Queen of the Conqueror: The Life of Matilda, Wife of William I

Using a ship secretly and lovingly commissioned by his wife, ruthless William of Normandy conquered England in 1066, utterly transforming the country’s culture. Equally ambitious, his wife, Matilda, used his frequent absences and well-placed trust to serve as regent over the Norman duchy and as a calming buffer between the violent new king and the morally crushed Anglo-Saxons. Relying heavily on the Domesday Book and other contemporary sources, British historian Borman (Elizabeth’s Women) describes the surprisingly happy union between the high-born, independently wealthy Matilda and the self-made William the Bastard that soured only after each championed a differentadult child, threatening the line of succession. While detailing Matilda’s innate strengths, Borman also places her reign in the context of the early Middle Ages, when the education of well-born women was encouraged though motherhood was still their primary duty. Matilda’s legacy of intelligence, self-possession, and strength served as a powerful example for legendary medieval queens such as Isabella the She-Wolf and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Photos; 2 maps. Agent: Julian Alexander, LAW Ltd. (U.K.). (Apr.)