I launched the “trilogy” with When Christ and his Saints Slept, which began with the sinking of the White Ship, the twelfth century’s version of the Titanic tragedy, and ended with Henry and Eleanor in triumph, “sure that the world, like the English crown, was theirs for the taking.” It is true I’d initially planned to do three books about the first Plantagenet king, Henry II, his equally famous queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their notorious offspring, often called the Devil’s Brood. “Sharon is here to talk about her latest entry in her five-book trilogy about the Angevin dynasty.” That amused the audience and me, too. The only complaint was that the era in which Penman sets the action ( 12th century England) "lacks epic qualities." The novel had a first printing of 75,000 copies with a major ad and promotion campaign and author tour.When I did a reading for A King’s Ransom at my favorite book store, the Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale, AZ, this is how I was introduced by the owner, Barbara Peters, who is a good friend and has a keen sense of humor. Although based on real life historical characters-Queen Maude and King Stephen are the main protagonists-it was thought that, in the fictional character Ranulf, Penman added a "successful addition". The book was described as a "magnificent combination of history and humanity" in which Penman presents "complicated politics" in a persuasive manner with well-presented characters. Publishers Weekly gave a positive review of When Christ and His Saints Slept. Penman chronicles the story of cousins Maude and Stephen as they fight for England's throne.
In the book Penman introduces the genesis of the Plantagenet dynasty as Empress Maude battles to secure her claim to the English throne, ultimately more for her young son Henry Plantagenet, than for herself. It is the first of Penman's Plantagenet trilogy, (ultimately five books) followed by Time and Chance, Devil's Brood, Lionheart and A King's Ransom. When Christ and His Saints Slept is a historical novel written by Sharon Kay Penman, published in 1994.
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