Rating: Summary: Great in Fiction!!! Review: I've been a fan of Sharon Kay Penman ever since I read her Here Be Dragons and if it weren't for that book, I would have given this one 5 stars.When Christ and His Saints Slept is the story of Maude, the daughter and only legitimate heir of Henry I upon his death. When the barons balk at having a woman rule them (despite her father's obvious preference) they crown her cousin Stephen in her stead. Like any good queen, she doesn't give up easily and launches a brutal and drawn out civil war to reclaim her crown. Her allies include her illegitimate brothers Robert of Glouster, Ranulf and Rainuld, Brien FitzCount and her predatory husband Geoffrey of Anjou. But from the start, her quest is shadowed by the fact that she's a woman in the medieval world, no great advantage, and she refuses to act like one. When her son Henry comes of age, things get even more interesting... Sharon Kay Penman is extremely skilled at evoking the alien landscape of the Middle Ages and her work resounds with careful research and deft characterizations. She seems to be scrupulously fair to the memories of the personages she fictionalizes. I like that a lot and it makes a wonderful read. She makes Maude come alive on the page, and Stephen, his wife Matilda, her friend the Fleming, Robert of Glouster, Brien FitzCount, Geoffrey of Anjou...they really seem to smolder. The plot is interesting from start to finish, painstakingly detailed in the military areas, especially the snowy siege of Oxford. Love that scene. This is a great read for anyone who likes historical fiction, and if you like romance, well, the relationship between Maude and Brien is touching and often heartrending. This book had a few weaknesses in my eyes, however. This is something I tend to notice in her other novels as well, that so many of her female characters seem to be 12th Century feminists, which can ring a little unconvincing at times. Also, her thoroughly fictional characters, like Ranulf FitzRoy, can wax a little two dimensional. I'm also thinking of Hugh from The Reckoning. Not that I don't like them, but Penman's other characters are so fiery and fractious, that these overly-honorable, fall-deeply-and-abidingly-in-love-with-the-redheaded-Welshwomen fellows fall a little flat in the faces of gargantuan egos, like Maude, Geoffrey of Anjou, John Plantagenet(Here Be Dragons, her coolest character!), his daughter Joanna, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Llewelyn Fawr, Davydd ap Llewelyn...I could go on and on for days with a list of her characters I can't forget. Sharon Kay Penman's books are excellent reads and I suggest them (all!!!) wholeheartedly!
Rating: Summary: Enthralling book. Review: At first, I didn't think I could get into this book, but within thirty pages I was hooked. Sharon Kay Penman does a great job of fleshing out historical characters and bringing the amazing history to life. This is a great book for people who like historical fiction.
Rating: Summary: A Big Breathless Book Review: This book is a superb, enthralling, tumultuous ride through an incredible time in English history. Penman's style is acutely engaging, suck you in, where did the time go, mastery. If you think English history isn't blockbuster material, you haven't read Penman.
Rating: Summary: Penman Vol. 1 Review: Penman emerged long ago as one of the best historical novelists and continues to solidify her reputation with each new release. Her special genius lies in the bright and shining historical detail that she can weave into both plot and dialog (she's a very good student of history and at times is absolutely brilliant in conveying to us the workings of medieval minds). Chronologically, this is the first book. It's also the first in the Henry & Eleanor trilogy (the others are Space & Time and Devil's Brood). There is no doubt When Christ And His Saints Slept will stand as a superior work for ages to come. There is certainly a very complex plot (because this era of English history was quite convoluted). Penman does an excellent job of keeping it all straight for us as she leads us through the maze of characters. Yes, it's complicated but if you read the history of these times you quickly come to see what a great job she did in her design of the story. There are touching moments (everybody seems to remember her scene of Henry meeting Eleanor in the garden of the Cite Palace) and Penman is great at establishing dynamic moments for a wide range of events (the deaths of Kings, Maude & Eleanor's machinations, etc.). But the true genius is the broad historical scope that is painted on top of the shimmering details of brief moments. It truely does feel as if you are living the story yourself, and it is this bringing us readers in as witnesses that stands as Penman's contribution to the art of the historical novel. If you prefer to read in chronological order: 1101-1154 When Christ And His Saints Slept (Vol 1 of Trilogy) 1156-1171 Time And Space (Vol 2 of Trilogy) 12th Cent Devil's Brood (Vol 3 of Trilogy)- not yet released 1192-1193 The Queen's Man 1193 Cruel As The Grave 1183-1232 Here Be Dragons (Vol 1 of Welsh Trilogy) 1231-1267 Falls The Shadow (Vol 2 of Welsh Trilogy) 1271-1283 The Reckoning (Vol 3 of Welsh Trilogy) 1459-1492 The Sunne In Splendour
Rating: Summary: Sweeping and hard to put down Review: After reading the SUNNE IN SPLENDOUR, I was hesitant to try Penman again. But, convinced by a friend, I bought this book. It was hard to put down. All the characters were clearly drawn and their roles in the saga are masterly woven through the book. The plight of the English people is exposed while at the same time admiration grows for King Stephen and Maude in their fight for the throne. Perhaps no one emerges as more able as Geoffrey, not likeable , but a master of politics. Penman has created a masterful vision of the period.
Rating: Summary: Marvelous writing! Review: This was the first SKP book I've read, but I'm definately a fan now. Her writing style is believable and entertaining. This story was quite realistic and beautifully portrayed. The icing on the cake however, is the way SKP understands the shades of gray. There is no pure evil or only good. (Well, maybe a few only good.) The character that evokes the most sympathy is the one who usurps the crown and betrays his cousin! Even the wretched Geoffrey, constantly in marital warfare with his wife, has a good side--he is a wonderful, loving father. All the characters, including the "bad" ones, are given motivation and reasoning behind their actions. Some characters, like Henry II and Eleanor, have no vices or wrong-doings shown, yet. Time and Chance displays more of their negative but very human side. I was thoroughly impressed with this perspective as it is far more realistic than having a supremely evil person who only wants to ruin. Even the few characters who lean towards that way are given a shred of sympathy and understanding. My only complaints about this book is that in a few places it does seem to drag with constant sieges and no clear victories, but that's the way it really happened so... Aside from that, there was an excessive use of the phrase "certes" meaning certainly. Great book!
Rating: Summary: When Penman and her reviewers slept . . . Review: I love Sharon Kay Penman's books. I bought "When Christ and His Saints Slept" because I'd finished her Welsh Trilogy (that should be, Welsh Tragedy) and thought, "Oh, joy! Another big, thick Penman novel!" Sometimes I shouldn't think. If I had, I wouldn't have paid [money] for this book; I'd have borrowed it from the library. I don't regret buying it. On the contrary--Penman's worst is many other authors' best; why should I be upset? "Slept" is still a fine novel. But it's Penman's weakest effort; the conflict she chose to recreate is tepid compared to her earlier subjects. The war between Stephen, Count of Blois, and Maude, daughter of the Plantagenet King, for the throne of England is a stirring story. But Maude and Stephen rarely meet each other. The story tells of the intrigues and escapes of Stephen, Maude and their supporters; it also gives a glimpse into what a hell a marriage could be in medieval times, in the form of Maude's hateful union with Geoffrey of Anjou. Every time Geoffrey and Maude appeared in the same scene, I kept wishing Maude would shove a poker through Geoffrey's eye. But . . . Aside from a subplot involving Ranulf, Maude's younger brother, and his romances with a young noblewoman and his Welsh cousin (the flattest character Penman has ever created), nothing really happens. Maude's son Henry is somewhat interesting, but not enough to make one believe that this is Henry II, the husband of the legendary Eleanor of Aquitaine. And after meeting Eleanor in "Here Be Dragons", Penman's far-superior romance, coming across her younger self in "Slept" is a keen disappointment. In her earlier works, Penman created wonderful pairs: Llewellyn and Joanna, Simon and Nell, Richard and Anne. Henry and Eleanor, perhaps the most infamous lovers/marrieds of the Middle Ages, are as bland as a Plaidy couple. Still, Penman gets you lost in her recreated world, and if you enjoyed her earlier work, you'll like this as well. But take my word on it: it's not up to her usual standard.
Rating: Summary: Love SKP . . . but this is not my favorite book of hers Review: Don't get me wrong . . . Sunne in Splendor and Here be Dragons are probably my favorite books and the most amazing historical fiction ever written. However, I just could not get into this book. I think I read and re-read the first section(about the White ship tragedy) about 10 times and couldn't get much farther. Then when I finally forged ahead, I felt overwhelmed by the multitude of minor characters. When the Henry and Eleanor storyline was introduced, the book really picked up - it was refreshing to read about characters who were not wishy-washy (Stephen) or totally unknowing of human nature (Maude). Oh well, maybe it's just me. I can't wait to read Time and Chance about Henry and Eleanor!
Rating: Summary: First of Three Review: 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 struggle and turbulence. Maude's cousin Stephen sized the throne before she was crowned empress thereby plunging England into a period of unrest, war and crime. Stephen is portrayed as a great warrior, but uncertain king. He is easily swayed by advisors who jockeyed for influence and prestige. He lacked the ruthlessness which was necessary for a leader of those times, because of his reluctance to mete out punishment called for by medieval standards. While Maude has the resolution to be empress, she lacks the compassion and flexibility to rule with authority. Maude was unable to see that she had to win support, rather than demand it as a her right as a ruler. She eventually understands that the struggle is not against Steven, but for her son Henry. Penman introduces us to an intriguing cast of characters during an intriguing period of history. Ranulf, a bastard son of Henry I, is a loyal and sensitive supporter of his sister Maude. Penman involves us in his friendships, loves and battles. Ranulf is a complex character who is strongly loyal, while searching for his place in a dangerous time. Penman is commended for bringing to life medieval England. Fans of these times should not miss this book.
Rating: Summary: Fantastic Book to learn about English History Review: This is the first book I have read by Sharon, and I am going to buy her other ones. I just returned from a three week visit to England, and during the course of my stay was reading this book. To my great surprise, when I visited the Durham Cathedral Treasure Room, there was the Seal of King Stephen. It made the book even more meaningful. I have seen a lot of England in the past two years, being on an archological dig over there...but that was the Roman period. This book is helping understand the time period 800 years later.
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