The Revolt by Clara Dupont-Monod

The Revolt is not merely a superb medieval historical epic; it is a massive victory of one. And the book's modest length is undoubtedly one of its success factors. Others include highly colorful and lyrical language that resembles Oscar Wilde's work, clever manipulation of history to make a compelling fictional narrative, a softly sustained pace, and an exciting female drama presented from an unexpected and rewarding perspective.

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the 12th-century queen of France and England, is retold in The Revolt. It spans most of her life and injects ideas and mood evocative of Wolf Hall and Shakespeare's Macbeth into the story. The novel's narrative perspective, however, is what makes The Revolt so clever in its telling. Richard Lionheart, Eleanor's son, tells us about the Revolt. This choice of point of view – making Eleanor's son the book's narrator and second protagonist – is reminiscent of John Watson recounting Sherlock Holmes stories. This brief medieval epic opens with Richard presenting a vivid portrait of his mother: her wit, malice, and opportunistic intellect. He positions us in the stalls and constructs a stage around his mother.

Link to read: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40932244