I'm not done yet, but this week's book is a chunker. The epic biography of one of the most fascinating women in history, Eleanor of Aquitaine by Alison Weir wins the top (and to be honest, only) spot.
At a time when women were considered chattel, Eleanor lived large and -relatively- in charge of her domain. Her marriage to Henry II of England changed the course of European history, and her descendents held the throne of England for over 300 years.
Weir's work is not the most exciting read, but is not overly pedantic either. She refrains from overt speculation on areas that are tempting diversions, but does include documented rumors for a bit of titillation. Compared to some of the racier biographies of more contemporary figures, Weir keeps to the straight and narrow, but it is not dry. This is probably because Eleanor was so amazing.
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