This is the Tudor's Dynasty podcast. And now, Ask the Expert with Steph.

Welcome back to Ask the Expert.

Today's topic is such a great one because we're focusing on one of those fascinating pre-tutor figures

whose life seems to be kind of like a made-up soap opera.

Too dramatic and fantastical to even be real sometimes. But it was, and we are speaking

today, of course, about Eleanor of Aquitaine. And here with us today, I have lawyer and historian

Sarah Cockrell. Welcome, Sarah. Thanks, Steph. It's lovely to be here. Thanks for asking me.

So before we get started, how did you become an expert on this amazing woman?

What got you started?

Well, Eleanor is one of those people whose story is always out there.

And I was really interested in her, I think, before I started writing history, and I'd read

all the novels about her and all the biographies about her.

Then I researched and wrote about one of her descendants, Eleanor of Castile.

And Eleanor of Aquitaine kind of loomed over the story somewhat as a great influence.

So when my publisher said, who do you want to write about next?

It was obvious that it had to be owner of Aquitaine.

I mean, it's an offer you couldn't refuse, right?

I mean, I'm happy that you did it because she's someone that we all love,

that we all love reading about, right?

Yes, absolutely.

Highly controversial, highly interesting.

And her story is, you know, it's got a lot of really interesting true stuff.

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