"Dazzlingly and sensually beautiful, Eleanor of Aquitaine was brought up in what were generally known as 'The Courts of Love', the romantic but somewhat dissolute domain of her grandfather William IX of Aquitaine. Consequently she was worldly beyond her years when, as a young girl, she burst upon the court of France. Louis, the King, had wanted to go into the Church and would have done so but for a fatal accident to his elder brother. But marriage was a disappointment to the passionate Eleanor and she relieved her boredom by travelling with the Crusaders to Jerusalem; and on the way endured great discomfort and hardship although she did find temporary bliss in her Uncle Raymond's court in Antioch.
Back in France she came face to face with Henry Plantagenet, who had hopes of the throne of England; and although he was eleven years her junior and bore no resemblance to those noble knights, heroes of legend in her grandfather's court, there was an immediate attraction between them and so their tempestuous relationship began...".