Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    When Christ and His Saints Slept
    When Christ and His Saints Slept
    When Christ and His Saints Slept
    Audiobook36 hours

    When Christ and His Saints Slept

    Written by Sharon Kay Penman

    Narrated by Anne Flosnik

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    In When Christ and His Saints Slept, the first of a trilogy that will tell the story of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, master storyteller and historian Sharon Kay Penman illuminates one of the less-known but fascinating periods of English history. It begins with the death of King Henry I, son of William the Conqueror and father of Maude, his only living legitimate offspring.

    Contains mature themes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 12, 2019
    ISBN9781541480261
    When Christ and His Saints Slept
    Author

    Sharon Kay Penman

    For many years while she was a student and then a tax lawyer, Sharon Kay Penman (1945-2021) worked on a novel about the life of Richard III and The War of the Roses. After the original manuscript was stolen from her car, Penman rewrote the entire novel that would become The Sunne in Splendour. Penman is the author of ten critically acclaimed and New York Times best selling historical novels and four medieval mysteries featuring Justin de Quincy. The first book in the series, The Queen's Man, was a finalist for an Edgar Award for Best First Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America.

    More audiobooks from Sharon Kay Penman

    Related to When Christ and His Saints Slept

    Titles in the series (1)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Controversial King

      Jan 7, 2022

      The Controversial King
      5 min read

    • Article

      Celebrating Christmas

      Oct 19, 2022

      Celebrating Christmas
      3 min read

    • Article

      All Together Now

      Dec 16, 2020

      AS Christmas approaches and we prepare for it as best we can, parish priests face peculiar challenges. What will a carol service without carols be like? Will a socially distanced Nativity lack narrative coherence? Will the astringent odour of sanitis

      4 min read

    • Article

      THE BLACK SPIDER Part Two

      Oct 30, 2019

      THE BLACK SPIDER Part Two
      25 min read

    • Article

      Taken Too Soon

      Jun 11, 2019

      Taken Too Soon
      2 min read

    • Article

      A Parsonage in New Hope

      Dec 4, 2023

      A Parsonage in New Hope
      12 min read

    • Article

      An Unwanted Ancestor

      Feb 11, 2022

      An Unwanted Ancestor
      3 min read

    • Article

      Elsi, The Strange Maid

      Sep 27, 2018

      Elsi, The Strange Maid
      14 min read

    • Article

      An Unwanted Ancestor

      Feb 11, 2022

      An Unwanted Ancestor
      3 min read

    • Article

      Please Bring Rollmop Herrings, Fine For Loo Roll

      Apr 8, 2020

      NOT like you to sound panicky.’ A text from my cabaret partner pings breezily from the piste. He’s flying back for next week’s gig at the Crazy Coqs in Piccadilly. ‘They’ve reported a case of the virus in Italy. I hope we’ll get an audience.’ ‘Why wo

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Blast From THE PAST

      Jun 25, 2023

      The beloved broadcaster’s reflections on life I’m loving writing this column. I told you recently about how my dad Cliff worked for a bank and used to carry round a large leather case stacked with cash. Underneath the money was a revolver. The money

      1 min read

    • Article

      Open Mic

      Mar 25, 2020

      Open Mic
      2 min read

    • Article

      The Black Spider

      Dec 30, 2019

      The Black Spider
      25 min read

    • Article

      Chris Erskine: Readers Let Us Know That We're Not Alone

      Apr 3, 2018

      I went to see the King Tut exhibit at Exposition Park. One of their beliefs was that Pharaoh would never die until his name was uttered for the very last time. May it be so with your beloved Christopher. - Bette Ross, Newport Beach, Calif. Your colum

      3 min read

    • Article

      A Different Day

      Nov 12, 2020

      A Different Day
      2 min read

    • Article

      No Words

      Apr 16, 2019

      No Words
      4 min read

    • Article

      ‘Peace On Earth And Mercy Mild’

      Dec 15, 2021

      DECEMBER months in Salcombe seldom hold snow, but nevertheless, silver hues and low suns hang over the harbour, the sparsely populated beaches marking out Nature’s quieting of the seasons. Most yawls and yachts are back in boatyards, leaving the wate

      5 min read

    • Article

      Pella Oasis In The Wilderness

      Nov 26, 2021

      Pella Oasis In The Wilderness
      6 min read

    • Article

      Haphazard By Starlight

      Dec 16, 2020

      ADVENT is a time of waiting and we have become a congregation of experts. I nominate the people of Planet Earth for the Nobel Prize for Waiting. Even in a country smaller than Montana, we have modified our motto ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ to ‘Keep Wait

      4 min read

    • Article

      Readers’ Letters

      Nov 15, 2023

      SIR: Among the things that Giles Wood is so pleased to have avoided, by turning down an invitation to stay for a week on a Scottish island (October issue), is the prospect of chatting through three-course dinners every night. As his putative (and ers

      4 min read

    • Article

      The Parent Trap

      Mar 21, 2024

      The Parent Trap
      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for When Christ and His Saints Slept

    4/5

    548 ratings37 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I'm a great fan of Sharon Kay Penman's The Sunne in Splendour, about Richard III and Here Be Dragons set in medieval Wales. There two of my favorite books of historical friction, both unforgettable and moving me to tears. Here Be Dragons, despite being rooted soundly in history also is one of the most moving love stories I'd ever read. The last Penman novel I read though, based on Richard the Lionhearted, was a disappointment. It dragged. Frankly, through much of it I was bored.So I started this book with some trepidation-but I found this was more the Penman of old, not the one that disappointed. This didn't for me quite reach the heights of those two favorite books--but it was still a terrific read that made me feel for the characters and feel transported to another time. It wasn't an easy read at times--not because of style or skill--but because I know English history too well to know this would end well. And Penman has a gift for making you care--even as you're exasperated with her characters. A character describes the battling cousins flaws pretty aptly. King Stephen too easily influenced and not resolute enough; Empress Maud incapable of listening to anyone and way too stubborn. And poor England caught in the middle. The tragedy of it all being, at least as Penman presents it, is that Maud *did* learn from her mistakes--and if she had received the kind of support she deserved and would have gotten had she been male--from her father, her husband, Stephen himself, might have made a decent monarch. I wound up feeling for both. And her picture of the young Henry II and Eleanor of Acquitaine and the early, happy part of their marriage was involving, even fascinating.And frankly happy to follow characters I didn't know about, either because they're historically obscure or fictional. Because history doesn't leave much room for happy endings with real lives sadly enough. This one is well worth the read.
    • 5/5
      I wanted to read some historical fiction that was well-written but also well-researched. I googled 'best historical fiction' and concluded that Sharon Kay Penman was an author to try. After reading this book, I intend to read all her books! Great book. A bit overly romanticized, but excellent all the same. Offered new insights into the people and events.
    • 5/5
      What can I say that hasn't already been said about Sharon Kay Penman? Her novels are superb. Subject matter and research are wonderful.
      Poor Stephen. He's a good man, kind, compassionate, forgiving, humorous. He makes a great buddy, but these qualities alone do not make an effective ruler. He lacks ruthlessness and a firm grasp of political reality. His cousin Maude, on the other hand, has all of the latter but none of the former. In addition to being female, good heavens! No man would choose to be governed by a woman, even a strong one, it just isn't "manly". So they choose the weaker willed Stephen, and it plunges England into 20 years of civil war and lawlessness.
      This is the first of four novels about Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine and their offspring. Oh well, I did read them backwards and still have SKP's latest to read. I can safely recommend her books to anyone.
    • 3/5
      This is excellent history on a seldom touched upon subject, 12th century English history, more specifically, the succession crisis which ensued when Henry I, son of William the Conqueror died without a male heir. He designated his only surviving legitimate daughter, Matilda (Maude) to succeed him. Instead, his far more popular nephew, Stephen, usurped the throne, leading to almost 20 years of non-stop war and bloodshed, before Maude’s eldest son, Henry, finally prevailed, becoming one of the most successful English kings in history as Henry II. In addition to the main characters, several other historical personages are presented, most notably Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII of France and several religious figures of the era.While the subject is ripe with possibility, execution of this piece of historical fiction was sub-standard in my opinion. First, the book was about 200 pages too long, becoming agonizingly repetitious at times. I can’t testify to the accuracy of the history, but have to believe that about half a dozen of the twenty or so sieges and maneuverings could have been omitted without detracting from the work. Second, the dialogue was not well done and was at times laughable. I can’t say for a fact how 12th century English nobles conversed, but I’d be surprised if it were anything like presented in this novel. Finally, the characters were so one dimensional as to become almost cartoonish. Perhaps Eustace, Stephen’s presumptive heir was a bad person, but maybe not the worst person in the world, all the time, to everyone, with no redeeming value whatsoever.In any event, despite reading every evening for an hour or two, it seemed to take forever to finish the book. The key word being “seemed”.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Penman paints a detailed and interesting portrait of Maude and Stephen's struggle over the English crown. While staying true to her source material, the author clarifies the politics and intrigue of the time, making this book a pleasant and engaging read despite its length. I also appreciated how each character is drawn, filled out, brought to life within the pages of this work, and even how the more devious and despicable players are given a human side to their heinous deeds. An excellent read, and soon to be followed by the next book in the series, Time and Chance.
    • 5/5
      Historical fiction at its best. I did myself a big disservice by starting this book and then putting it down after only 100 or so pages before picking it up again. It's a long, sprawling epic, but it is well worth the read. Penman masterfully tells the story of the beginning of the Plantagenet dynasty, beginning with the infamous wreck of the White Ship, to the ensuing years of anarchy between Stephen and the empress Maud.It is a little difficult to follow at times because of the names (most of the female characters are named either Maud or Matilda), but there's usually enough context to figure it out. There are a few story lines, and sometimes it can seem a little meandering. If you can stick with it, you will be richly rewarded with a spell-binding tale of love, loss, betrayal, and the quest for a crown, made all the more incredible because it really happened.
    • 4/5
      This story set in 12th century England tells of the 18 year struggle that plunged England and France into chaos following the death of King Henry I. Henry had designated his daughter Maude/Matilda as his heir, but his nephew Stephen quickly usurped the throne and defended his reign against Maude and her son who will become Henry II. Maude had been coerced into a loveless marriage with Geoffrey of Anjou(her second--her first was to the Holy Roman Emperor.) It is a tale of battles and destruction over the both England and France, as well as loyalty and repeated betrayal. The important characters are well developed and presented with a sympathetic understanding of their various motives. It is the first of a trilogy and ends with Henry II as king and married to the remarkable Eleanor of Acquitaine; I look forward to the later volumes.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoy Penman's historical fiction. This is the first in her series that centers on Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. This book sets up the story by focusing on rivals for the throne, Stephen and Maude. Maude is Henry's mother. I will admit that I didn't love this one as much as her Welsh trilogy or The Sunne in Splendor, but it was still lots of fun. I like how she seems to stick to the facts as far as events and battles and such but feels free to embellish character the way she sees it. That suits my taste for historical fiction. Looking forward to continuing the series this year.
    • 3/5
      Stephen v. Matilda, a family struggle. The characters are well drawn, and she has little desire to alter the facts of history to prove an artistic point. She uses the family bastards as POV characters often, and constructs good entertainments for medievalists.
    • 4/5
      By times I loved this book and by times I was frustrated by this book. Perhaps the addition of the fictional Ranulf is the source. At times the Ranulf FitzRoy character moves the story onto a tangent that doesn't seem to contribute to the main story. It's a hefty book and these tangents only dragged out the story for me. I do admire how Penman breathes life into the historical characters and gives them a greater depth. Not only Stephen and Maude, but also Robert FitzRoy, Eleanor of Acquitaine and Henry II all receive very sympathetic treatment. This is the first of Penman's works I have read. I will be looking for more.
    • 5/5
      I had just read "Pillars of the Earth" and thought it was fantastic,thus giving it 5 stars. Oophs, this far surpasses that. Penman does an excellent job of giving life to real historical people. Her blend of actual fact with imagined conversations, actions, and settings brings the 12th century to life as very few other books can do.The time period was difficult not only to the peasants but to the leaders and wealthy as well. My only criticism of the book is that it would have been helpful to have a list of characters given as many of the names are so similar and are sometimes called by their titles and sometimes by their given names. The geneology chart does help some.In short, if you are into accurate historical fiction, not just bestsellers, try Sharon Kay Penman.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Penman never disappoints. Once again she breathes life into historical figures and make them real - the flawed, fascinating and dynamic people they were. This is a story of the period of English history called "The Anarchy:" the civil war from 1135 when Stephen broke his oath to support Henry I's only legitimate heir, his daughter Maude (also known as Mathilda)as queen of England and seized the crown, beginning a conflict that lasted until the Treaty of Winchester was signed in November of 1153.

      I usually have one favorite character in Penman's books, but in this novel, I liked them all and found myself disappointed that one of the central characters, Ranulf FitzRoy, one of Henry I's many, many illegitimate children, was fictional. Ranulf matured from a youth idealistic to a man of honor. Stephen is portrayed as a likeable, sensitive, mild man who was over his head as King. Maude is tough-as-nails, a woman forced to think and act like a man in a world that did not acknowledge or accept female monarchs and her frustration and anger is palpable, as is Stephen's disappointment and frustration at not having a peaceable kingdom, constantly having to fight to keep the crown. The stories of Ranulf, Maude and Stephen are seamlessly woven one in to the other, and together they made an exciting, can't-put-it-down, story. I'm looking forward to reading the other titles in the trilogy, "Time and Chance" and "Devil's Brood," and her latest, "Lionheart," which I've pre-ordered for my tablet.

      Like her first novel, "The Sunne in Splendour," "When Christ and His Saints Slept" will be one of the books I'll pick up again and I heartily recommend this novel. Thank you, Ms. Penman!
    • 5/5
      Why couldn't Sharon Kay Penman have been my history teacher? Her writing is spot on - and yes, there is a large cast of characters but this brings depth and breadth to a story that would otherwise have been difficult to tell. The founding of the Plantagenet dynasty and Maude's fight for the crown is powerful with plenty of twists and turns. So looking forward to the next book in the series.
    • 5/5
      Great book, full of history--I did have to take a break half way and read a different book.
    • 4/5
       A repeat read, but one I like a lot. Hefty book, but it does cover an epic period in English history. It tells the story of the first Civil war, between Stephen & Empress Matilda. It's terribly sad in some ways, Stephen is portrayed as such a nice man and he has a lot to deal with but was a fairly useless King. Ends shortly after Henry 1 comes to the throne. There's a follow on, which I'm starting next..."
    • 5/5
      The early history of England is chuck full of struggle and civil war and this book could easily be a detailed document of those struggles, but for the personal accounts created by the author which bring to life the individuals involved and their driving motivations.The story begins with the sinking of the White Ship, believed the greatest ship of its time (think Titanic in medieval times) and with it the only legitimate son of Henry I. Not that Henry didn't have other sons (20 bastards - give or take a few) but that only his daughter Maude, widowed German Empress, was left as his heir. Deciding without her permission to first name her as his successor and second to marry her to a younger man, Geoffrey of Anjou, Maude's life was thrown into upheaval that never ended.Maude's second marriage was miserable but did eventually yield 3 sons - Henry, Geoffrey, and William. But after her father's death, when Maude was ready to take the crown of England it was claimed by her cousin Stephen, since the English barons preferred a man over a woman, and thus the Civil war that swept through that nation for nearly 20 years erupted.Maude's supporters were led by her half-brothers and other lords, while Stephen frequently needed to purchase mercenaries as well as some of his own nation's noblemen. Often there were defections back and forth.Maude's oldest son, Henry was finally crowned king along with his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (reputed to be the most beautiful woman in Christendom as well as a great heiress. (She had been married to Louis of France but was set aside because she only had girls.) Eleanor was the only woman who was ever Queen of France and England.This book was extremely well researched and written so that it read more as an adventure than as a history. The hundreds of pages took the reader through the horrors of war in the 12th century as well as identifying the political atmosphere regarding the nobility, the church, and women's rights.my feelings:I have always had an interest in the history of England and in particular the kings and queens of that realm ever since my father gave me [The Conquering Family] by Thomas Costain which chronicled the beginning of the Plantagenets. Until this book, however, I had never delved into the battle that took place to bring Henry II into power. I loved the way that Ms. Penman told this story and that detail to which she went. The tales of the sieges of the towns of Lincoln and Winchester were vividly portrayed. And for myself, I never honestly took the thought of how devastating fire could be at that time. The storytelling and writing were tremendous.The only drawback was that this book was over 700 pages and the print was very small so it really did seem like it went on forever even if it was extremely interesting.
    • 4/5
      A grimly realistic portrayal of life in 12th Century England, as people fought for a crown. First half far more grim than the second, the second half more hopeful and more focused on people rather than events.
    • 4/5
      I enjoy Penman's works and writing, although I am noticing that she feels the need to use some of her characters in set pieces explaining background or information that might provide context. In this and Time & Chance some of this has been redundant and she needs a better editor to catch these. Perhaps she intends each book to be stand alone, and needs to regurgitate information in case people don't read the other related works, but there has to be a better way - maybe a forward that lays the groundwork? I did enjoy the book however and enjoyed especially my changing views of Maude and Stephen through the years; they were alive to me in this book, which is a special talent Penman has.
    • 5/5
      This book is about a period of history I am not particularly familiar with, 12th century England and the battle between Maude and Stephen for the throne. Maude was declared heir to the throne by her father Henry 1, but her cousin Stephen feels (along with a vast number of men) that the country would not accept a female ruling over them! So they plunge England into a bitter, bloody civil war. Full of tit for tat taking of castles, turncoats and traitors galore. Stephen is a kind generous,gentle man not at all suited to being a king, whereas Maude is brave tactical and far better suited to rule! It must have taken years of research as the historical detail is phenominal. A really good read.
    • 5/5
      When Christ... is the prefect first book in the series of Henry Fitz Empress and Eleanor of Acquitane, I cannot wait to begin the next book Time and Chance. This is one of those books that you have to force yourself to put down. I absolutely loved this book, it was funny at times and emotional. I do think it is funny though that my favorite character is the one character in the book that was made up.
    • 5/5
      Lovers of historical fiction must read Penman's splendid fifth novel, which chronicles one of the bitterest, bloodiest struggles in medieval English and assures her place as one of the finest writers of the genre.
    • 2/5
      I found this ponderous, slow moving.
    • 4/5
      When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman features the beginnings of the Plantagenet dynasty. It features the bloody war that raged England between Stephen and his cousin Maude. Stephen steals the crown after King Henry the First's death from Maude, who's the rightful heir to the throne of England. With that main event, you get a lot of war, a lot of betrayal, and a lot of family struggles to keep the crown, or to take it.I strongly recommend studying the family tree first which is gratefully provided in the beginning of the book. That way you can find it who is related to who (you'll find out they are all related somehow) and who is married to who. It may help you to take notes so you'll also know who is who as it does get confusing. Especially in the beginning just when the story starts to develop. There are a lot, and I mean A LOT of characters. It may seem overwhelming at first, but the family tree helped me get through with it and although I didn't take notes, I got the main idea on who's who once the story progresses. To me, it felt like reading a very exciting history book. It feels so historically accurate and everything is rich in detail from the way the characters talk to the way everything is described. The battle sequences are interesting. They do seem real and they seem quick even though the book is filled with battles and wars and seiges. I like them a lot though as it does make you progress through the novel faster and it adds action to the plot. The politics of this book is also interesting. Although there were parts where I was shocked to see betrayals by certain characters yet it adds excitement and intrigue which in turn makes the book historically accurate as well. Besides the battles and the politics, you are also taken to some of the characters' more personal lives and their personal troubles. For example you have the story of Ranulf, who loves Annora who was his betrothed until she got married off to someone else. In turn he does what he can to win her back. It's these mini stories that also help the story go along and it's nice to see these, as it brings more "flesh" and depth to the characters instead of making them flat and cardboard like. What I love the most is the portrayal of women in this book. I love Maude, as she was so strong and determined to continue the war to get her crown back and all of this for her son Henry (the second). You get a lot of strong female characters and how they actually provided the backbone and their never ending support to their husband/son's causes. I liked the portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine despite the myths surrounding her life, I think it was well done and I admired her ability to secure her future without any thought of how others might see her. Basically, you won't see many weepy needy women in this book. They're all a beacon of strength.The only problem I have with this book? just way too many characters to go through and it got a little confusing in the beginning. However once you establish the main players, and how they're involved in the war then it gets easier. As I have mentioned before, perhaps it's wise to take notes, or to take into account the family tree in the beginning. Overall a wonderful book for historical buffs out there, especially those curious or lovers of the Plantagenet Dynasty. This is my first book about them and I don't regret it one bit. I loved the rich history, it was like looking at one very detailed tapestry.
    • 4/5
      A fascinating, but frustrating, account of the civil unrest between Maude, hereditary heir to the throne of England, and her cousin, Stephen of Blois. Following the death of Henry I, Maude is expecting to be crowned Queen, but before she can return to England her cousin has been crowned King.All the elements of a great book are there, detailed historic research and excellent writing but this remains my least favourite Penman book. The problem lies with the two central characters – Maude is remembered, by history, as being haughty and aloof, whilst Stephen was regarded as weak and ineffectual. Penman tries to round off their personalities, but, for me, they remain unlikeable. I found myself unable to sympathise with either of them, and kept wishing that Maude’s illegitimate elder brother, Robert, had been crowned King.The latter part of the book sees greater involvement from Maude’s son, Henry II, and it is here that things begin to improve. His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is another ‘big’ personality and perhaps it is their dominance that overshadows Maude and Stephen. The story skips along when their characters are predominant and that saves this book.
    • 4/5
      This is a wonderful book, rich in detail and full of the perplexing intrigue and political and sexual politics of the 12th century. I have recently discovered penman, and am eager to read the next in this series, Time and Chance.
    • 5/5
      Fabulous story of the war for the English/Norman crown between Stephan and Maude. First of two in a series; followed by 'Time and Chance'.
    • 4/5
      October 18, 1999When Christ and His Saints SleptKay PenmanOne of the best historical novels I’ve read so far, taking me into an era of British royal history I knew absolutely nothing about. Stephen and Maude, two of the grandchildren of William the Conqueror – or William the Bastard, as he was known then, since it wasn’t until Victoria’s time that “the Bastard” part quietly went away – are fighting over the throne of England. Henry I had been left with no legitimate heirs after his son was killed in the White Ship, so his niece and nephew (cousins, not siblings) are next in line. No one will ever know the whole truth, I suppose, but supposedly Henry had named Maude as his successor. Since few wanted a female monarch, a clergyman close to the king proclaimed that on his deathbed, Henry had changed his mind and declared Stephen his successor instead. Stephen seized the throne in a coup of sorts before Maude could get to it, and there ensued a fifteen-year civil war that is said to be one of the bloodiest in English history, and it’s those years that were referred to by the Worcester Chronicle at the time as the years “when Christ and his saints slept”. Eventually, Stephen and Maude agreed that Maude would not be Queen, but that Stephen would name her son, Henry II, as his successor, since his own son had choked to death one night at dinner. Henry II was the notorious first of the Plantaganet dynasty, and married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the Queen of France. Supposedly Penman is also writing that story, so I’m keeping my eyes peeled. This book was just incredible. A huge tome, but worth it.
    • 5/5
      For 20 years during the middle of the 12th century, a civil war raged in England over the succession to the crown between the daughter and the nephew of Henry I—himself a most likely usurper of England’s throne. Although Henry I had designated Maude his heir, Stephen claimed the crown for himself. Reluctant to accept a woman as ruler, most of the barons willingly accepted Stephen as king. However, enough remained loyal to Maude—and among those whose support was crucial was Robert of Gloucester, the illegitimate oldest child of the former king—that Maude was able to mount an assault on Stephen, plunging England into civil war.Maude and Stephen’s armies and those of their ambitious adherents ravaged the English countryside, causing such misery that the people called it ‘the time when Christ and his saints slept”, the title of the book. Eventually, the war came to an end, with Maude’s son Henry proclaimed as the heir; within a year of the truce, Stephen was dead and Henry ascended the throne as Henry II, one of England’s greatest kings.These are the bare historical facts upon which Penman writes an excellent novel of the era. She writes from the points of view (in the 3rd person) of many different characters, many historical figures such as Stephen, Maude, Stephen’s wife Matilda, Henry, and Eleanor of Aquitane, but also from fictitious ones; the most prominent non-historical figure is Ranulf, one of Maude’s illegitimate brothers who supports Maude loyally throughout 19 years of fighting.The format works extremely well, allowing Penman to bring in all sorts of details about the life of the people at the time and how devastating the war was for the ordinary English who had no personal stake in the crown itself. The book is rich in historical detail—the siege of Winchester and Oxford, the rise and fall of the tide of success for each side, the betrayals and counter betrayals of various powerful nobles as they sought to turn the war to their own gain. Penman does a good job with characterization; these people are believable. Maude has always gotten a bad press, thanks to the hostility of the monks who wrote the history of the time. Penman does an excellent job of redressing the balance, favoring neither Maude nor Stephen but showing the strengths and fatal weaknesses of both. We do get tantalizing glimpses of Thomas Beckett and especially Eleanor of Aquitane, Henry’s wife, that clearly belong to another volume in Penman’s excellent historical series. However, the book stands totally on its own merits which are many.
    • 4/5
      What happens in the 12th century, when the heir to the throne of England dies in the sinking of the fabled White Ship in the English Channel, leaving the throne with no legitimate male heir?Civil War ensues between Maude, the only legitimate heir to King Henry I and King Henry's nephew , Stephen who steals the crown away from Maude. This is the true story of what seems an endless amount of battles and sieges throughout England between the Maude and Stephen factions fighting for the rightful crown of England. This book wasn't bad, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Penman's previous books. It just seemed like one battle after another, with no side seeming to gain the advantage. Hence the title, for this Civil War endured for roughly 15 years when the countryside and towns of England were ravaged by war, with no end in sight. We get a glimpse of Maude and her life most of it unhappy with her husband Geoffrey of Anjou, and that of Stephen who was fated to be a terrible judge of character and too forgiving of his enemies, and other characters such as Ranulf, a fictionalized illegitimate half-brother to Maude, and Robert, another illegitimate half brother. Not until the very end of the book do we finally read about Maude's eldest son, the future Henry II, and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine and how they meet, which I found to be the most entertaining part of the book and their ensuing marriage. I was heartened to read in Penman's afterward that she pictures Katharine Hepburn (from the fantastic movie, The Lion in the Winter) as Eleanor.)If you are a diehard Penman fan, this book is a must, but it does not have the poignancy, romance or storytelling of her Wales Trilogy (though there is a bit of Wales in this one) or The Sunne in Splendour which revolves around Richard III. It wasn't bad, but it didn't grab me. I found I put the book down a lot and did not get into it until I was more than half way through it. Still, I did enjoy reading about this period, and it's a good lead in to Henry II's reign, which I have always been interested in ever since seeing the movies Becket and The Lion in the Winter which starred Peter O'Toole playing Henry II twice, as the younger Henry and elder Henry.
    • 4/5
      Plot: The historical events around Empress Matilda and Stephen of Blois form the background; most of the plotlines are historically accurate and dealt with in chronological order. The fictional plotlines are notably simpler and more straightforward. No surprises, but in a historical novel, surprises shouldn't happen when it comes to plot anyway.Characters: The historical characters are portrayed in quite interesting ways, and stereotyping is mostly avoided. The research paid off here - motivations and goals are clear, and the characters feel real. Style: For large stretches, the narration is quite matter-of-fact. Description doesn't take a large role, neither do details on battles. It's still an adequate amount of both, and since it's consistent, it's not something that's really missed. Plus: Excellent research, and a good portrait of the political situation at the time. Minus: The fictional central character and the way he constantly distracts from the historical events. If I'd been interested in reading about cliché romances in Wales, I'd have bought another book. Summary: It's an overall good book that trips itself with fictional plot excursions.