Four Queens: The Provençal Sisters Who Ruled Europe Audiobook

" This was a quick read. I was hooked from the first chapter. The book has been criticized for lack of historical accuracy. There may be a few issues with that, but nothing that was essential to the delivery of the story. Ms. Goldstone stayed within the scope of the storyline without drifting off too far into the intricicies of the politics. It is more of an introduction to the sisters rather than an in depth essay. Most people who pick up this book are not going to be historians and so to get overly mired in correspondence and the secondary politics of the day would have created a less entertaining book. "

" I liked it. It was easy to understand and very clear in terms of keeping people straight - unlike other history tomes. This is a good book to understand politics in 13th century Europe. "

" I enjoyed this. At times her interpretation of the events was a bit of "guess and golly" but history is interpretation. Overall, the read was easy and interesting. I would have liked more expanded genealogical tables in the back-it is easier to watch the players and relationships with that kind of graphic to follow. "

" LOVED this book! Who knew 13th century European history could be so captivating! Absolutely loved it; couldn't put it down. Wish there was a sequel. ;-) "

" I am interested in medieval history and this historical nonfiction book was a delight to read. It followed the lives of four powerful women and how they were influenced and in turn influenced their times. Nancy Goldstone managed to take detail of setting, time and place and weave them together in context creating a lively and informative background for recorded facts about the people and events of thirteenth century Europe. She is a clear concise writer as well, and allowed me to keep track of generations of rulers and relatives in a time when every second child was named for someone else. Good read. "

" One of the best nonfiction I've read in a long time. Goldstone took these four sisters that not much is known about and fleshed them out into real women. "

" A little draggy at points but I enjoyed learning more about European history because this is one area I know very little about. I don't know if I would have picked it up if it wasn't our book club read but I still enjoyed it. "

" More insight into medieval Europe! "

" I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys English medieval history. It's more non-fiction than fiction, but it reads like fiction. "

" Very readable history. Brings alive the 13th Century. "

" Women and politics in 1200s. Interesting. "

" Fascinating book about turbulent times and the four sisters who all ended up as wives of kings. The author makes the era come alive with each sister's story. Highly recommend! "

" proof that chicks rule! "

" An interesting look at Medieval European politics and the role of powerful women in them. Well-written and more fun than a typical history, with drama galore. "

" Great for history buffs looking for a light read. "

" I found this to be too dry for my current mood although I did learn quite a bit about the queens. It was worth reading for the line "Nunneries were the assisted-living complexes of the Middle Ages." "

" This was fascinating. Royal life in the time of the Crusades: intrigue, arranged marriages, sibling rivalry, and more... "

" This is a more academic book, but because the lives of these women were so interesting, it still makes for a good read (just gets bogged in details here and there). Four sisters, and they all become Queens - its nuts - because its true. Right up my alley. :) "

" It was actually an interesting book, but I found it difficult to get through-- the writing style reminded me of reading a history book... "

" Fascinating story of four sisters, daughters of an obscure Provencal count, who become queens in Europe. "

" A fantastically told story of four sisters in the thirteenth century. How their lives separated, entwined, and -most of all- determined the fate of European history. "

" This is a fascinating look at a very interesting period of history, as well as a good read. I learned alot from it. "

" This was very interesting. More Biography than I expected, but a really great read. I always knew all of the Royalty in Europe was related, now I know why! I enjoyed it. "

" A little draggy at points but I enjoyed learning more about European history because this is one area I know very little about. I don't know if I would have picked it up if it wasn't our book club read but I still enjoyed it. "

" A fine book, with a gripping narrative and great historical characters. "

" Although, as others have said, I found the title of the book to be a bit of an exaggeration, I do think it did a good job of showing the relationships between marriage, family, and politics. It also provides a good look into the time period of the 13th century through a woman's eyes. "

" I loved it. Wow, what research the author must have done to keep track of four sisters with four sets of political ties and all those that branch off from those and those that merge together, etc. Goldstone made the queens come alive and made you celebrate, seethe and mourn with them. "

" This was fascinating. Royal life in the time of the Crusades: intrigue, arranged marriages, sibling rivalry, and more... "

" I actually really liked this book. It dealt with several geographical areas and royal families that I have read about before. I liked how it tied all the pieces together for me. It is a well-written account of a famous family! "