interesting mystery with startling bawdiness!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I felt that the author was slightly non-committal with his choice of genre. I enjoyed the mystery of the story but the bawdiness of the text was so sporadic that it startled me at times. It's a bit jarring when the text isn't overall humorous.

Would you be willing to try another book from Andrew Taylor? Why or why not?

Maybe. I'd give it a shot, but if I didn't love it then I would probably give up on this author.

What does John Telfer bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

He had amazing versatility with the characters' voices. It was as if I was hearing different actors for almost every character.

Did The Anatomy of Ghosts inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to look for better mystery stories.

Any additional comments?

This mystery was interesting, I was just hoping it would be more so. It isn't an awful book. It's a fun read, and should only be read as such.

RAPE AND PEDOPHILIA! Steer clear of this book

RAPE AND PEDOPHILIA! Steer clear of this book.

Nothing in the description of this book gave any kind of indication it contained this kind of deviant sexual behavior.

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Title: Fall of Giants

Author: Ken Follett

Narrator: Dan Stevens

Format: Abridged

Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-28-10

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 80 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

A huge novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women.

It is 1911. The Coronation Day of King George V. The Williams, a Welsh coal-mining family, is linked by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocratic coal-mine owners. Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London. Their destiny is entangled with that of an ambitious young aide to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson and to two orphaned Russian brothers, whose plans to emigrate to America fall foul of war, conscription and revolution.

In a plot of unfolding drama and intriguing complexity, FALL OF GIANTS moves seamlessly from Washington to St Petersburg, from the dirt and danger of a coal mine to the glittering chandeliers of a palace, from the corridors of power to the bedrooms of the mighty.

Members Reviews:

Great story, perfect narrating

I listen to it when driving and walking and I did not want to stop driving and walking. John Lee is super!

Brilliant!

What did you love best about Fall of Giants?

Surprising, even thought we kind of know the destination it give us pure pleasure from the start to the end. And Dan Stevens is more than qualified to lead us through this audio journey. Brilliantly read with ambitious story.

Seamless

Bringing a disperate groups of characters together in a historiical environment and making them intertwine is a true art. Almost ***** but for the read; getting an English accent right is something only the English can really do.

not bad at all

over all, I thought this was a pretty good book. Some of the historical detail may bore some readers (if some of the reviews on amazon are anything to go by) but I found them fascinating and, you'll learn a lot reading this book. all Folletts usual plot devices are here, love, loss betrail and separation. my only sadness about the book is how abridged it is. its nearly 13 hours long but probably only captures a third of the text. this is really apparent at some points where the abridgement seems to be very clunky and charictors jump whole continents (e.g. from Cardiff to New York) with little or no explanation of how they got there... I doubt the master story teller Follett would have made this mistake.

so, to sum up, a good book but suffers for its abridgement and I hope audible will get an unabridged version some day.

Fall of Giants

I was very disappointed that this was abridged. The best bits of the book were left out.

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Title: Heartstone

Author: C. J. Sansom

Narrator: Anton Lesser

Format: Abridged

Length: 7 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-09-10

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Publishers Ltd.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Summer, 1545. England is at war. Henry VIIIs invasion of France has gone badly wrong, and a massive French fleet is preparing to sail across the Channel. As the English fleet gathers at Portsmouth, the country raises the largest militia army it has ever seen. The King has debased the currency to pay for the war, and England is in the grip of soaring inflation and economic crisis.

Meanwhile Matthew Shardlake is given an intriguing legal case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. Asked to investigate claims of monstrous wrongs committed against a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death, Shardlake and his assistant Barak journey to Portsmouth.

Once arrived, Shardlake and Barak find themselves in a city preparing to become a war zone; and Shardlake takes the opportunity to also investigate the mysterious past of Ellen Fettipace, a young woman incarcerated in the Bedlam. The emerging mysteries around the young ward, and the events that destroyed Ellens family 19 years before, involve Shardlake in reunions both with an old friend and an old enemy close to the throne. Events will converge on board one of the Kings great warships, primed for battle in Portsmouth harbour....

Members Reviews:

Abridged ?

Sansom and Lesser great as always but why was it necessary to abridge the book ?

Excellent book, well read

CJ Sansom's lawyer/detective is once again on a royal job that he doesn't particularly want. The writing is inspired and together with the actual historical events that are entwined in the story line, the Matthew Shardlake series of books are a pleasure to read... you can almost "smell" the 16th Century from the description. And, Anton Lesser's narration is once again excellent... just enough accent and voice change between characters to recognise each one, without getting into the world of silly voices!

If you haven't read one of these yet, I really recommend starting with "Dissolution" and going through in order, but if you start here you'll still enjoy the ride!

Intriguing, historically accurate story.

Would you consider the audio edition of Heartstone to be better than the print version?

First CJ Hanson novel so can't compare

What other book might you compare Heartstone to, and why?

Phillipa Gregory for the interweaving of history and fiction

What does Anton Lesser bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

He gives the character's their voice which I can't do in my head.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Intriguing,murder mystery set in Tudor England

Any additional comments?

My first C J Hanson novel but definitely not the last - so glad my friend recommended the novels.. Going to put another on my ipod for a long haul flight - I'd rather listen to a book than watch a movie.

Tudor times brought to life

Where does Heartstone rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

The best

Who was your favorite character and why?

Matthew Shardlake is an honest compassionate lawyer who you'd be glad to have on your side if you were in trouble.A warm, kind, sensitive man who has to bear the affliction of being a hunchback in a time when such a condition aroused fear and suspicion.

What does Anton Lesser bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

Anton Lesser is simply the best reader.

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Title: The Conservationist

Author: Nadine Gordimer

Narrator: Nadia May

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 38 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-30-10

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 32 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Mehring, a rich, powerful and vital industrialist, has all the privileges and possessions that South Africa has to offer. But his possessions refuse to remain objects: his wife, son, and mistress leave him; his foreman and workers become increasingly indifferent to his stewardship; and even the land rises up, as drought, then flood, destroy his farm.

Nadine Gordimer, winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature, paints a fascinating portrait of a man both reckless and calculating, a conservationist left only with the possibility of self-preservation, in this subtle and detailed study of the forces and relationships that seethe in South Africa today. Joint winner of the Booker Prize.

Critic Reviews:

Gordimer has written what must be considered her masterpiece. The beauty and largeness of this land she loves is drawn with a breadth and scope that is breathtaking. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Nadia May assumes different accents with complete authority. The listener is literally transported to the South African veldt. (Library Journal)

This is a novel of enormous power. (New Statesman)

Members Reviews:

New chapter?

New chapters are not delineated in any way. Not up to audible standards generally. But glad it is available.

Retains its strong relevance and message

Gordimer's prose is vivid and expressive. The story remains relevant despite changes in the country. Worth listening and remembering a great writer.

Writing is spectacular ...

This is a book that I wanted to read and enjoy for some time now. The author was a Nobel literature winner and profuse writer of politically charged novels in apartheid South Africa. This book was also the joint winner of the 1974 Booker Prize for Fiction.

As I read this quick pacing novel, it reminded me of the writing of V.S. Naipaul. With the words so beautifully threaded, the pleasure of the sentence was paramount to its strength and beauty. The book is laced in metaphor for the plight of the black African against the dominance of the master white regime. Yet it also covers the simmering tensions of other ethnic groups such as the Indian traders in the outskirts of the farm. Some controversial (for the time) sexual content is also scattered across the pages bringing some hilarity to the story.

Ultimately, the weakness lies in the lack of a story. For me, it was just too strong intellectually where some of the intricate nuances against apartheid and its evil are hidden in a dense fog. But that was not the fault of the author but my lack of understanding.

The awful weakness of the narration was unforgivable in this Audible release.

I tried three times to listen to this book.

The voice of the narrator is so irritating that my mind kept drifting off so as not to have to listen to it. I found myself sometimes an half hour further, not knowing what I had heard. Sometimes I even fell asleep. I think that the story is a good one, but in this form with this narrator it is impossible to really know.

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Title: Love in a Cold Climate

Author: Nancy Mitford

Narrator: Patricia Hodge

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-01-10

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 20 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Groomed from a young age for marriage by her mother, the fearsome Lady Montdore, Polly causes a scandal when she declares her love for her uncle, the lecherous lecturer, and runs off to France.

Members Reviews:

Brilliantly read!

What a combination - Nancy Mitford and Patricia Hodge! The latter reads this book superbly, capturing the essence of the various characters perfectly. This is the only version 'one' need listen to - the UNABRIDGED one and read by a truly great actress.

Cold Climate - Hot Stuff

If you could sum up Love in a Cold Climate in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant, stylish, ironic

What other book might you compare Love in a Cold Climate to, and why?

Brideshead Revisited is also an account of aristocratic life in the 1930s. But whereas Waugh was besotted and romantic about it, Nancy Mitford knew it from inside and is mercilesslly ironic without ever being malicious. She can see the end of the lifestyle she describes so brillantly without any of Waugh's tragic regrets.

It's also nice to come a across a pre 1960 novel that accepts gays.

Have you listened to any of Patricia Hodges other performances? How does this one compare?

No, but she is perfect for this book. She also does not use an irritating convention of using a gruff voice for male characters.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh but found it deeply satisfying.

Excellent performance, enjoyable listen

What did you like most about Love in a Cold Climate?

The comical timing of the performance

Would you recommend Love in a Cold Climate to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes to my family, we are almost as ridiculous as the people in this book and I know they would love it.

Any additional comments?

I laughed out loud several times while listening to this book. It is very funny and Patricia Hodge's performance is wonderful. I have recommended it to lots of people and will definitely listen again.

Superb

This book was brilliant and extremely well read.

Brilliant book perfectly narrated

Nancy Mitford captures the era and the characters to perfection. She draws you into the world of the faded aristocracy with a perceptive but kind wit. This is the sort of book you don't want to end. Patricia Hodge is an excellent narrator who brings each character to life effortlessly.

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Title: Eleanor the Queen

Author: Norah Lofts

Narrator: Nicolette McKenzie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 07-22-10

Publisher: ISIS Audio Books

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Eleanoryoung, high-spirited, supremely intelligent, heiress to the vast Duchy of Aquitaine at a time when a womans value was measured in terms of wealth. Her vivid leadership inspired and dazzled those about her. And yet, born to rule, she was continually repressed and threatened by the men who overshadowed her life.

This is the story of a brilliant, medieval figure of a princess who led her own knights to the Crusades, who was bride to two kings and mother of Richard the Lionheart. It is the rich, incredible story of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Members Reviews:

The Queen of Chivalry

It's been said that Eleanor is the queen who inspired the concepts of Courtly Love and inspired chivalry in her passing. True or not, Norah Lofts makes you believe it. Eleanor's story is told more or less in fast forward, and there's not much here beyond the basics of history in terms of names, dates and facts. Such is the nature of such a short novel written so many decades ago. That said, the reason to read this account is for the story and for Eleanor's strength of character. It's difficult not to admire her through this telling. Norah Lofts is one of the most underrated historical novelists, and this novel would make a great introduction to her work.

Nicolette McKenzie is an impressive narrator. She conveys the personalities of all of these characters with an honest performance that only lends to the story. Through her, Eleanor shines.

Basic facts plus a perspective.

The influence of strong women was entirely at the mercy of the males around them as shown in this historical novel. I admire strong women and Eleanor of Aquitane is one of my ancestors. It helps to get a perspective of the tmes.

Long live the queen......

It took me awile to get into this book and than I was completely hooked on the main character. Found this to be interesting......somewhat factual in the history of Queen Eleanor......Well written and narrated.