Un fiero gusto per lo scarlatto e il miniver

I’ve always been fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine, and this book’s setup of her waiting in Heaven for Henry II gave me such a unique, intimate window into her life. The way her story unfolds from that heavenly vantage point made history feel personal and lively, and I finished it in one sitting. I

I've reread this book so many times over the years, and the way Eleanor's voice stays sharp and witty even from Heaven never gets old. The waiting-room conversations with her friends are such a clever way to tell history, and it still makes me laugh and tear up in equal measure.

The idea of Eleanor recounting her own story from Heaven, waiting centuries for Henry, pulled me in right away—it's such a clever framing. The dialogue feels so alive that I genuinely forgot I was reading historical fiction, and the way it weaves in her perspective as both a queen and a mother kept