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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
A realistic imagining of the start of the Plantagenet Dynasty. Her characters had a lot of humanity and complexity. Seems historically accurate.
adventurous
emotional
tense
I was torn between giving this book a 3 or a 4. It was really good, very interesting, and I'm hoping well-researched (not my area of expertise). However, it was long. Stephen's kingship was basically a 20 year civil war with siege after siege and betrayal after betrayal, and half way through, you are just ready for it to be over. The characters were all compelling, three-dimensional and though-provoking.
Took me forever to finish this giant book, but it was worth it. As always, Sharon Kay Penman is an expert in historical fiction.
'When Christ and His Saints Slept' is an ambitious historical novel about a period in English history known as 'The Anarchy'. When the heir of King Henry I dies in a shipwreck, the kingdom is thrown into a time of uncertainty. The king announces that his daughter Maud will be his heir, but the nobles balk at the idea of a woman monarch. Before long, Stephen of Blois, the king's nephew, becomes the favorite to inherit. This leads to a period of war and chaos that lasts over twenty years, as the loyalties of England's nobility shift back and forth.
Sharon Kay Penman brings this confusing period to life. There is a genealogical chart to help keep the main characters clear. One problem is beyond Penman's control. There are a lot of Henrys and Matildas and Roberts floating through the story. Maud is the daughter of Henry I and the mother of Henry II. Her husband is Geoffrey, as is one of her sons. Stephen is married to a Matilda, a variation of the name Maud, and there are other Matildas among the minor characters. I have a pretty good grasp of the period, so I could usually keep track of who was who. But the audio narrator did not do an especially good job of creating distinctive voices.
This is the first book in a series that tells the story of the Angevin line.
Sharon Kay Penman brings this confusing period to life. There is a genealogical chart to help keep the main characters clear. One problem is beyond Penman's control. There are a lot of Henrys and Matildas and Roberts floating through the story. Maud is the daughter of Henry I and the mother of Henry II. Her husband is Geoffrey, as is one of her sons. Stephen is married to a Matilda, a variation of the name Maud, and there are other Matildas among the minor characters. I have a pretty good grasp of the period, so I could usually keep track of who was who. But the audio narrator did not do an especially good job of creating distinctive voices.
This is the first book in a series that tells the story of the Angevin line.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fabulous! 6 stars!!! Could not put it down. Very fast paced, rich descriptions and portrayals of multiple characters, revealing more about many of the secondary people involved in this tumultuous struggle for the crown. I loved getting to glimpse into many characters’ lives. Excellent writing. I will definitely read more of her books!
I won't lie. This was a bit difficult to get through but it is so rich with detail. Not a single event was left out and Penman's writing style is excellent. What made is difficult is no fault of the authors. Because the traditions of naming children in the Middle Ages, many had the same name. At times it was easy to get mixed up and try to figure out which Maud or Will the author was referring to. Without the side story of Ranulf I would have found the novel even harder to get through since it added a bit of unpredictability to the story line.
Turning so many names and dates and battles into vivid, memorable and touching characters - quite apart from an enjoyable novel, it's a masterclass in epic. I also lovex the focus on various female roles in mediaeval society, as well as the treatment of disability.