A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver

A charming and rewarding little book. Well-researched and historically-grounded, it captures the characters and the events well, truly, and succinctly, helping make a time that might otherwise seem dead or be ignored instead come vibrantly alive for her target audience (the young adult reader).Konigsburg here is at her best in respecting the intelligence of her targeted young readers, with prose, constructions, and wry/light humor that make the characters and events accessible to modern audiences without talking down or dumbing down complicated situations.This book has particular value as a gateway that encourages deeper explorations of history and biography – showing that history, far from necessarily being boring or dry, was the story of how and why lives were lived. (History is also the “mine” from which so much of today’s TV, movie, and other fiction, draws its material.) The book’s distinctiveness and quality will help it serve as a lamp that shines in the memory of a young reader for years after having read it. And of course the subject of the book is one of the most remarkable women of history – who was also encouraged and supported in reading and learning from a young age.

Eleanor of Aquitaine was a vivid, fascinating woman who lived and made a great deal of history. A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver imagines her in Heaven, waiting impatiently for her second husband, Henry II, to arrive for his judgement and (hopefully) admittance into Heaven.While she waits, she visits with three other associates from her life on earth: her mother-in-law Matilda, Archbishop Suger, and William Marshall. They take turns telling the parts of her life's story that each of them is most familiar with.It's a wonderful introduction to Eleanor and all the famous people from history that her life intersected with, and does a particularly nice job of showing her accomplishments: an introduction to the ideals of chivalry at her Court of Love, her commssioning of poets and authors to "improve" the stories of King Arthur, and her and Henry II's efforts to bring about the Rule of Law in England. I found it valuable for these things even as a mature reader. A young reader would find it a great story well told, without even having to be aware of how much they were learning.

This is an outstanding book. The life of Eleanor of Aquitaine is interesting enough in itself, but this book gives it an even deeper richness. The book is funny and witty through and through, but never shallow. I even cried several times. The picture it paints of human nature, in all its forms, is breathtaking. As a Catholic and lover of medieval history and culture, I was enthralled by the well-rendered, bittersweet relationships between so many major figures of history and saints...Eleanor, King Louis, King Henry, St. Bernard, St. Thomas Becket, Richard the Lion Hearted, etc. I loved hearing the story from 4 points of view. It was amazing to feel that I had traveled through hearts, decades and across the world in a book of only 200 pages, from the early morning of Eleanor's bright life in France to the exotic Christianity of Constantinople and Antioch, to grey England with its farmers and shopkeepers, to the joys of romance and family life, the sorrows of loving and losing, the reality of jealousy and revenge, and ultimately to forgiveness, loyalty to God and man, and long-awaited reunions in heaven. Read this! I have never seen such love for history and all things human and divine in the pages of any piece of historical fiction, young adult or other.

I didn't know if my boys (age 10) would enjoy this or not, but having the story told by characters in heaven, watching earth from the clouds, tickled their imaginations, so that they were ready to hear more. Overall, they enjoyed the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine. We read it, along with The Door in the Wall and The Canterbury Tales (Geraldine McCaughrean), in conjunction with a homeschool unit on the Middle Ages.

We are doing Susan Wise Bauer's "Story of the World" volume 2 (middle ages) and I got this as supplemental reading. It is a wonderful book and a fantastic supplement for chapter 19 (king richard/king john.) I am so thrilled to have a good tale about a powerful female historical figure from the middle ages (Eleanor of Aquitaine) told in such an engaging way. I read it aloud at bedtime for my 9 year-old daughter and she really enjoyed it. The tale is funny and full of great historical background.

I teach this period of history and found the book accurate and gripping. What an incredible way to bring Eleanor and Henry to life!

Excellent middle-level reading book (but thoroughly enjoyed by adult readers as well) to spark interest in Historical Fiction. Written from a clever viewpoint with great character development through witty conversation. This book sparked a frenzy into further readings of French and British historical fiction as well as non-fiction in a quest for knowledge of what was "once upon a time" a reality. Very enjoyable, indeed!

This book was part of my daughter's history curriculum, and I thought I'd read the first chapter to her before she finished the story herself. We never got very far into the book.I realize many people find this fanciful, far-fetched view of "heaven" to be okay, since it is a fictional rendition of an historical character. But, if you are a protestant Christian, it would seem to be too hard to get past the notion of purgatory, going through hell because you aren't quite ready for heaven yet. Either the blood of Christ paid for our sins, or it didn't. The notion of people arguing on the clouds, their fingers drumming interrupting TV reception was just ridiculous. My daughter was as offended with the premise as I was. It took far too long to get to the meat of the story, which should be the life of this fascinating, real woman.I guess we'll have to find other resources to study the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

I originally saw the name of the book in a YouTube video comment, that was about the Queens of the UK (I believe) and I figured what the heck, so I purchased it & I loved the book. It's worth the money spent.

Paguei R$ 8,00 nele. É em edição simples. Não tem orelha, as folhas são folhas - cinzas de jornal. Pelo preço que eu paguei, foi bom.

I read this book many years ago when pregnant with my daughter. I was so impressed with Eleanor of Acquitaine that I named her after this magnificent queen. Rereading the book I found the writing a little clunky but the devise of telling her story through the eyes of those around her in heaven is intriguing. This is a young adult level book, suitable for all ages.