The Autumn Throne

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Book 3

By: Elizabeth Chadwick

Narrated by: Katie Scarfe

Length: 18 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's Summary

Eleanor of Aquitaine.

A loving mother. A betrayed wife. A queen beyond compare.

Imprisoned by her husband, King Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of England, refuses to let her powerful husband bully her into submission, even as he forces her away from her children and her birthright.

Freed only by Henry's death, Eleanor becomes dowager Queen of England. But the competition for land and power that Henry stirred up among his sons has intensified to a dangerous rivalry.

Eleanor will need every ounce of courage and fortitude as she crosses the Alps in winter to bring Richard his bride, and travels medieval Europe to ransom her beloved son. But even her indomitable spirit will be tested to its limits as she attempts to keep the peace between her warring sons, and find a place in the centres of power for her daughters.

Eleanor of Aquitaine's powerful story is brought to a triumphant and beautiful close by much-loved author Elizabeth Chadwick.

©2016 Elizabeth Chadwick (P)2016 Little Brown Book Group

Critic Reviews

 "'An author who makes history come gloriously alive' The Times 

 'Meticulous research and strong storytelling' Woman & Home  

 'A sumptuous ride' Toby Clements, Daily Telegraph 

Beautiful story in the vein of Braveheart

Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of my favorite historical figures. Sometimes greatness is aligned with destiny. Not often but it happens and when it does it's magnificent. Such is the case with Eleanor and Elizabeth Chadwick has done her research. Fortunately, because Eleanor is so interesting there's not too much fiction needed. She's colored the black-and-white photos but the bones of the facts are there. Add William Marshall to the mix and you I have characters that are so inspiring it's hard to believe they lived. I highly recommend Chadwick's Marshall series also, and The Scarlet Lion (the story of Richard the Lion Heart). these three major players lives are so intertwined you can't tell the story of one without mentioning the others. What a great way to get a feeling for history.
I love these books as much as I did Braveheart. What magnificent people.

Romance novel, at best.

Unfortunately this book feels more like a romance novel than good historical fiction. Eleanor of Aquitaine was a strong, heroic woman of the middle ages. She was twice queen consort. She was the mother of multiple kings. She was prisoner, thinker, leader. She suffered many devastating losses. She was superbly intriguing and is a perfect example of what it means to be a feminist. But in this series she often comes off as whiny and simpering. She is dependent rather than leader. I am surprised by all the five star reviews. I have read many better historical fiction novels, and several about Eleanor. Average.

Eleanor was a badass!

Eleanor of Aquitaine is no mere queen. She is THE Queen. Who else in history do you know of who dealt so well with not one but two power hungry, controlling, and sadistic kings? Who won the world? Eleanor did. But let me tell you, it wasn't easy. In this book we find Eleanor in her later years, after she managed to divorce and escape from sexist, insecure, and self centered King Louis VIII.

Eleanore, who had been blamed by Louis VIII for not bearing him sons, bore Henry II male heirs as well as used her mad skills to help him literally rule the world. What a woman, right? I bet you are thinking Henry II was very pleased and worshiped his wife. Nope. Having all that power, money, and land wasn't enough for him. Henry II made it his mission to punish Eleanor until she gave over her lands and her subsequent power. He punished her a very long time because Eleanore of Aquitaine did not allow him to defeat her.

You know how you say, "I would rather die than do (fill in the blank with some thing you think you are that resolved about)," and ask yourself if you *really* mean it. Do you really have the strength to endure hardship to hold onto what you claim to value? Eleanor did. Henry locked her away-- for a long, long time. She never once gave in. When she was taken from her children, when she didn't have adequate food, when she was practically going mad from the imprisonment, she held strong. Even when she could taste freedom, smell the air, dream of what it would be like to walk where she liked, to interact with people she desperately loved and missed, she refused to give in. She took her punishment and never let it crush her soul.

Through it all, she focused on the strength of her character. It reminds me of that scene in G.I. Jane where Jane told her fellow male soldiers that she would likely be raped. The enemy would do that to 1) destroy her inner self and 2) to upset her fellow soldiers. She told them that if she was raped, the rapists could take nothing from her. He would not have her permission to make her weak. She instructed her fellow soldiers to not react. If I made a sci-fi film, Eleanor of Aquitaine would somehow be able to time travel and she and G.I. Jane would have a discussion in which they would each think, I get you. I really get you. There were parts of her that Henry II could not defeat, no matter what he did, and because of this, because of her resolve, she is simply one of my favorite heroes of all time.

Her will was tested often, as the will of a queen often is. She endured the loss of two beloved sons and watched her daughters move to distant lands to make marriage alliances. However, she outlived Henry II by many years and enjoyed her rightful freedom and power for decades after his death. In the end, the men who tried to rule her were but a blip on her radar as she went on with her life.
#tagsgiving #sweepstakes

An Amazing Woman

This Story never gets old! The Author and the Narrator are excellent. I loved it.

Amazing trilogy.

Loved it. Beautiful expressive narrating voice and well written, comprehensive and compelling story. I feel attached to Eleanot of Aquitaine now. Highly recommend

Beautiful narration

Exceptional narration brought this incredibly interesting story alive. It was a great mix of history, romance and drama. Totally enjoyed listening to all three books in this series!

VERY female perspective

It gave some perspective & personality to some mammoth historic figures, but just a little boring.

I am a female and I enjoy books about a more patriarchal period of history. But for me, this series focused on clothes and jewelry and flirtation. Eleanor was NOT represented as a DEEP mind, and perhaps she wasn't, but since this is a fiction for a modern day it just felt a little shallow.

I struggled in the beginning & the end, somewhere in the middle I was interested. But way too "fluffy" for me.

The narrator does much of the reading very well. But, her voice was horrifically grating at the emotional parts, made me want to claw my ears out. I'm not trying to be cruel I know the lady worked hard, and she brought age to Eleanor's character very well, but I wanted to throw my phone out the car when she read for the emotional parts.

Redundant and repeated information and monotone vo

Redundant and repeated information, and monotone narration do not help this book. The history is rich, but pleased the series is finished.

Eleanor, of Aquitaine Trilogy...Awesome!

The tidbits that I've read about her in other works of historical fiction have always left me wanting more. I'm always fascinated about the queens who give birth to great dynasties. But this was the first time I wished to have been a noble lady in waiting to a queen. .Lol..I was so engrossed that I took a a couple of vacation days, purchased my favorite snacks and stayed home to listen to all three books.. Elizabeth Chadwick has a new fan and Katie Scarfe can read to me from the cereal box and I'll hang on her every word. Simply marvelous!

Another awesome story by Chadwick!

Very much enjoyed Katie Scafe's performance of the story. Chadwick's writing always keeps me enticed and her symbolism is very direct and to the point which I love!

Annoying narrator

To begin with I found the narrator really annoying because she made every female character sound really feeble and pathetic whenever they spoke. I suppose I got used to it after a while.

what a woman!

what a stunning book and fitting end to this trilogy. beautifully written and performed. Loved it and moved to tears at the end. what a woman ! x

gripping trio

I could not stop listening. This, the last book in this series, was a magnificent read. Filling in the gaps of history and recounting the life of Eleanor, queen of England and France was a breathtaking journey of intrigue, cruelty, love, happiness and heartache. A long and well lived life. I very much enjoyed this audio book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical novel's.

So good

An fab book. It has tied up the ends and the third chapter brilliantly. An amazing trilogy.

Loved it.

My only gripe, is there was no "What happened next". I would have loved to find out what happens to the lead characters.

Did Blanche have children? Did Ricensia remarry? What became of Jon's b***d son Richard?

If you want to learn about a strong & smart woman.

I was hooked from start to finish, following the just as wonderful first two books. If I could have dinner with anyone from history, it would be Eleanor. Does the narrator get trained in how to say the French areas? Could swear that she mispronounced at times but otherwise, was ok. A great book that manages to relate history and make it stick by bringing characters to life and making you feel like you are with Eleanor all the way.

I love it. The trilogy was a great listen.

I loved it. the trilogy was a great listen. good story and characters and the reader was perfect

Brilliant

Brilliant story.
Brilliantly narrated.
Such wonderful personal detail. .......
not just about Royalty, but very much about real souls and the flesh and blood of life in those times.

Thanks!

Superb!!

Third in the trilogy. Recommend all three, without reservation. History, interpretation and narration excellent. Incredible listening.

Heart rending

The concluding part of this trilogy holds you fast in its grip as the queen strives to push back the confines she finds herself bound by.