This week my First Line comes from one of my favorite books on medieval queens - partly because Eleanor is given a lot of attention, and also because I do not personally care much for Elizabeth I and like to see other women who ruled before her, even as consort, given their proper attention.
I am cheating a bit again, as I am taking my first line from section III, which is where Eleanor's story begins:
"A casual observer at Henry II's court in September 1166 might have been forgiven for thinking that Eleanor of Aquitaine was the most conventional of queens."
I don't know how anyone could have thought that for a moment - especially her contemporaries!
After you leave your first line below, check out what my fellow First Liners have waiting for you this week. If you want to play too, contact Carrie from Reading is my SuperPower.
Bree - Bibliophile Reviews
Rachel - Bookworm Mama
Heather - Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
Beth - Faithfully Bookish
Katie - Fiction Aficionado
Lauraine - Lauraine's Notes
Andi - Radiant Light
Carrie - Reading is my SuperPower
Robin - Robin's Nest
Sydney - Singing Librarian
Kathleen - Kathleen Denly
Amanda - With a Joyful Noise
Happy Reading!
Sarah
Anna's Crossing
ReplyDeleteby Suzanne Woods Fisher
And the fist line is...
April 15th, 1737
"It's a hard crossing, they'd been warned. Eight weeks in a wooden tub with no guarantee they'd ever get there."
Happy reading and happy Friday!
hey Heather, thank you for coming by! I am so in awe of people who made that voyage from Europe (or anywhere else) to the US in those centuries. I can't even imagine. Happy Reading!
DeleteMy first line is: “Preston Tyler lowered his feet from the deck railing & leaned forward as his gaze followed the Jeep pulling up next to the Fontaines’ cabin across the lake.” From Presumed Dead by Angela Ruth Strong
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, happy Friday! Who is presumed dead??!!
DeleteI'm loving these quotes from historical books. :) I enjoy reading non-fiction.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda, thank you for coming by! I am glad that you are enjoying them, I love sharing my knowledge of Queen Eleanor :)
DeleteLol! Conventional she was NOT! I need to get a copy of this book :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's one of my favorites. I'm not fond of the term "she-wolves", because I think of the negative connotation of Edward II's wife, Isabella of France (who is also included in the book, but has a full biography dedicated to herself with the same title.) This one actually starts out talking about the death of Edward VI and ends discussing briefly Mary I's reign, then Elizabeth. In between we see the strong women who ruled first, starting with Matilda, daughter of Henry I.
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