Queens of the conquest : England's medieval queens

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year

The story of England's medieval queens is vivid and stirring, packed with tragedy, high drama and even comedy. It is a chronicle of love, murder, war and betrayal, filled with passion, intrigue and sorrow, peopled by a cast of heroines, villains, stateswomen and lovers. In the first volume of this epic new series, Alison Weir strips away centuries of romantic mythology and prejudice to reveal the lives of England's queens in the century after the Norman Conquest.

Beginning with Matilda of Flanders, who supported William the Conqueror in his invasion of England in 1066, and culminating in the turbulent life of the Empress Maud, who claimed to be queen of England in her own right and fought a bitter war to that end, the five Norman queens emerge as hugely influential figures and fascinating characters.

Much more than a series of individual biographies, Queens of the Conquest is a seamless tale of interconnected lives and a rich portrait of English history in a time of flux. In Alison Weir's hands these five extraordinary women reclaim their rightful roles at the centre of English history.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Beginning with Mathilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror, and proceeding through Matilda of Scotland, Adeliza of Louvain, Matilda of Boulogne, and Empress Maude, Weir (Katherine of Aragón; The True Queen) recounts the triumphs, defeats, and sometimes contentious, often mundane lives of the queens of England, piecing together decisions and possible motivations of these strong, determined, and at times intransigent women. Gleaning a wealth of views from official documents, signed charters, journals, historical accounts, and other well-documented resources, Weir delivers a story of intrigue, fierce purpose, and intertwined histories. While this title deals primarily with the daily lives, travels, and significant events concerning these women, the book rightly includes much-needed background regarding the ruling kings, social constructs, and political atmosphere that affected the queens. Narrator Julia Franklin lends a traditional, cultured reading with a deliberately paced performance. Though this tempo provides most listeners with much needed space in which to organize details mentally, some listeners will find the pace lethargic. The audience will also find it difficult to distinguish between opinions presented by the author and quotes from other sources. VERDICT This title, though admirable in many respects, will be of little appeal. Libraries with larger collections or a need for European history and women's studies nonfiction will find this a solid addition. ["A fascinating story supported by excellent historical research": LJ 9/15/17 starred review of the Ballantine hc.]-Lisa Youngblood, Harker Heights P.L., TX © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.