Eleanor

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An extraordinary journey that uncovers historical secrets about England’s forgotten Queen. From Alice Loxton, author of the acclaimed bestseller Eighteen.

‘Alice Loxton is the star of her generation’ – Dan Snow, historian and host of History Hit

‘I loved this beautiful, elegiac, honest and compelling book - a modern-day pilgrimage walking in the footsteps of one of the great forgotten queens’ – Kate Mosse, bestselling author of The Map of Bones

In 1290, England mourned the death of a queen, Eleanor of Castile, beloved wife of King Edward I. Her body was carried on a 200-mile journey from Lincoln to London, a solemn procession that would become immortalized in stone. To mark the places where her cortege rested, a heartbroken Edward commissioned twelve magnificent Eleanor Crosses.

More than seven centuries later, bestselling historian Alice Loxton set herself an epic challenge: following in history’s footsteps by walking the entire 200-mile funeral route on the corresponding dates.

As Alice journeys in search of England’s forgotten Queen, over ancient paths and modern motorways, history comes alive in surprising ways. Lively and entertaining, Eleanor uncovers the extraordinary life and formidable character of this lesser-known royal, revealing her inspiring legacy and the hidden history of Britain.

'Captivating . . . Eleanor is a reminder of the beauty and intrigue all around us on this storied island' – Luke Sherlock, bestselling author of Forgotten Churches

‘Loxton has the novelist’s skill of seeing the world through her characters’ eyes, and the historian’s accuracy of vision’ – Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women

Critics Review

I loved this beautiful, elegiac, honest and compelling book - a modern-day pilgrimage walking in the footsteps of one of the great forgotten queens. This is history as it should be done, connecting the real people of the past with the people we are now. Storytelling at its finest
Kate Mosse, bestselling author of The Map of Bones
Eleanor is dazzling, alive with wit, elegance and insight. A book that makes history feel urgent, intimate and unforgettable
Rob Rinder MBE, bestselling author of The Trial
Alice Loxton takes us on a highly engaging 200-mile trek that resonates with history and shows why a rather amazing 13th-century queen was remembered so poignantly by her heartbroken husband. Written with energetic zest and originality by a natural storyteller
Charles Spencer, bestselling author of The White Ship
The perfect walk through history – great queens and small inconveniences, magnificent architecture and crippling blisters. A joyous read!
Sir Tony Robinson, actor, author of The House of Wolf and presenter of Time Team
A delightful book. A brilliant fusion of history and geography, or perhaps history and geography fused by love
Sir Simon Jenkins, columnist and author of A Short History of England
Captivating . . . Eleanor is a reminder of the beauty and intrigue all around us on this storied island
Luke Sherlock, bestselling author of Forgotten Churches
Brilliantly entertaining and informative, Alice Loxton’s Eleanor will no doubt inspire a new generation of readers to lace up their walking boots and set out to discover Britain’s history for themselves
Flora Carr, author of The Tower
Loxton has the novelist's skill of seeing the world through her characters' eyes, and the historian's accuracy of vision
Philippa Gregory, bestselling author of Normal Women
Alice Loxton is the star of her generation . . . the next big thing in history
Dan Snow, historian and author of On This Day in History
Loxton is the leading historian of her generation
Dan Jones, bestselling author of The Templars
Powerful, vivid, fascinating and truly life giving, Alice Loxton’s brilliance, empathy and superb research here wonderfully showcased. A magical journey into history and the rich tapestry of the past lying under our feet. Marvellous
Kate Williams, historian and author of England's Mistress
In Loxton’s hands, a story about following in the footsteps of Eleanor of Castile’s funerary procession feels like nothing short of an epic quest, and Loxton is the perfect companion — interested, erudite and entertaining. I laughed out loud and learnt so much
Luke Pepera, author of Motherland
Alice Loxton brings Eleanor of Castile’s story to life via an atmospheric winter pilgrimage through medieval and modern England. Eleanor is history at its most human; a story that resurrects a queen and her kingdom with wit, warmth and wonder
Andrew Ziminski, stonemason and author of The Stonemason
Eleanor is a beautifully written, effortless read. Alice Loxton illuminates the story of a fascinating and forgotten queen, whose memorials are no less than Britain's answer to the Taj Mahal. With a gift for making history come alive, Alice has written a book both irresistible and surprising
Sam Darymple, author of Shattered Lands
Alice always manages to tame the wild pages of history, and serves it on a plate for the modern mind. Eleanor is a forgotten Queen no more!
Charlie Eve, British historian and presenter
Loxton’s approachable written style has the feel of an open-minded, playful pilgrim, seeing the world as it is now, whilst simultaneously existing in the parallel dimension of Eleanor’s time and soul. Loxton made a very good move by fastidiously scheduling her pilgrimage to the exact timings of the actual procession of Eleanor’s body all those centuries ago, an act of writerly magic that creates a compellingly multi-dimensional story with chance encounters and happenings at every turn. Her youthful passion for history and life shines through as she dives into the royal love story in this fully embodied way. I hope that many more historians take Loxton’s lead, and start walking their talk through the land, to access the deeper truths of their stories
Dr Guy Hayward, Co-Founder and Director, British Pilgrimage Trust
Eleanor is a wonderfully refreshing take on history — Alice Loxton is changing how we read the past
Katie Kennedy (@thehistorygossip), author of The History Gossip
A muddy, eventful romp that shines a light on love, loss, and those journeys that unite us
Cosima Carnegie, presenter, writer and historian
A thrilling journey through England’s past . . . Loxton makes history come to life with charm and pizazz
Georgiana Davies (@hrhgeorgiana)
A gripping and entertaining account of the greatest love story in English history
Luke Tomes, historian
A thrilling adventure through the life and legacy of one of the most overlooked queens in British history. This is a journey which makes the past come vividly to life and inspires you to get outside and discover the history waiting to be discovered on your doorstep
Ruby Gray, historian and creator of @too.long.didnt.readd
A wonderful tale we didn’t realize we needed to know, carried by Loxton’s sharp-eyed narrative
Matthew Rice, author of Rice’s Architecitural Primer
An uplifting celebration of the past, reminding us how much history there is to discover in the world just beyond our doorstep
Violet Manners, founder of Heritage Explore
Eleanor is a sparkling, joyful read. Alice Loxton's account of her journey retracing Edward I's journey in honour of his wife, interspersed with reflections on medieval conceptions of grief, the splendour of the humble iced bun, and the sheer amount of mud in England, brings Eleanor of Castile’s life story vividly to life. Engaging, funny, personal and insightful, this book deserves a place on every history lover’s bookshelf. It might just inspire you to dust off (or break in) those hiking boots
Katherine Pangonis, author of Twilight Cities
Eleanor is a whimsical love letter to England, as charming and cosy as a Jerome K. Jerome novel. Will make you want to take a long walk, look at some churchyards, and drink a lovely cup of tea
Alice Winn, bestselling author of In Memoriam
[Alice Loxton's] enthusiasm for encounters with the past is infectious, and it is hard to disagree with her argument that we should all get outside and explore the history around us
The Times

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