Also, the reading becomes easier after the 200-page mark as the focus tightens to fewer characters. From that point on, this book was not going into the DNF pile. But Penman’s vivid description of the Battle of Lincoln was captivating. It felt like reading an English version of the Three Kingdoms with armies rushing hither and yon. The first 300 pages made for difficult progress. In When Christ and His Saints Slept, Sharon Penman re-tells the sad and tragic two decades in England between the sinking of the White Ship (and King Henry I’s only legitimate son), to the rise of King Henry II. The writer’s artistry comes from the ability to bring these characters to life – giving them humanlike attributes beyond the dry words of ancient texts and chronicles. You go into a book knowing exactly how it will turn out. One of the nicest things about historical fiction is this: no spoilers.
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