When Christ and His Saints Slept

February 5, 1996
Penman's latest historical epic concerns the 12th-century struggle for the English throne between Henry I's daughter Maude and her cousin Stephen of Blois.

April 1, 1995
King Henry I's death in 1135 led to a bloody 20-year struggle between his only legitimate child, Maude (called Matilda in most historical accounts), and his nephew, Stephen of Blois, for control of England. Penman (The Sunne in Splendour, 1982) showcases her mastery of the historical novel in this long and thoroughly engrossing study of pragmatic politics, idealism, and the role of women during the 12th century. She brings to life a vast array of unforgettable characters, both historical and invented, all of whose loyalties are being constantly tested by the chaos of the times. This novel, the first of a projected trilogy, should win new readers for Penman and delight her longtime fans. It belongs in all public libraries, large and small. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/94.]--Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle

November 1, 1995
YA-Maude, the daughter of King Henry I of England, is in contention for the English throne with her cousin Stephen, the son of William I. This is a rousing and detailed account of that 12th-century struggle between them; both held valid claims and had shifting supporters. This 20-year controversy was much like a civil war, with such loss and pain that the period was characterized by a contemporary chronicle as a time of great wretchedness "when Christ and His Saints slept." The events of this period were dramatic and ironic and carry the plot at a hectic pace. The cast of characters is lengthy, but well defined. The fictional principal, Ranulf, is a young nobleman, a squire pledged to Maude's cause. He is introduced as a teenager and both Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine are seen in appealing youth. There are battles, sieges, endless treacheries, and excellent views of primitive and advanced politics, all spiced with a great deal of gallantry, camaraderie, suspense, and sex.-Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA

March 1, 1995
Tirelessly researched but at times tiresomely presented, this sprawling historical novel nonetheless demonstrates a keen understanding of its time and place (in this case, twelfth-century England and France) and renders historical figures (in this case, crowned and noble heads) in terms of flesh and blood rather than as cardboard cutouts--both characteristics being requirements of successful historical fiction. With her latest novel, popular writer Penman inaugurates a trilogy focusing on the lives of King Henry II of England and his colorful consort, Eleanor of Aquitaine. This initial volume paints the background of Henry II's reign: the civil war that raged in England for two decades as the result of a dispute between his mother and her cousin over the succession to the throne. From the darkness of this quarrel, which left England completely wrung out, ultimately stepped Henry Plantagenet, whose ascension as Henry II brought the country back into the light. For avid historical fiction readers (and Penman has established a firm following among them), a place to lose oneself for hours on end. ((Reviewed Mar. 1, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)