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Eleanor

A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen: From the bestselling author of Eighteen

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Eleanor

By: Alice Loxton
Narrated by: Alice Loxton
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About this listen

Read by the author.

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

 Editors Select Europe Great Britain Historical Medieval Royalty England Heartfelt

Editorial Review

A walk back in time
As a history enthusiast and someone who likes to get their listening in while walking, I knew historian Alice Loxton’s Eleanor was an immediate add-to-library for me. By walking the 200-mile funeral procession of Eleanor of Castile, Loxton crafts a history that is as engaging and insightful as it is easy to get lost in. Eleanor is a feat of storytelling that not only offers a look back at one of England’s lesser-known queens but also provides a fascinating take on how Britain and its countryside have evolved over the past seven centuries. Performed by Loxton herself, it’s an accessible and engaging listen that’ll transport you back in time. —Michael C., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

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)
All stars
Most relevant
I absolutely loved Eleanor.

The book follows Queen Eleanor‘s journey following her death. Whilst the focus is upon Eleanor, Loxton keeps us interested with a wealth of other historical facts, interesting nuggets of information and a few quirky British-isms along the way.

I laughed out loud at the shop names with the puns in the title. Typically British and a lovely touch.

For historian of Loxton’s age (still in her 20s I believe?) to write such a wonderful book is a remarkable achievement.

It’s a fresh take on history presented in a modern, informative way and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

An uplifting journey through history and the UK told beautifully with humour and warm spirit.

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I liked the way Alice Loxton has told Eleanor’s story through her walk to visit the sits of the 12 Eleanor Crosses. But I loved the story telling and the incidental stories that cropped up at each places she visited.
It’s a really gentle book but it also makes a strong case for the place of women in medieval society, points about propaganda and the use of symbolism in different contexts. I also really loved how Alice develops the idea of the ebbs and flows of history, and how history’s stories are not static, but ever changing and how threads weave across time.
I’d really love to see an illustrated children’s book adapted from Loxton’s text. It would be beautiful.
Oh, and I love Alice Loxton’s reading too - especially her descriptions of ver various snacks! Always washed down with a cup of tea. 😊

I loved this book! Absolutely loved it!

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Amazing book, full of history and fun. Hope to have lots more books like this from Alice.

🤩🤩

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Loved the informal way in which the author tells the story. Enjoyed it so much, listened to it in 2 days.

Informal

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Part history book, part travelogue- I absolutely loved this book. It is beautifully read by the author and packed with historical details about Queen Eleanor of Castile’s funeral cortège through a wintery England over 700 years ago. The author retraced the route and visits the locations of the Eleanor Crosses, built to commemorate the places where Queen Eleanor’s body rested overnight on her final journey from Lincoln to London.

I loved this book

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