When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitane, #1)

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When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitane #1)

by Sharon Kay Penman (Goodreads Author)

4.22 · rating details · 2,815 ratings · 257 reviews

A.D. 1135. As church bells tolled for the death of England's King Henry I, his barons faced the unwelcome prospect of being ruled by a woman: Henry's beautiful daughter Maude, Countess of Anjou. But before Maude could claim her throne, her cousin Stephen seized it. In their long and bitter struggle, all of England bled and burned.

Sharon Kay Penman's magnificent fifth novel...more

Paperback, 768 pages

Published February 6th 1996 by Ballantine Books (first published 1994)

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Best Historical Fiction

94th out of 2,624 books — 9,326 voters

The Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman

When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman

Historical Fiction: The House of Plantagenet

4th out of 146 books — 144 voters

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Community Reviews

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Aug 05, 2011

Isis rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Absolutely everyone

Recommended to Isis by: Dad

Shelves: cream-of-the-crop, medieval-age-1000-to-1400ce-fiction

It was with great anticipation that I returned to Sharon Penman’s When Christ and His Saints Slept, the first book by Sharon Penman that I ever read at the tender age of 10, and which for good reasons immediately became one of my favourite books of all time and in all the years since has never been displaced from its solid and thoroughly deserved status as the cream of the crop not just of historical fiction but across genres. This is the only book for which I have ever stayed awake without slee...more

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Dawn (& Ron) Your comments make sense to me on two fronts. I started reading adult books at 12-13 and I too was placed into accelerated reading. I was fascinated b...moreYour comments make sense to me on two fronts. I started reading adult books at 12-13 and I too was placed into accelerated reading. I was fascinated by WWII, just hearing about it and seeing some of the classic films with my grandmother, and by extension other wars. So I read Norman Mailer, Herman Wouk, Erich Marie Remarque and Stephen Crane. Still WCaHSS, that has so many levels, nuances and complexity that I don't think I would have grasped it at the level you did, at 10 or 13. The other issue I understand is fear of losing your love of reading. My frustrations come from a different place but yet I see the parallels, there was a threat to your reading. I completely lost my reading comprehension due to a head injury years ago. The frustration of having to re-learn and going through cognitive therapy almost cost me my love of reading. It took me 2-3 years, and although I never regained the speed at which I once read, I'm know not even half as fast as I was, I gained a greater love of reading.

I admit that the adult situations and certain feelings between adults, in the books I read, I didn't fully comprehend, and that I was probably clueless about the meaning behind them. Mind you not as clueless as I was those initial years after my brain injury, ha-ha. I pray never to visit that again.

I also approach how I read each book differently than I did before. I try to judge each book on its own merits, approaching each with a fresh mind, or clean slate. I admit this is still a work in progress because I think it is part of being human to compare things but I find my sheer enjoyment is better, less frustrating. I know that Penman, Dunnett and Chadwick are the top echelons of HF so I don't go into a read with that anticipation, I allow myself to being more receptive to that author's journey. This doesn't mean that I don't find fault or disappointment.

The reason I loved your review and decided to comment, outside of Penman's accolades, is because of the way you captured the how and whys of the spell the book cast on upon you. I only started doing reviews in the last year or so (even joined the new GR group on doing reviews). It was suggested that they may help my comprehension after I noticed difficulties starting to surface a couple years ago. I admit they have been very helpful but I would love to be able to convey just a percentage of what you did here.

I have a deal for you. I will try not to be embarrassed and ashamed when admitting/talking about my injury and subsequent difficulties if you will work on not being embarrassed over compliments and maybe toot, just a little bit. ;~)(less)
Aug 11, 2011 05:14pm

Isis Alright, deal. :)
Aug 12, 2011 12:55am

Aug 20, 2008

Misfit rated it

Shelves: medieval

A Sad and Tragic Period in England's History and truly a time when Christ and his Saints slept. A fascinating, complicated tale with a huge cast of characters, many with similar names. It was hard to keep track of at times, a list of who's who at the front of the book would have been helpful, as SKP did in the next book, Time and Chance.

The characters were well written, and I appreciated that neither Stephen (who did steal the crown) nor Maude were written as black and white/evil vs...more

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May 13, 2011

Vixenne rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: genre-historical-fiction, settings-medieval-england, characters-queens

It still boggles the mind to think that England went through twenty years of civil war because men just couldn't stand to see a powerful woman on the throne. When Christ and His Saints Slept is a very long book, which would make for a very interesting miniseries. This novel is the real Game of Thrones, played against a backdrop of shifting loyalties, clashing armies and the suffering of innocents. One cannot help to feel some sympathy for Stephen, the man who should not have been king. I wan...more

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Jul 05, 2008

Bryon rated it

I liked this book, and am a fan of Penman's...but there were a few issues that I had with this one:

1.) "Head-hopping": Sometimes it's really hard to tell who she's talking about, and you have to go back and re-read to figure it out.

2.) Many scenes seem to have this basic structure:
1. Some major characters, most likely nobles, are talking about something eminently important.
2. Suddenly...A rider/knight will rush in to tell them that someone ha...more

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Apr 20, 2010

Joyce Lagow rated it

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 Glouc...moreFor 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.[return][return]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.[return][return]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.[return][return]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. [return][return]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.(less)

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Dec 26, 2011

Foxessa Wolfram-Hart rated it

Recommends it for: lovers of historical fiction

Shelves: medieval-historical-fiction

Penman, Sharon Kay. (1995) When Christ and His Saints Slept. Ballantine.

Darkness Falls Early: Reading In the Winter Solstice

At the end of the summer I read Lionheart (2011), the latest in Sharon Kay Penman's series set in the era of Henry the II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, their progenitors and their progeny. It was so interesting I looked up the novels that came before, Devil's Brood (2008), Time and Chance (2002) and now, the first one, When Christ and His Saints Sle...more

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Dec 08, 2011

C rated it

Shelves: english-history

Are you an Anglophile whose taste for stories of Medieval England needs to be periodically sated? Then Sharon Kay Penman is an author whose work you should read. The accuracy of the historical context, combined with the depth of her characters has moved Ms. Penman to the near top of my favorite author’s list. This particular novel focuses primarily on Maude, heir to the English throne, Henry II’s mother, and wife of Geoffrey of Anjou. Though she was unsuccessful for a myriad of reasons in her fi...more

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Dec 07, 2011

Ryan Groesbeck rated it

If I could sum up this book with one word, I think it would be "sad". As one of the barons says early in the book, the choice is between a queen who listens to no-one, and a king who listens to anyone. It's a terrible choice, made worse by the newness of the Norman-French aristocracy which is still settling into control of England over a restive populace. Leading magnates switch sides with alarming frequency, and the ones who suffer worst of all are the poor caught in the middle. Penma...more

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Nov 17, 2011

Shannon rated it

Penman's broad epic scope focuses on the dynastic struggle for the crown of England. This takes place in the early 12th century when Henry I, who had over 20 illegitimate children, loses his one legitimate heir in the White Ship Ordeal (i.e. basically, a chunk of the fleet sank in the British storms). Upon Henry I's death it was settled that Henry's daughter, Maude, would rule. For his barons this was quite unpopular as women were not supposed to rule, which opened the doors for a cousin, Stephe...morePenman's broad epic scope focuses on the dynastic struggle for the crown of England. This takes place in the early 12th century when Henry I, who had over 20 illegitimate children, loses his one legitimate heir in the White Ship Ordeal (i.e. basically, a chunk of the fleet sank in the British storms). Upon Henry I's death it was settled that Henry's daughter, Maude, would rule. For his barons this was quite unpopular as women were not supposed to rule, which opened the doors for a cousin, Stephen of Blois, to usurp the crown.
What followed was an 18 year struggle in which both sides controlled the throne.

The interesting aspect of this tale was that both potential rulers had serious flaws which blocked them from truly ruling. Stephen was kind and gentle yet his kindness was sometimes taken as a weakness by his barons. Additionally, his stubbornness at the Battle of Lincoln (i.e. when his vassals urged him to retreat) almost cost him his life and put him into confinement. But then, Maude underestimated Stephen's wife, as well as the Londoners, who tossed her out and put her in a precarious position. She then escaped but soon found herself forced to leave her army behind which endangered her illegitimate brother, Robert, and resulted in his capture.

Thus, Robert was exchanged for Stephen and the war continued after a truce.

Eventual fighting led to Maude's army being confined at Oxford. Matters got so bad for her during this siege that she and three others wore white cloaks and snuck past Stepehen's army during a snowstorm. Stephen, who eventually captured the castle, was flustered (i.e. during the first battle from long ago he had allowed Maude to leave the castle in an act of gallantry. His barons blamed him for this much later and, even when he tried to capture her, she always managed to slip away).

Victories came and went for both sides, and vassals continued to switch sides. Maude lost her main supporter, Robert, who died in the later years of this struggle. Because of this, Maude's vassals could no longer be held together and she was forced to flee across the waters to Normandy (i.e. northern France).

Note that during this war Maude's husband, Geoffrey, Duke of Anjou, had managed to seize many of the British territories, giving Normandy to Maude.

But kingship for Stephen left a bitter aftertaste. His wife, Mathilda, died and Stephen continued to have problems with the Church and unruly vassals. Meanwhile, Maude's son, Henry, was securing Normandy and ended up marrying Eleanor of Aquitaine, which only made more powerful by leaps and bounds.

In the end, and, in less than two years, Henry landed in England, where he was supported by his own troops as well as British lords. Stephen put up resistance, but the tides of war were against him. Bad omens and war weary vassals eventually convinced him to pass his title to Henry upon his death.

And, in the end, Henry II took the throne of England with very little bloodshed.

Penman's writing strengths are in her vivid descriptions, her real and varied characters, her build up of conflict and conclusions and, of course, let us not forget that her love stories are pretty good, too.

Overall, this is sterling silver quality, so read it right away.(less)

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Oct 16, 2011

Ruth rated it

c1994. Some of my favourite books have the bitter conflict between Maude and Stephen as a back drop - (eg Cadfael) so it was interesting to have Maude and Stephen as the main protagonists again. This book does sprawl over 806 pages but split into chapters representing certain periods of time which does break it down somewhat. No fault of Ms Penman, and in her introduction she does try to explain and entitle characters with their less formal names, but there are still way too many Maudes, Roberts...more

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Jan 26, 2011

Melissa rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

A masterful telling of the turmoil between Maude, heir to the throne, Stephen, usurper to the throne, and Henry, Maude's son, this novel is of the riveting history of early England. After a disastrous sinking of a ship and the death of the heir to the throne, Maude, the King's daughter is called back from Germany to be the new heir to the throne. Because of her new husband and the fact that she is a woman, when the King dies his favorite nephew Stephen is given the throne instead. Desperate to w...moreA masterful telling of the turmoil between Maude, heir to the throne, Stephen, usurper to the throne, and Henry, Maude's son, this novel is of the riveting history of early England. After a disastrous sinking of a ship and the death of the heir to the throne, Maude, the King's daughter is called back from Germany to be the new heir to the throne. Because of her new husband and the fact that she is a woman, when the King dies his favorite nephew Stephen is given the throne instead. Desperate to win back her inheritance, Maude begins a full scale civil war with Stephen, eager to get back what is her's and her son's.

Many years pass with the upper hand going from side to side. While Stephen was well liked and popular when in the King's court, as a King he is not so much favored. Too quick to forgive and let his enemies rule him he finds it hard to retain the crown and his kingdom. Worse yet, his son Eustace is shaping up to be a not so great replacement for him on the throne.

When Maude's son comes of age he takes up the battle for the crown himself. In doing so he also weds the beguiling Eleanor, one time French Queen. Together they rise against Stephen to restore what is rightfully Henry's; the throne and kingship of England.

This was a very long novel. Penman uses quite a bit of description and as a result early England is very much alive in her work. Told from the third person it skips around from character to character and also time and place. My complaint on this would be that sometimes it would be hard to tell what month or even year it was unless you were at the start of a chapter. Otherwise, her wording flowed beautifully.

The characters were also riveting. While the first portion of the book focuses largely on Maude, the second part turns to her son Henry and she is only mentioned here and there with little to no appearances in the rest of the book. Another large character is the fictional character of Ranulf, an illegitimate son of the king and Maude's brother. While there is no proof of his existence, Penman works him into the story so that the battles can be seen by his eyes, but his presence does not alter the course of history. It was nice to see in that such a time as early England was that Penman created strong female characters, but did not let them act in a way that was unfitting of the times as well.

Overall I greatly enjoyed this book. I was lost some times in the history as I've not studied much on Europe's history, but the novel itself was engaging. I would have liked to know how marrying Eleanor helped Henry in his fight for the throne as I didn't understand the intricacies that went into it and I'm sure I'm not the only one with this trouble as well. It looks like I'll have to open a few history books for my answers. Most of the plot and the telling of the history was straightforward however, and that is what makes this book a truly enjoyable read. I can't wait to move on to the next in the series, Time and Chance.

When Christ and His Saints Slept
Copyright 1995
738 pages (less)

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Aug 24, 2010

Elaine rated it

William the Bastard, the Conquerer (1066-1087) had: William Rufus, King William (1087-1100) who was killed by a hunting arrow. Henry I,(William's youngest son) became king from 1100 -1135. Henry's only legitimate son drowned when the king's White Ship sunk in the English Channel. His daughter Maude (also known as Matilda) was first married to Heirich, the Holy Roman Emperor. After he died Maude married Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, and had a son, Henry II.
Stephen, William's grandson, Maude's ...more

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Oct 25, 2009

Emily rated it

3 1/2 stars. I'm a big fan of historical fiction. This one was heavy duty. Very long. Very detailed. Lots and lots and lots of characters, so many of whom were named William, Robert, Henry, Geoffrey. Plus the two primary females had the same name. And what are you going to do... they're real people so it's not like the author can just pick other names. Also, the author clearly didn't just want to give you the big picture storyline. There were all these little vignettes and side stories ...more

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Aug 28, 2009

Lori rated it

I'm having such an easier time getting into this than Here Be Dragons.

Don't be misled by the 3 star rating, this was a very good book! I notice another review says "I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's over", which is how I feel.

The history was fascinating, I knew nothing about Maude and the civil war in 12 century England. Both she and Stephen, who usurped her crown, were extremely well depicted and fully fleshed out into real people. And when one thinks of a...moreI'm having such an easier time getting into this than Here Be Dragons.

Don't be misled by the 3 star rating, this was a very good book! I notice another review says "I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's over", which is how I feel.

The history was fascinating, I knew nothing about Maude and the civil war in 12 century England. Both she and Stephen, who usurped her crown, were extremely well depicted and fully fleshed out into real people. And when one thinks of a usurper, one usually things of a power hungry egomaniac, yet Stephen was far from that - he was so likable. A sweet nice man, a baaaad king really because he was so nice. Likewise Maude, so admirable, had her faults as well, exacerbated by being a strong intelligent independent woman in a world where women are supposed to be just the opposite - well, which is why her queenship was snatched from her, a WOMAN as the consecrated monarch?

I also loved the way Mathilda, Stephen's wife, grew into herself. There were many characters in this history, all of whom were made very real and complex.

However, I did grow antsy with battle after battle, and discussion of battle, which grew a bit plodding for me. It pained me how the common people were pretty much ruined as the war raged around them, with towns laid to waste by rampage, rape, murder, and fire. Only a few of the royals even seemed to care, easy to shrug away as the consequence of the war.

So when Henry II comes to age and actually portrays a deeper conscience and desire to understand all people, it's a deep relief. He is a definite hero. When we finally meet Eleanor of Aquitaine, who is discussed as a topic of gossip throughout the book, there are definite correlations between with Maude. Because Eleanor is certainly no slouch.

One of these days I'll definitely read the next 2 books that follow Henry and Eleanor, altho it will pain me because I know how this passionate and seemingly perfectly well-matched marriage disintegrates.

I wonder if I would have loved this if I hadn't read Dorothy Dunnett, who not only wrote superbly researched historical fiction, but raised it to the highest notch of brilliance with added intrigue, mystery, and thrill. Of course she was able to do this because her main characters were fictional. Altho now that I think of it, Penham's character Ranulf, a very major character, was also fictional. Anyway, I can't help but compare good historical fiction with Dunnett, and everything else feels flatter. (less)

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Jul 10, 2010

Catherine rated it

I cannot think of enough good things to say about this book and its author. The book was over 700 pages and I couldn't wait to turn each one of them. When Christ and His Saints Slept isn't high literature, but it a great story. Characters are well-defined and the plot is engaging, making for an all around enjoyable read. Moreover, Penman has done her homework, trying to stay as close to documented historical events as possible. Where she strays from historical fact she is forthcoming about it ...more

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Jul 25, 2010

Sariah rated it

I would give this more like 3.5 stars. I love historical fiction, and this one was really well done. It takes place mainly in England during the reign of Stephen, who usurped the crown from Matilda (Maude) and details all the conflict as she tries to win back her crown. It also introduces us to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Quite factual, yet still entertaining. It was also nice to read historical fiction without excessive sex. This isn't to say that the characters were all celibate. Ther...more

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Dec 22, 2011

Justine Kelly rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Sharon Kay Penman is probably one of the best historical fiction authors around today. I tag her as 'best' largely because of the amount of research she puts into each novel.

'When Christ and His Saints Slept' is a novel about a time in English history labelled 'The Anarchy' due to the civil war between Empress Matilda and King Stephen (or Stephen of Blois). The history itself is gripping, and Penman does a good job of telling the story.

My one complaint is that the novel...more

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Sep 21, 2011

Xenia0201 rated it

Penman's stories seem to have an effect on me. Like her earlier masterpiece, The Sunne in Splendor, this novel completely immersed me in 12th century England and Normandy to the point I began dreaming about the characters. I was excited to read this, as there are few well-written historical novels during this era.

The only issue I had was determining who the true protagonist was. We are introduced intimately to several main characters - Stephen, Maude, Matilda, Ranulf, and later, Henr...more

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Sep 14, 2009

Sensitivemuse rated it

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 firs...moreWhen 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.(less)

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Mar 23, 2011

Caroline rated it

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This is the first in Penman's Henry II/Eleanor of Aquitaine, which also serves as a prequel of sorts to her earlier Welsh trilogy. This first book deals with the civil war between Stephen and his cousin Maude, Henry II's mother, both fighting over the English crown. Right was probably on Maude's side, but Stephen comes across as by far the more likeable character, even though claiming the crown was probably the worst thing he could ever have done, for himself and for Maude. Penman's books are al...more

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Sep 11, 2011

Ellen Ekstrom rated it

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 N...more

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Feb 11, 2009

Kim rated it

A period book. The first book by Penman that I ever read; the title caught my attention. Many of her titles have particular historical significance and I enjoy that extra touch of detail that she adds to her books. She brings historical characters to life in a way not often seen, although English history can be hard to follow with so many titled people (duke, lord, etc.) switching sides constantly depending on who was in power at the moment. Then there is the complication of naming children afte...more

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Jan 29, 2012

Victoria rated it

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 ...more

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Sep 16, 2010

Kelly Grossmann rated it

I really enjoyed this book. I had just finished reading The Plantagenet Preludeand now I don't know if I will ever be able to read another Jean Plaidybook. This book had such a wealth of information, and it was so well put together. I really like all the different characters in the book, including England itself. It is amazing to me the hardships that the common English people were put through, when they really didn't care who was King or Queen. Maude and Stephen were brought back to life i...more

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Jun 27, 2009

Betsy rated it

Shelves: historical-fiction

1. I'm glad I didn't live in England (or France) during the 12th century. 2. British Royal History doesn't even need "fictionalizing" to make it interesting--it was like a soap opera for sure! 3. Penman does such a good job of transitioning between different characters and making them sympathetic--even to causing her readers to root simultaneously for two mortal enemies! 4. Penman also does a really good job of leading up to Henry II's story: you feel at the end that the book was reall...more

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Jul 03, 2009

Chrissie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: great-britain, hf, kirkus, text-checked, france, european-royalty

Finished: I am VERY glad I read the book. However I am also glad that it is done. So how can I give it more than three stars. The author brings to life the medieval era. After reading the book you truly know the character traits of the main historical figures. I cannot emphasize this enough. They become true friends/foes. They are real, no one-sided portrayals. No good guys and bad guys, just real people with good and bad qualities. Boy did I come to like Henry II! And King Stephen before him, a...moreFinished: I am VERY glad I read the book. However I am also glad that it is done. So how can I give it more than three stars. The author brings to life the medieval era. After reading the book you truly know the character traits of the main historical figures. I cannot emphasize this enough. They become true friends/foes. They are real, no one-sided portrayals. No good guys and bad guys, just real people with good and bad qualities. Boy did I come to like Henry II! And King Stephen before him, a king with a heart and a good military leader but the chivalry so central to medieval warfare is so bizarre b/c it often prolongs the suffering and devastation of the masses. Life in Wales is invitingly described, which makes me want to read Here Be Dragons by the same author. I am also torn b/c I want to know more about Henry and Eleanor d' Aquitaine. Around page 700 of 900 the book really picks up! Couldn't the preceding 700 pages have been edited? The question is whether I would have really come to understand warfare in the Middle Ages. I have very mixed feelings about this book!

Read pages 234 of 909: So far I think this book does not have the pull of Gortner's The Last Queen. It is historucally very accurate, and it is made clear what is fact and what fiction but I am getting bogged down by the civil war occurring in England. OK, it did happen and history is history but a little editing might of helped! It is hard to get through. In addition I am getting bogged down by the continual bickering between Maude and Geoffrey, and actually I am also a little tired of hearing how wonderful Stephen's and Matilda's marriage is. I also find it difficult with the names - there are just so many people having the same names. Many of the main historical characters are delineated in family charts at the front of the book. Otherwise I would be lost! What I do like is that Penman has for the most part drawn the characters so they come alive. Currently I feel terribly sorry for Maude and Geoffrey's son Henry! Stephen's good and bad sides are well depicted, but other characters are less nuanced. Maybe this will change as the story progresses. The history is clearly depicted and not hard to follow. I appreciate that.(less)

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Jan 12, 2011

Beccalarge rated it

· review of another edition

Anything written by Sharon Kay Penman is bound to be fantastic and this was no exception. The story of England at the death of King Henry I, who had left the crown to his daughter Maude. England, unwilling to be ruled by a woman, accepted her cousin Stephen as their king instead. The years that follow tear England apart in battles so horrible and bloody it is said that it must be "when Christ and His Saints Slept". This book is full of history, and paves the way for the story of K...more

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Feb 11, 2010

Erin rated it

A coworker of mine has been recommending this series for quite some time and I finally got to it. First impression - it's incredibly dense. It rarely takes me this long to get through a book, but this piece required a great deal of concentration. There were a few story lines I liked better than others. I often wondered if the battle scenes would ever end and was frequently confused by the number of characters. Many of the characters either had the same names or were alternately referred to ...more

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Dec 28, 2008

Aimee rated it

This book, though historical fiction, really helped me put together a lot of early details about English (and to some extent French) history. It tells the story of the daughter of Henry I, Maude/Matilda and her quest to win back the throne she believed had been usurped from her by Stephen of Blois, her cousin.

There were a lot of characters, but I really enjoyed the descriptions of the two sides (Stephen's and Maude/Matilda's) and the description of the relationship between Eleanor ...more

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Jan 16, 2012

Jeffrey Keeten rated it

· review of another edition

You will look at this book and find the 742 pages daunting, but I will relieve your mind on that score. The book reads fast. Penman keeps the pages moving bringing history to life and putting flesh on the bones of a vast array of characters. Despite the plot involving so many historical figures I never found myself to be lost. I have read quite a bit about the Plantagenets and that may have helped me to decipher the where, why and what more easily, but I do think a reader with less backgroun...moreYou will look at this book and find the 742 pages daunting, but I will relieve your mind on that score. The book reads fast. Penman keeps the pages moving bringing history to life and putting flesh on the bones of a vast array of characters. Despite the plot involving so many historical figures I never found myself to be lost. I have read quite a bit about the Plantagenets and that may have helped me to decipher the where, why and what more easily, but I do think a reader with less background of the period will still find themselves swept up in the plot and left at the end of the book with a burning desire to know more about the Plantagenets. In fact I fully intend to read the other two books in the trilogy in the very near future.

The trouble, you see, all starts with the White Ship. The legitimate heir to the throne of England, William the only son of Henry the first drowns in a tragic shipwreck. Many English lives would have been spared if William had survived. Henry I dies after a meal of lamprey eels. On his death bed he forces his most ardent supporters to swear fealty to his daughter and only legitimate heir Maude. Some of his supporters do end up supporting Maude, but a majority of them go over to Stephen, her cousin, and he becomes king of England. This is one of those points in history where legitimate and illegitimate blood lines become such a factor. Robert of Gloucester, a competent, well respected illegitimate son of Henry I displaying all the characteristics of a man that would have made a good king is kept from the throne by law. If Robert had been allowed to be crowned king many thousands of English lives would have been spared in the more than a decade of civil war that followed the coronation of Stephen, for Maude did not go quietly in the night.

Maude married Geoffrey of Anjou, a handsome, dynamic, powerful man who got more than he bargained for in his marriage to a King's daughter. She married him for military support and he married her with that thought that a son of his would one day sit on the throne of England. Their marriage was stormy and it is a miracle that they ever managed to compromise long enough to sire a son. One of the reasons why Maude had difficulty in gaining support was of course first and foremost because she was a woman, but secondly she was too imperial with her subjects. She exhibited a coldness that kept all, but her key people at a distance. Stephen on the other hand was very charming and personable to a fault. He wanted everyone to love him and as the war continued that became his Achilles Heel. He was unwilling to execute and destroy those that opposed him. Qualities today that we would find commendable, but in the twelfth century was perceived as a weakness. As the civil war continued supporters blew with the wind, sometimes changing sides three or four times. By the time Henry, oldest son of Maude and Geoffrey, became old enough to become involved in the conflict the war was nearly over. Stephen, after the untimely death of his son Eustace (another deadly meal of eel),named Henry as his successor thus ending the conflict.

I have been so enthralled, for good reason, with the reign of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitane that I knew very little about Stephen and Maude. I had always known more about their weaknesses than their strengths and Penman did a wonderful job giving me a more balanced perception of both Stephen and Maude. (less)

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About Sharon Kay Penman

Penman received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, she majored in history, and also received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Rutgers University School of Law, and later worked as a tax lawyer. Penman suffered from an eighteen month bout with mononucleosis.

The Sunne in Splendour, a novel about Richard III of England is one of the most popular books on the Hi...more

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When Christ and His Saints Slept (Henry II & Eleanor of Aquitane #1)

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