1133-1189

Henry II surprises England by naming his fellow rogue and trusted confidant Thomas Becket as Chancellor. But when Henry next appoints him Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket shocks the world by openly defying the King with his newfound faith and compassion. Will a desperate ruler now destroy a beloved friend to save his splintering kingdom?.

Christmas of 1183 finds Henry II of England and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine together in the castle at Chinon, where he flaunts his latest mistress while she plots against him with their sons, all the time loving each other to distraction.

Eleanor lived in a time when a woman's value was measured by her rank and the number of sons she bore. Eleanor excelled at both---she married two kings and bore ten children--and more. She was the intelligent heiress to the vast Duchy of Aquitaine. Her leadership inspired the loyalty of her people but she was continually doubted and silenced by the men who ruled beside her. But through it all she remained stubborn, high-spirited, and firm in her beliefs.

Offers a fictionalized account of the life of Eleanor, the Duchess of Aquitaine, and her life in the wealthy and powerful province in the south of France.

Discusses the events surrounding the murder of Thomas ? Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the living conditions in England during the reign of Henry II.

Adelia Aguilar, King Henry II's mistress of the art of death, is commanded by the king to accompany his ten-year-old daughter Joanna to Palermo to marry William II of Sicily, and she takes along her Arab companion Mansur, her lover Rowley, and the Irish sea captain O'Donnell, all of whom come in handy when members of the princess's household come under attack by a murderer.

Examines the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, describes the culture and philosophy of the twelfth century, discusses the emergence of troubadour culture, and summarizes two literary works of the period.