Eleanor of Provence – Queenship in Thirteeth–Century England

The book draws on the rich sources available, to reveal the interaction of the private and public facets of the queen's life, the cultural and spiritual influences to which she responded and the character of her queenship. Eleanor's changing relationships with her husband and her eldest son, the future Edward I, are here explored in both their personal and political context. The author looks finally at the years of Eleanor's widowhood, her entry into Amesbury still in control of her dower, and her death and commemoration in 1291.

Eleanor of Provence provides an unusually intimate and coherent picture of a woman who combined a remarkable aptitude for politics with a strong family commitment and warm friendships. The book will be welcomed by all those interested in the workings of medieval politics and court life, and in the public and private role of queens.