The Autumn Throne

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Book 3

By: Elizabeth Chadwick

Narrated by: Katie Scarfe

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

Lovely

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story and it was read beautifully by the narrator. Each character came alive and I felt totally enthralled chapter after chapter. I wholeheartedly recommend this story.

Great author grate narrative beautiful story

Very beautiful book contains everything which will make you enjoy a book. Love happiness reality war madness and finely life.

I recommend it to every one with no age limit

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.

The Entire Trilogy was Outstanding

All three of the books in this trilogy were excellent. I can't remember when I have enjoyed a series as much. I plan to read more by this author as soon as possible, and I hope she will continue to will live up to my very high expectations.

I have read several biographies of Eleanor's life, and although these three novels are historical fiction, the author stayed close to the facts as I know them. Such authenticity is vital to me when actual people are being portrayed. Of course an author must use a good deal of imagination to fill in details and conversations that are unknown, but those additions must be coherent with the historic record. I was impressed with how well Elizabeth Chadwick managed to do that while weaving this engaging version of Eleanor's long and eventful life.

I thoroughly enjoyed these books and gained a better understanding of Eleanor, the people who shared her life, and the historic significance of them and the the times they lived in.

Worth the wait!

If, like me, you've read the other two amazing volumes of Eleanor of Aquitaine's life, this final chapter will satisfy you no end. Elizabeth Chadwick's richly researched and powerfully well written books make history alive in a way that few other writers have done before her. Be sure to have Kleenex available for the last chapter!