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

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

by Sharon Kay Penman (Goodreads Author)

4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 · rating details · 5,572 ratings · 369 reviews

Henry I is dead, and even as the bells toll, his barons confer edgily. Bound by oath, they must now deal with the King's only surviving legitimate issue: the handsome, intelligent, and commanding Maude, Henry's daughter and heir. Just as Maude reaches for the crown, her trusted cousin Stephen moves with treacherous speed to set himself up as king. Bound and determined, Mau...more

Hardcover, 746 pages

Published April 28th 2001 by Henry Holt & Company (first published 1994)

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Apr 30, 2013 StoryTellerShannon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-very-best-reads, historical-fiction, books-reviewed, owned, the-sweeping-epic

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...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Isis rated it 5 of 5 stars · 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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Mar 05, 2013 Robin Wiley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

It called to me, so I decided to reread it.

Wow, what a completely shitty time to live in England or France! It amazes me that one could carry on a war for 20 years and just dismiss the misery one is causing people. The common people didn't care who wore the crown. They just wanted to live their lives and feed their families. But every year or so you mow down their town on the way to the next castle, fort or stronghold. Your army marches on it's belly, so you take everything edible on the way thr...more

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Aug 20, 2008 Misfit rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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. saint -- a...more

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May 13, 2011 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 wanted...more

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Jul 05, 2008 Bryon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 has died/been born, or a castle/city is under siege/ta...more

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Apr 20, 2010 Joyce Lagow rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 Glouceste...more 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.[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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Sep 10, 2012 Jonathan rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: History buffs

Recommended to Jonathan by: Jennifer Freitag

Shelves: general-fiction

It’s as epic as medieval history gets – a power struggle for the throne of England – yet despite its scope and length, When Christ and His Saints Slept remains surprisingly intimate. Sharon Kay Penman accomplishes this task by keeping the focus on the characters, writing from an immediate perspective. Occasionally some minor (and thus invented) character will intrude for a scene or so, but most often we are concerned with the historical personae around whom the story revolves. Briefly, the princ...more It’s as epic as medieval history gets – a power struggle for the throne of England – yet despite its scope and length, When Christ and His Saints Slept remains surprisingly intimate. Sharon Kay Penman accomplishes this task by keeping the focus on the characters, writing from an immediate perspective. Occasionally some minor (and thus invented) character will intrude for a scene or so, but most often we are concerned with the historical personae around whom the story revolves. Briefly, the principals are the Empress Matilda (aka Maude), daughter of Henry I and granddaughter of William the Conqueror, to whom her father forced his vassals to swear an oath of fealty, and her cousin Stephen, who upon Henry’s death claimed the throne with the support of those same vassals, none of whom wanted to bow to a woman. And thus the stage is set for a decade-long showdown. But if the narrative unfolds in the arenas of politics, diplomacy, and martial confrontation, the story itself revolves always around the characters.

Fictionalizing actual historical figures seems, to me at least, a thorny task at best. The objectivist in me shrinks from deviating in the smallest detail from the truth of history (which may or may not correspond to the historical record), let alone at attributing motive or feeling to a person who, in actuality, must have had them for his own but in most cases took them to the grave. In the present case, however, the fictions don’t feel out of place. Perhaps it’s the distance – a millennium certainly obscures many details. In large part it’s the deftness of Penman’s touch; though by no means light – there are a handful of cringe-worthy thoughts or sentences handed out – the characterizations are consistent not just within themselves but with what the reader expects from humanity. One doesn’t wonder that Maude’s repeated frustrations at the hands of the prevailing patriarchal society leave her exhausted and somewhat bitter, even if the idea carries a hint of anachronism. Nor is one surprised that Stephen’s well-intentioned weakness leaves him oft exploited by those less scrupulous. And Penman’s characterization is certainly intimate in all senses of the word – if half the book unfolds in the council chamber or on the battlefield, the other half takes place in the bedroom (apparently there wasn’t much to do in the 12th century but drink, fight, and screw). Again, one is hardly surprised; in an age dominated by primogeniture the politics of matrimonial alliance held much sway, though perhaps not as much as that exercised over the human consciousness by sexuality in general.

Because this is, in the largest sense of the word, a true story, it is easy to identify with most of the characters, though none are particularly sympathetic. And this is what makes this book worth reading: it might not be history, strictly speaking, but it feels like history. There’s no rooting interest, really, save to know how we got from there to here. And the journey is an enjoyable one, not only because it dramatizes events that actually occurred, but because it breathes life, however fleeting, into the names in the dustier tomes. History and literature teach the same lessons: in both can be seen the ambition and ambivalence and futility of man. When the two are combined with such skill and passion as they are here, the lesson is powerful indeed.
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Dec 08, 2011 C rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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. Penman does an...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more 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 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 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 first c...more

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Oct 25, 2009 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 that illu...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Booknblues rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval, historical-fiction, favorites

When Christ and His Saints Slept is the first of a trilogy of historical fiction planned by Sharon Kay Penman. The journey through history extends from 1120 to 1154. In 1120 on the fateful voyage of the White Ship Henry I's heir apparent William is drowned with the rest of the passengers. Without a legitimate male heir to the throne Henry I named his daughter Maude to be his successor. This decision proved to have dire consequences for England. Penman deftly describes the resulting times of stru...more

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Aug 28, 2009 Lori (Hellian) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 usurper, one usually things of a...more 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 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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Mar 13, 2013 Sage rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not a great example of historical fiction. The story is thin and feels like it is just there to connect the historical elements that the author had researched and wanted to tell us about. It's hard to develop much interest in any of the characters. Really, this isn't so much a novel as a seemingly endless series of vignettes. I'm struggling to get through it, but sticking it out for some reason. I definitely wouldn't recommend.

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Jan 20, 2013 rabbitprincess rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those interested in Eng history

Recommended to rabbitprincess by: LT Group Read

Shelves: bibliotheque, 2013

* * * * 1/2

This book covers a turbulent, gruelling period in English history: the battle for the succession to the throne after Henry I, here referred to as "the old king", dies. Henry wanted his daughter, Maude, to be the next ruler and demanded that his barons recognize her as queen. However, Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois, seizes the crown instead, despite promising that he would support Maude's queenship. The resulting civil war is bloody, horrific and very often stalemated, and given the...more * * * * 1/2

This book covers a turbulent, gruelling period in English history: the battle for the succession to the throne after Henry I, here referred to as "the old king", dies. Henry wanted his daughter, Maude, to be the next ruler and demanded that his barons recognize her as queen. However, Henry's nephew, Stephen of Blois, seizes the crown instead, despite promising that he would support Maude's queenship. The resulting civil war is bloody, horrific and very often stalemated, and given the devastation it wrought, the end means that many died in vain.

Overall, I found this book fascinating. I have a passing familiarity with the major historical personages through reading various histories of the kings and queens of England, and Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett, also covers this period. This made it a bit easier for me to engage with the story. The book does provide a family tree at the beginning, but some people mentioned in the story don't show up on the tree due to space constraints, yet some people mentioned on the family tree don't really show up at all. For the most part, though, the family tree is not strictly necessary. Penman provides plenty of information to orient the reader. One particularly excellent decision is her standardizing the names: some figures in the story went by multiple names, and some people had the same names, so in this book everyone gets a different name. For example, Stephen's wife is named Matilda, and his rival to the throne was also named Matilda. But his rival also went by Maude, so to make things clearer she is referred to as Maude here.

Throughout this highly information-packed story, both Maude and Stephen receive even-handed treatment. Both are portrayed with virtues and flaws: Stephen is a generous, good-natured man but unable to be the ruthless king required of that time period, while Maude has her father's blessing but can be blunt and unforgiving (traits that men are not prepared to accept in women). But these are more the concerns of the barons and other nobility who throw their support behind one or the other; the average townsperson doesn't care who's on the throne as long as they personally are not having their houses torched, their food stolen and their families killed if they stand in the way of the looting soldiers. Penman is pretty unflinching in portraying the ugly side of war, although mercifully she does not go into too much detail about what may happen to women unfortunate enough to be caught as spoils of war.

Female characters in general are fairly believable here. A few have somewhat "modern" attitudes, in that they're not about to take nonsense from men just because men are deemed superior by law, but I don't think it's overly modern. Maude and her eventual daughter-in-law, Eleanor of Aquitaine, of course, are the best examples of women determined to wield power just as any man might. There is also an interesting contrast between English and Welsh society: where England is very much under the influence of the Church and women do not have many rights, especially in terms of marriage, Wales is more secular and both men and women have an equal right to walk away from an unhappy marriage. But even so, we still see a fairly accurate picture of what women went through in those times.

Humour is also present in this book: many characters, both male and female, enjoy amusing banter and repartee, with some remarks causing me to laugh out loud. It helped to leaven the book a bit, which is very densely packed with facts. Some of the dialogue thus comes off as a bit exposition-laden, but it is pretty much unavoidable with this sort of novel; the trick is to present it in as natural a way as possible, and I think for the most part Penman succeeds.

I definitely recommend this book if you have an interest in English history -- the fiction format presents the facts in an entertaining manner and is well worth the time invested.(less)

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Jul 10, 2010 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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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Oct 05, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalfiction

For a book with a fairly grim plot, When Christ and His Saints Slept did an excellent job of keeping me interested in the story.

The book is a novelistic adaptation of the struggle for the English throne between Empress Matilda (the daughter of King Henry I, and his designated heir) and Stephen of Blois (nephew of King Henry I). The struggle lasted for almost two decades (1135-1153) and became known as "the Anarchy," a time so grim for the English people that it was said that "Christ and His Sai...more For a book with a fairly grim plot, When Christ and His Saints Slept did an excellent job of keeping me interested in the story.

The book is a novelistic adaptation of the struggle for the English throne between Empress Matilda (the daughter of King Henry I, and his designated heir) and Stephen of Blois (nephew of King Henry I). The struggle lasted for almost two decades (1135-1153) and became known as "the Anarchy," a time so grim for the English people that it was said that "Christ and His Saints Slept."

It's a dramatic story, full of reversals, betrayals, unexpected alliances, absurd humor, and adventure. And as Penman is careful to point out in her afterward, the most dramatic parts are the truest. However, it's also a grim story and a cautionary tale of the struggle for power. Regardless of who was "right," the majority of the English people would have been better off with less war and far more peace.

Some have complained of the sheer heft of this book and the number of characters. Those are all valid points, but Penman also does an admirable job keeping things moving and helping her reader keep the characters straight. Apparently, about every other woman in England at this time was named Maud, which is the Norman form of the Latin name Matilda. At least three major characters in this book share the name, but Penman clarifies as best she can by calling one Matilda, one Maud, and one Maude.

The only jarring thing about the book was the Welsh sub-theme. She justifies it by having a Welsh bastard son of Henry I as a focal character, but the passion with which she writes about Wales hints that she'd rather be writing about it as a central theme. Which, I gather she did in her other trilogy.

Though the book was long, I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I was relieved for the English people when it was all over with the unexpected (to me, at least) ending. I ran right out and reserved the sequel at the library, if that gives you a hint of how much I liked it. (Also the fact that I finished this 700+ page book in two days.)(less)

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Jul 25, 2010 Sariah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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. There...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Justine Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 felt a bit too long for...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Xenia0201 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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, Henry. If you ar...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Kimberly Van De Graaff rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is well over 700 pages and it seemed to take forever to read. I loved the history, but knowing somewhat of the history already and just getting a different perspective of it, made the reading go a little slower than normal. Maybe it was because I already knew parts of it and so I felt like I was reading the "same ole stuff" if you know what I mean. Or maybe it was because I was so busy traveling during the past 2 months that the only time I had to read was at the gym, and that was rare...more

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Sep 14, 2009 Sensitivemuse rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 g...more 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.(less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

The title of this book refers to the forsakenness a land experiences in a time of war, when destruction and attacks upon civilians cause one to wonder if God is oblivious to the suffering taking place. I believe that not to be so, but this review is not the place for that discussion!

This historical novel covers the civil war for the crown following the death of Henry the First. His daughter Maude was in line for the crown, but the unacceptability of a woman taking the crown resulted in it being...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Nate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This truly epic novel covers the years between 1101 and 1154 in England and some duchies in France as the nobility fought an astonishingly long and destructive war over who would sit the throne of England; Stephen of Blois or the Empress Maude. A huge cast of characters populates this book and their conflicts with each other and themselves are what propels this story. All of them have distinctive personalities and personal motive is a huge factor in this story, as sides were changed often and lo...more This truly epic novel covers the years between 1101 and 1154 in England and some duchies in France as the nobility fought an astonishingly long and destructive war over who would sit the throne of England; Stephen of Blois or the Empress Maude. A huge cast of characters populates this book and their conflicts with each other and themselves are what propels this story. All of them have distinctive personalities and personal motive is a huge factor in this story, as sides were changed often and loyalties were totally suspect most of the time. The main character of this story, if any, is Ranulf Fitz Roy, Maude's fictional half-brother. A lot of historical fiction uses the great tool of using a fictional character as our eyes and legs in the world and he's a great character in that tradition.

It's so odd to see characters that we only really get to see on paper or in a few paintings living and breathing in such a realistic way. This kind of focus on characterization only helps the vivid sense of place and time in this book, as these characters are human beings; complex, flawed, and not always likeable. The most obvious and probably best example is the two people at the center of the conflict; Maude and Stephen. Maude's severe and stubborn and can be a bit cold, but she's also strong and clever and just utterly fucking refuses to stop fighting for her and her son's rightful throne and really cares for her loved ones. Stephen is charming, funny, brave dotes on his wife and children but is way too easily manipulated by people who have their own interests in mind rather than what's right for the kingdom...and he's also a usurper. Honestly, no one comes out looking like the big bad in this; just people who are compelled for many reasons, some just, to continue the war. Ultimately though, you will probably feel the need to pick a side.

Another huge facet of Penman's writing that shines is her knowledge of the time. Details on everything from what people ate to castle architecture to the genealogy of nobles just abound in this book. All of this information is woven into the story in a way that you don't feel like you're reading a list of events but that you're picking up these facts as you go along and sink deeper into the world of the book, which is definitely substantial. She also manages to imbue these but really strong moods into the whole story; it's sad and moving and infuriating and and all kinds of good stuff.

I really felt for two parties in this book: the commoners and Maude. The common people just get used and disposed of as pieces in the horrible chess game of a war the nobles were waging and Maude is denied the respect, power and title she deserves because she's a woman. Seriously, there were times when people in this book would say shit like "Yeah, Stephen sucks but do you really want a woman on the throne?" It's just ridiculous. If Maude had held the loyalty that male monarchs commanded at the time just for being born male Stephen's head would have been crowning Bristol's gate two weeks into the war, yet she had to fight tooth and nail for decades just to get her son rightfully recognized. It takes a special kind of book to really stoke that kind of uncomfortable emotion and still make you want to keep picking it up.(less)

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Mar 23, 2011 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 1...more

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May 07, 2013 Mind Bird rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow. A book to remember the next time one wants to go to a "Renaissance festival" or some such reenactment of the good old days of knights and castles. The unmitigated egos of 'divine right' royalty and their followers jockeying for power over the dead bodies of countless people, towns and livestock, running rampant over the lives of ordinary people, and each other, in war after war after war after war after war---it doesn't look so romantic when explored in detail. It eventually seems like a bu...more

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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 Historical Nov...more

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