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Summary: Epic Tale of Henry II, Eleanor, and Becket
Review: "Time and Chance," Sharon Kay Penman's sequel to "When Christ and His Saints Slept," is a true epic, a masterpiece of historical fiction. Spanning the years from 1156 to 1171, Penman places the reader in the courts, cathedrals, and villages of England and France during the early years of the reign of King Henry II, who through a combination of audacity, cunning, and relentless energy built an empire.
Even though Penman has unabashedly placed Henry II on a pedestal, she does not pretend that Henry lacked allies. Foremost among them was his wife, Eleanor of Aquitane, who rises above the period's rampant sexism to become one of the most important players on the European stage through her own attributes, including beauty, daring, wit, and above all, a steely determination to achieve her ends. Eleanor recognizes that she and Henry are an almost perfectly matched pair -- not for nothing does Eleanor exact revenge on her first husband, King Louis of France, who claimed she was barren, by having eight children with Henry!
There are several key storylines in this wonderful book, and Penman keeps them all in relative balance -- not an easy trick, since many of the "minor" players could easily be the subject of their own novels -- this just goes to show how astounding a man Henry was. For one, even though Eleanor is the light of Henry's life for years, she must come to terms with Henry's ill-advised but torrid affair with the gorgeous waif, Rosamund Clifford. How Eleanor copes with this betrayal -- through her combination of stark realism, fierce love for Henry, and her own colossal pride -- is a riveting tale.
Oh, and by the way, there's also the story of Henry's titanic clash with the church! On the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry appoints his right-hand-man, Thomas Becket, to the post. In this, Henry hopes to bring a sense of worldly realpolitik to the church, which has become a bloated, corrupt institution in Henry's mind. Becket seems to be the ideal choice, sharing Henry's mind and loyal to a fault. But upon taking the mantle, Becket begins to thwart Henry at every turn, and the clash between these two giants is one for the ages.
Through it all, Henry races around Britain and France, putting down rebellion after rebellion. His ill-fated confrontations with Wales receive the most attention, and Penman describes in exquisite detail the horrors an English army undergoes as it invades that mysterious, shrouded land to the west. Many of Penman's characters, including the completely-fictitious Ranulf, are Welsh (or, in Ranulf's case, half-English, half-Welsh), and Penman brings a humnanity to the Welsh that is rarely seen -- all too often, books are written from the English perspective where the Welsh are the "other," and this is a refreshing change.
Penman focuses more on relationships and verbal confrontations than the battlefield, although there is plenty of blood and gore to be found. But this is not a pell-mell action-packed book, but is rather more about the people who made this age such a pivotal one for England, and indeed, all of Europe.
Penman writes with a sufficiently modern style so that all of her characters are accessible, but she throws sufficient linguistic touches into the dialogue so that her characters don't sound like folks you would hear at the local coffee shop. For example, the use of "for certes" instead of the modern, "for certain," and similar tidbits gives the book a nice historical flavor without making it too obtuse for modern readers.
The reader is whisked away to a different age, and Penman makes the reader feel right at home with humanizing details -- from the use of stale bread, or "trenchers," as dinner plates (with the remants given to the poor after a feast, to the Welsh love of poetry, to the seasickness resulting from a daring Channel crossing, the reader feels right at home in Penman's twelfth centruy. And what an age it was!
Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and Anglophiles!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Read
Review: A fairly decent SKP book. I found her charactorization of Henry II a bit lacking and Eleanor a little too submissive and sad than I would have pictured her to be, but all in all a good read. Still waiting for the next one SKP, can't wait to see what you'll write about next!
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Summary: She's done it again!
Review: After long silence Sharon Kay Penman has hit the nail squarely on the head. Can't wait for the 3rd book in this trilogy, and now I have to go back and reread When Christ and His Saints Slept. Penman just gets better, but that doesn't mean the earlier books are less than the latest. It does mean that she carries everything she's learned along the way into each new book, and they are, as one reviewer said, well worth waiting for!! Thanks, Sharon, and we'll wait just as patiently for the next one. Namaste, ND
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Summary: Henry/Eleanor/Thomas Becket - True to Facts
Review: Another excellent read from Sharon Kay Penman, whose historical research stuck to the facts. While it has been quite some time since the first book of this trilogy (When Christ and His Saints Slept), Ms. Penman was kind enough to include reminders in her current story of her references to events in that book. I was truly pleased to have Owain, King of Wales, and his brood included in this story and liked very much the story of Hywel/Howell, his first born son. I can't wait for her final book in this series. Ms. Penman is my favorite medevial writer and she does not disappoint with this new novel.
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Summary: What a letdown!
Review: As a long-time enthusiastic Penman fan who has read and reread her other books I find myself bewildered. In her past books she has created vivid little scenes that bring the historical characters to life, illuminate their relationships to each other and draw us deeply into their emotional world until we care passionately about what happens to the even the most minor of them. In Time and Chance that vivid sketching isn't there and I didn't find myself feeling connected even to the major characters. How could Penman write about Henry II and Becket and keep Becket in the background showing us nothing about him as a person? Becket's relationship with Henry (whom we don't get to know very well, either) should have been a rich and complex psychological tapestry but instead we get a fairly monotonous description of events involving medieval stick figures. The relationship between Henry and Eleanor is also shallow and just seems to fade away on a single note. If you haven't done so, buy and read her earlier books especially The Sunne in Splendor and the first two Welsh books -- they're beautiful and totally absorbing. But Time and Chance is neither.
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Summary: insightful historical fiction
Review: Early in his reign, King Henry II successfully subdues his rebellious lords, who prefer their little fiefdoms to a powerful central state figure like His Highness. He decides he must also act accordingly with the Church in order to bring the priests in line. He chooses his most trusted ally Chancellor Thomas Becket to serve as the Archbishop of Canterbury though his friend is not a priest. However, once Sir Thomas takes over his new position, he changes his philosophy and becomes a fanatical supporter of the Church publicly opposing much of what his mentor desires.
Though over a decade younger than his wife Eleanor, Henry still loves her madly. He sires two daughters and five sons with her, while anchoring the throne for his Plantagant descendants (Richard, John, etc.) through war, treachery, and statesmanship. However, his fame (or shame) in history hinges on the murder of Sir Thomas, considered a saint by almost everyone else in the country.
TIME AND CHANCE, the sequel to WHEN CHRIST AND HIS SAINTS SLEPT, is an insightful historical fiction that brings to life the Henry II nation-building era. Reminding the audience in many ways of A Man for All Seasons, the tale is vividly loaded so that the audience can see a critical period in the building of a nation. Henry is a complex individual whom Sharon Kay Penman insures the audience fully comprehends how deep the King was. The look at the fights Henry fought and their impact on his family, his subjects, and his enemies make this mid to late twelfth century tale a must read for genre fans. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Time and Chance
Review: Good on some of the history, but certainly not something that you would want someone to rely on. Doesn't compare to Sun In Splendor or When Christ and His Saints Slept.
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Summary: A Definite Let Down
Review: I absolutely agree with the reviewer of March 12, from Alexandria, Va. This sequel to "When Christ and His Saints Slept" was quite a disappointment. After waiting for five years for the sequel, "Time and Chance" was not at all what had been expected. The characters were two-dimensional; no depth whatsoever. Although the book was read from cover to cover, the anticipation was dissolved within the first chapter. All the other historical novels by Ms. Penman are such classics- this story of Henry II and Eleanor was 'blah'. Hate to say it, but chances are I won't read the third book in the triology. Too bad the generous writing of her Welsh series wasn't continued.
Rating:
Summary: A Definite Let Down
Review: I absolutely agree with the reviewer of March 12, from Alexandria, Va. This sequel to "When Christ and His Saints Slept" was quite a disappointment. After waiting for five years for the sequel, "Time and Chance" was not at all what had been expected. The characters were two-dimensional; no depth whatsoever. Although the book was read from cover to cover, the anticipation was dissolved within the first chapter. All the other historical novels by Ms. Penman are such classics- this story of Henry II and Eleanor was 'blah'. Hate to say it, but chances are I won't read the third book in the triology. Too bad the generous writing of her Welsh series wasn't continued.
Rating:
Summary: They Do Not Come Better Than This
Review: I always look forward to a Sharon Penman novel I have not read before, this one kept me interested throughout the book. She has the ability to make the reader feel they are there with the characters in the book, no mean feat.
The book is about the turbulent relationship between Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Starting in 1156 the couple have been married for four years. The birth of their sons has ensured the succession to the throne, but civil war has seen the country torn apart.
Henry needs to defend the borders of England against France and Wales, but his most daunting task is his fight with the church to stop them from infringing on his power.
This fight culminates with his one time friend Thomas Becket, whom Henry has made Archbishop of Canterbury being murdered in Canterbury Cathedral.
Sharon Penman is not a prolific writer, which is understandable considering the amount of research that must go into each of her books. This book stands out among historical novels.
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