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  <title><![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]></description>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[English history intrigues me so I greatly injoyed this book about Eleanor of Acquitaine, who lived in the 12 century during a fascinating period - when the Church was even more powerful than kings and when going off on crusades to save the Holy Land was considered the height of glory.  Eleanor was a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45771170">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This was the first book by this author that I read and I loved it! There is very little in the way of historical fiction that deals with the reigns of early Kings of England, except King Arthur. This focuses on the wife of Henry I, Eleanor of Aquitaine. It follows her life from her first marriage to...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17300587">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[April]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This was such a good book! This was the first book I read by Jean Plaidy and it will not be the last!<br/>I loved reading about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII, and Henry II. It made me want to continue to read everything I could find on them. I could relate to Eleanor's strong personality. This wa...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31515312">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Elenor of Aquitaine became the duchess of the richest provence on Europe at the age 15. She married Louis VII of France and became the Queen. But, when she met Henry II of England she fell in love. The story follows her struggle to be with the one she really loves and the betryal she faces because o...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/12627587">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is historical fiction, but the author seems to stay relatively true to history, just occasionally taking historical rumor and treating it as truth. She tells the story as a &quot;memoir&quot; by Eleanor of Aquitaine. It is slightly dry reading sometimes, although not nearly as dry as a history ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5947695">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Oct 08 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Sep 28 12:04:45 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 08 00:56:57 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[What an incredible woman.  Set during the reign of Henry II of England, Eleanor was the Duchess of Aquitaine (almost as important as the Kind himself at that time).  Eleanor first married the King of France, divorced him and married the Duke of Normandy (Henry) who became King of England.  This book...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72789787">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72789787]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/72789787]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>41012827</id>
    <user>
    <id>859388</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Linda]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Medford, MA]]></location>
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  <id type="integer">59459</id>
  <isbn>1400082501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9781400082506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[anyone with an intrest in Eleanor]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Dec 27 10:42:45 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Fri Jan 02 21:09:49 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This was a really good historical novel on Eleanor. It cover all part of her life up to her death, which most novels have only covered her marriage to Louis or to Henry, not both and never the times after their death.  Because of this it does not go into great depths on each aspect but just touches ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41012827">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41012827]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/41012827]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>74553442</id>
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    <id>1347778</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Traci]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Las Vegas, NV]]></location>
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  <isbn>1400082501</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
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  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
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  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Oct 14 16:10:28 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Oct 14 16:23:27 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I really liked this one--Eleanor of Aquitaine is absolutely fascinating!  This fictionalized story of her life (according to my research on her) was as historically accurate as it could be, and I loved Plaidy's presentation.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74553442]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74553442]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>45452485</id>
    <user>
    <id>387440</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jessica]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[History Buffs]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Feb 05 08:07:47 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Feb 21 19:37:51 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I liked it...but then at the same time, it was *okay*. Mostly because it was rather disturbing to read such horrid things about Richard the Lionhearted. Though I daresay they may be true things, I've no idea. <br/><br/>One thing I sincerely love is Jean Plaidy's style of writing and how she manage...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45452485">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45452485]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45452485]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>48676036</id>
    <user>
    <id>2109445</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Gaby]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Miami, FL]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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          </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1982</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 09 05:28:01 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 09 05:28:55 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count>1</read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[My favorite of her Historical novels. This is about Eleanor of Aquitaine, mother to Richard the Lionheart.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48676036]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48676036]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>50938585</id>
    <user>
    <id>1620239</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Allison (laceysmom82)]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Charlotte, NC]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1620239-allison-laceysmom82]]></link>
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  <isbn>1400082501</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>0</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at></read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 30 12:20:42 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Mar 30 12:28:35 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[#5 in series - #1 in historical order]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50938585]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50938585]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>34621596</id>
    <user>
    <id>1288735</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Mandy]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Draper, UT]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1288735-mandy]]></link>
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  <id type="integer">59459</id>
  <isbn>1400082501</isbn>
  <isbn13>9781400082506</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">16</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59459.The_Courts_of_Love_The_Story_of_Eleanor_of_Aquitaine</link>
  <average_rating>3.78</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>215</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
</book>

    <rating>4</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
  <spoiler_flag>false</spoiler_flag>
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        <shelf name="read" />
            <shelf name="english-royalty" />
        <shelf name="historical-fiction" />
      </shelves>
  <recommended_for><![CDATA[]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Oct 05 20:27:06 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Dec 01 16:23:24 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I read The Courts of Love immediately after reading Eleanor the Queen (by Norah Lofts).  The two books portray Eleanor in very different ways, and because of that I had a hard time with this book at the begining.<br/>Plaidy's book is quite a bit more detailed, and takes us into parts of Eleanor's l...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34621596">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34621596]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/34621596]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>48641177</id>
    <user>
    <id>1153018</id>
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    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[The bar is set high for this book. Mostly because of the awfully horrendous novels I've been reading lately. ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[I didn't enjoy this book as much as I remembered loving the few Jean Plaidy books that I read when I was young, but I got into it nevertheless.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[read all of these in college...this was my favorite]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love: The Story of Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queens of England, #5)]]>
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    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me—my triumphs and most of my misfortunes—was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal—and in many ways their superior—but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner—an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather’s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion—and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak—and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.]]>
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  <id type="integer">1760299</id>
  <isbn>0449216578</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780449216576</isbn13>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[The Courts of Love (Queens of England, #5)]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.00</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>1</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[<em>When I look back over my long and tempestuous life</em>, I can see that much of what happened to me&#8212;my triumphs and most of my misfortunes&#8212;was due to my passionate relationships with men. I was a woman who considered herself their equal&#8212;and in many ways their superior&#8212;but it seemed that I depended on them, while seeking to be the dominant partner&#8212;an attitude which could hardly be expected to bring about a harmonious existence.<br/><br/><br/>Eleanor of Aquitaine was revered for her superior intellect, extraordinary courage, and fierce loyalty. She was equally famous for her turbulent relationships, which included marriages to the kings of both France and England. <br/><br/>As a child, Eleanor reveled in her beloved grandfather&#8217;s Courts of Love, where troubadours sang of romantic devotion and passion filled the air. In 1137, at the age of fifteen, Eleanor became Duchess of Aquitaine, the richest province in Europe. A union with Louis VII allowed her to ascend the French throne, yet he was a tepid and possessive man and no match for a young woman raised in the Courts of Love. When Eleanor met the magnetic Henry II, the first Plantagenet King of England, their stormy pairing set great change in motion&#8212;and produced many sons and daughters, two of whom would one day reign in their own right.<br/><br/>In this majestic and sweeping story, set against a backdrop of medieval politics, intrigue, and strife, Jean Plaidy weaves a tapestry of love, passion, betrayal, and heartbreak&#8212;and reveals the life of a most remarkable woman whose iron will and political savvy enabled her to hold her own against the most powerful men of her time.<br/><br/><br/><em>From the Trade Paperback edition.</em>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1987</published>
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  <date_added>Mon Dec 21 14:52:51 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Dec 21 14:52:51 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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