The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream

by Charles Spencer

The sinking of the White Ship in 1120 is one of the greatest disasters England has ever suffered. In one catastrophic night, the king’s heir and the flower of Anglo-Norman society were drowned and the future of the crown was thrown violently off course.

In a riveting narrative, Charles Spencer follows the story from the Norman Conquest through to the decades that would become known as the Anarchy: a civil war of untold violence that saw families turn in on each other with English and Norman barons, rebellious Welsh princes and the Scottish king all playing a part in a desperate game of thrones. All because of the loss of one vessel – the White Ship – the medieval Titanic.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Medieval History, British Literature, Biography, Historical

352 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2020

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

This is basically an overview of 1066-the accession of Henry II, and the switch from the Conqueror's bloodline to the Plantagenet dynasty. The pivot of that is obviously the White Ship disaster but it takes up maybe ten pages in the actual telling here. This is a bit odd when you consider I've read more detailed accounts of the White Ship in books that were not called The White Ship.

It's a good intro to the period, told in a lively and very readable way, and I'd absolutely recommend it if you happen to be on an early Angevin kick *side eyes self* but 'a book about the White Ship' it is, basically, not.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sinking of the White Ship is one of the greatest disasters in English history. Here, Sunday Times bestselling author Charles Spencer tells the real story behind the legend to show how one cataclysmic shipwreck changed England’s course. In 1120, the White Ship was known as the fastest ship afloat. When it sank sailing from Normandy to England it was carrying aboard the only legitimate heir to King Henry I, William of Ætheling. The raucous, arrogant young prince had made a party of the voyage, carousing with his companions and pushing wine into the eager hands of the crew. It was the middle of the night when the drunken helmsman rammed the ship into rocks. The next day only one of the three hundred who had boarded the ship was alive to describe the horrors of the slow shipwreck. William, the face of England’s future had drowned along with scores of the social elite. The royal line severed and with no obvious heir to the crown, a civil war of untold violence erupted. Known fittingly as ‘The Anarchy’, this game of thrones saw families turned in on each other, with English barons, rebellious Welsh leaders and Scottish invaders all playing a part in the bloody, desperate scrum for power. One incredible shipwreck and two decades of violent uncertainty; England’s course had changed forever.

Charles Spencer has penned a magnificent tour de force and the perfect-fitting celebratory read to mark 900 years since the fateful voyage. This book is an intricate portrayal of the complex machinations involved in power, how much easier it is to lose than acquire, and the extraordinary and often inexplicable lengths people will go to in order to hold power over others. Told in endlessly dramatised fashion, with all the violent skirmishes, backstabbing, deceit and duplicity you would expect of these times, this is a fascinating and eminently readable piece of historical nonfiction which manages to read with the flow, shocks, twists and surprises that tend to only be present in our most accomplished fictional novels. It is abundantly clear that the research undertaken in order to be on the button, as it were, must have been extensive on the authors part. Compelling and perhaps even bordering on compulsive, this is a must-read for those who enjoy absorbing and well written exposes on times long passed and whose happenings still echo down the ages. Exciting, exhilarating and quick-paced, a brilliantly entertaining and knowledgeable book. Highly recommended. Many thanks to William Collins for an ARC.

[Colleen Browne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not realize that Charles Spencer was a historian until quite recently but as this book, and presumably his others prove, he is a very capable and readable one. This book relates the history of a ship wreck that altered the course of English history. It occurred when the heir of Henry I, aboard the White Ship, perished along with all but one other person. Given that he was the only male heir and that even though Henry remarried since he had been widowed in the hope of providing another male heir, it through the country into a catastrophic civil war that lasted nearly twenty years. Henry did have a daughter, Matilda, to whom his nobles swore allegiance as his successor, her first cousin usurped the crown thereby setting off the war. The war is often times referred to as The Anarchy because of the violence and horror that plagued the land for such a long period of time. It only ended with Stephen, the usurper, was near death and wanted peace at long last. He signed a treaty making Henry who would become Henry II the heir. Thus began the Plantagenet Dynasty that would last until the Tudors stole the crown from Richard III.

As the chronicler William of Malmsbury wrote, "No ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster."

This is a highly readable, well researched book for anyone interested in Medieval history.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A King’s Tragedy

This is excellent history by Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. The White Ship is a riveting and meticulously researched historical account of one of medieval England’s most tragic and pivotal events. The book centers on the sinking of the White Ship in 1120, a disaster that claimed the life of William Aetheling, the only legitimate son of King Henry I (1068-1135). This catastrophic event threw England into a period of chaos and civil war known as the Anarchy, a crisis that profoundly shaped the nation’s history.

Spencer, a seasoned historian and engaging storyteller, brings the medieval world vividly to life. He expertly balances narrative flair with scholarly rigor, making the book accessible to both history enthusiasts and general readers. Through compelling prose, Spencer explores not only the catastrophic shipwreck itself but also the political intrigues, familial rivalries, and societal tensions that led to the disaster and its aftermath. One of the book’s strengths lies in its portrayal of the key players, such as King Henry I, whose ambitions and governance were undone by the loss of his heir; and Empress Matilda, whose struggle to claim her father’s throne sparked years of conflict. Spencer also delves into the lives of lesser-known figures, giving a well-rounded view of the period.

The narrative examines broader themes, including the fragility of monarchy, the perils of succession, and the human cost of power struggles. Spencer’s vivid descriptions of the shipwreck are haunting, and his analysis of its long-term consequences is incisive, showing how a single event reshaped the course of English history. While the book’s focus is historical, Spencer occasionally draws parallels to modern-day issues of leadership and crisis, giving the story a contemporary resonance. However, some readers may find his interpretation of certain events slightly speculative, as the medieval sources themselves are often limited or biased. This for me was a mistake and a weakness of this book.

Overall, The White Ship is a masterful blend of drama, tragedy, and historical insight. It illuminates a little-known but profoundly significant event with clarity and passion. I felt Spencer has enabled me to understand what kind of king and man Henry I was, a strong and decent one for what the Norman period required. The significance of the death of William Aetheling is explained and the ramifications in this fascinating book. A great book and I will revisit in the future, making it a must-read for fans of medieval history and those interested in the intricate workings of power and legacy.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not quite what I expected. Given the title, I thought the text would cover the sinking of the eponymous vessel and the events that followed. A portion of The White Ship does deal with these happenings. However, the overall work is principally a biography of Henry I.

Henry lead an exciting and interesting life and Spencer generally tells his story well. Nevertheless, combining such a full life with a description of The Anarchy that followed Henry's death is a too tall an order for such a slim volume. Parts of the book are overly abbreviated, often involving little more than a flurry of names and barebone descriptions of major events. The White Ship may be a good introduction to this period in British history, but it will not satisfy anyone seeking to actually learn about these times.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

One suggestion: Add a family tree line to refer to and a timeline with important dates

[Andrea Zuvich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I'm not the only historian who was surprised when Spencer, very well-known for his popular and riveting books on seventeenth-century Stuart history, suddenly said he was going to write about the 1100s. What?! Spencer, to me, is just synonymous with the Stuart period, so it seemed an odd move. That said, I'm really glad he wrote this because I probably wouldn't have read a history about this period otherwise. I had a vague understanding of the Conquest of 1066, that some ship sank killing an heir, and the chaos of the Anarchy, but this book fully engaged and enlightened me. I now wholly appreciate the significance of the sinking of the White Ship, which truly changed so much.

This book was downright horrible, and I mean that in the sense that it was full of horrible, violent, petty, and devastating events, figures, and situations. I literally had to put it down because it was so graphic and unsettling at times. The amount of gouged eyes...*shudders*

In a nutshell, he's done it again. This is another superb work of history by Charles Spencer. What will he surprise us with next?

(The full version of this review is at: https://www.andreazuvich.com/book-rev... )

[David Eppenstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are entertained by the darker side of life and are criticized for having a sick sense of humor then British history will certainly be your cup of tea. The British are probably the most arrogant, hypocritical, and amoral race on the planet and their history overflows with examples of these characteristics to an excess. Needless to say British history is one of my favorite areas of history to read and this book is another fine example of life or death as a member of British nobility.

The author presents us with a finely detailed slice of British history that is primarily a biography of King Henry I, son of William the Conquer and grandfather of Henry II and first of the Plantagenet kings of England. Henry was the youngest child of William and one of three sons of the Conquerer. Through a series of unexpected events Henry is able to grab the throne and out maneuver his older brother following the sudden death of William's favored son, Rufus. The expected protests and battles by the older brother soon follow but Henry has a more popular following and manages to hang on to the throne though his grasp is frequently challenged. To solidify his hold on the throne Henry needs an heir so a suitable marriage is arranged and a son, another William, results and then there is a daughter, Matilda as a bonus. Upon fulfilling her duties as a queen in producing an heir Henry's wife retires from bedroom duty and lives separately from the king. Henry then sets about to produce 22 illegitimate children by numerous willing partners. The author seems to think this behavior indicates Henry to be serial adulterer. I disagree as this history demonstrates that Henry cared for all of his children, legitimate or illegitimate, and provided for all of them. What is demonstrated is that the children of nobility were used freely as negotiating tools to solidify alliances and insure stability of the kingdom. Henry was simply producing a plentiful store of negotiating chips and use them he did.

Sadly all of Henry's efforts to unify and protect England and his throne all rested on the expectation that his son William would succeed him to the throne. Following what could be considered the final battle of Henry's reign that would give him and England a lasting peace tragedy struck on the White Ship. The White Ship was a vessel used by Prince William and a large number of Henry's most trusted and crucial members of the royal court to return to England following their recent military victory. The ship sinks taking virtually all on board. Henry's queen had recently died and the death of his only son and heir coupled with the loss of his queen sends Henry into deep depression and a slow recovery. Henry's dynastic ambitions all rest on producing an heir so he remarries but in the 15 years following William's death no heir is produced. Henry attempts to pave the way for his daughter Matilda to ascend the throne by forcing key nobles to vow support and acceptance of Matilda as queen. Henry then dies.

Following Henry's death England enters a period in their history known as the Anarchy. This period really demonstrates the character of English nobility. The nobles that vowed to support Matilda disavow their vow when Henry's nephew Stephan grabs the throne before Matilda can act. Stephan and Matilda are first cousins and are now at war. The nobles needed by both sides jump sides at the drop of a hat. Loyalty is almost unheard of and treachery is the rule of the day. The country is in chaos and the peace of King Henry becomes a memory. It takes times and an enormous amount of destruction and human life but eventually a settlement is reached between the parties based on the asendency of Matilda's son Henry. And all of this occurred because of the loss of one boy on a doomed ship. Henry II marries Eleanor of Aquitaine and his son was Richard the Lion Heart and the infamous King John of Robin Hood tales. What follows is centuries of intrigue, scheming, violence, greed, opportunism etc; something for everybody. Enjoy.

[Peter Tillman · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 25%, when it came due at the library (new book). As you will see from the review excerpt below (and the publisher's blurb), the book starts well: drunken English aristos on a party boat from France come to grief when they stupidly get the ship's crew drunk too. But that opening was squandered in an endless laundry list of people and places I'd never heard of, in an England of almost a millennium ago. I imagine that Brits will get more out of this book, or people who already know something about this period in history. The book didn't help its case by including sparse maps. Anyway, I'm done. Not for me!

Good WSJ review, which led me to read the book: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-whit...
(Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
"Just before midnight on Nov. 25, 1120, the White Ship left the northern French harbor of Barfleur, bound for the English port of Southampton. On board the stately vessel were nearly 300 passengers, including the aristocratic elite of the prosperous Anglo-Norman realm then ruled by Henry I. Foremost among them, and the focus of Henry’s dynastic hopes, was his sole legitimate son and heir, the 17-year-old William Ætheling.

Warmed by several barrels of wine, the White Ship’s boisterous company anticipated a swift and uneventful crossing of the English Channel. But the crew and helmsman were also tipsy, and the voyage had barely begun before it ended in catastrophe. Just a mile offshore, the White Ship struck the notorious Quilleboeuf rock, keeled over and foundered in the frigid sea. There was only one survivor, the humble butcher Berold. As the White Ship went down, Berold testified, William Ætheling’s bodyguard hustled him aboard the lone rowboat. But when he heard the anguished cries of his half-sister, Matilda of Perche, the prince insisted upon turning back, and the dinghy was swamped and sunk."

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting one, lots of things that I had no idea of regarding my country’s history: how close we were to a woman ruling in her own right in the 12th century, the sinking of the ship itself, the intricacies of William the Conqueror’s relationship with his sons.

I do have to say though, some parts were less than stellar. There is a whole chapter just listing names of people on the ship, which while I understand, feels very out of place for a book with prime readability. Far more suited to an academic book. I think Spencer could have perhaps recapped more certain characters when they are mentioned with a chapter or two break, just a sentence here and there to recontextualise them. Also, despite the name, there isn’t much of this book that’s about the eponymous ‘White Ship’. That’s not an important thing, but worth noting.

That being said, I can recommend this book to anyone who would like to know about the start of the Norman rule of England, and a period of history that while is very significant, is often left undiscussed.

[Janet Wertman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! So I have known for decades that Henry VIII felt compelled to divorce Catherine of Aragon because of what happened the last time a woman was the only legitimate heir to the throne of England, and I knew it involved a terrible civil war ... but this book finally gave me that full story. Loved the larger structure (opening with the ship sinking, the taking us back through the lead-up to better contextualize the consequence) and the smaller structure (sequencing of the information). Admittedly, there was a LOT! And since so many names were same or similar, it could be a little hard to follow - which has been my husband's complaint for years about my Tudor stories! Rather, the ones I tell over dinner, not when they're set down in my books ;)

[Melisende · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spencer uses the White Ship itself as an anchor for the story of one of the most tragic events in English history - in fact Spencer writes, "... there as not a part of Henry's Anglo-Norman realm that remained shielded from the impact of the catastrophe ...".

In this tale, Spencer takes you the reader on a tour of the timeline of events from William the Conqueror leading up to the tragedy at sea, and the repercussions for the English throne beyond this.

His narrative is casual, almost conversational, as if he were giving you a conducted tour of Althorp. Yet this same narrative, with the gentle resonance of Spencer's voice, is concise, informative not dry or stuffy. For me, this is well-worn ground - however, I at no time found my attention waivering only eagerly looking forward to the build up to the disaster and to the fate of England, left without a legitimate male heir for the concept of a woman ruling in the 12th century was anathema in both England and Normandy. Spencer takes us through an abridged version of what became known as "The Anarchy" finishing up with the settlement of succession onto Henry Plantagenet.

Spencer finishes with this rather poignant quote from William of Malmesbury "... no ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster ..."

Highly recommended and one I will be adding to my shelves (upon which I already have two of Spencer's books).

[Geoff Boxell · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No ship that ever sailed brought England such disaster” William of Malmesbury.

Never was a truer word written then or now. The loss of The White Ship with all but one on board re-set not just English history, not just French history, but arguably all western European history from then onwards. Not only was William the Ætheling, heir to the throne of England and the Duchy of Normandy lost in the sunken ship. His half brother and half sister drowned, and also many scions of Anglo-Norman aristocracy and military leaders, including 18 women. The ship’s loss was caused not by storm, not by rough sea but by drunkenness of the crew with the steersman hitting well known rocks. The details of how and why the ship carried so many of Anglo-Norman young elite and why the crew were drunk is well covered together with why William Ætheling was so important and what happened subsequent to William’s death.
The first 87 pages cover how William the Conqueror's youngest son, Henry, came to become King of England, his intent of legitimising Norman rule of England by marrying Edith of Scotland, who was a direct descendant of King Ælfred and Cerdic of Wessex and even giving his only legitimate son (he had 22 bastard children) the English title of “Ætheling”, how Henry out manoeuvred his eldest brother to become Duke of Normandy together with how Henry out fought the French King.
The next section of the book deals with William Ætheling and The White Ship, though it is not till page 148 that the actual loss of The White Ship is dealt with.
With William Ætheling’s death Henry was left with only one legitimate child, a daughter, Matilda, who was married to the King of the Germans (and claimed the title “Empress”). On Henry I’s death she should have ruled, albeit as Regent for her son by her second marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou. However, many in England did not want a woman to rule over them and elected Henry’s nephew, Stephen, King of England and thus ignited a civil war when, it was said, Christ and all his saints slept. Eventually Matilda’s eldest son did get the throne and became Henry II and this is dealt with from page 290.
If he had lived, would William Ætheling have made a good King of England and Duke of Normandy? He was said to have remarked that the English were naturally inferior to the Normans and that he would bend their necks to the plough and treat them like beasts of burthen. Maybe, but the result of his death was to bring to the throne Henry II and the involvement of England in the politics of France, an involvement that didn’t even end with The Hundred Years War and the bloodshed involved in that calamitous period.
Overall the book is well written and reads almost like a novel. I recommend it not just too those unfamiliar with the period, but to any with an interest in English history.

[Edward Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its an interesting topic, but it frustratingly executed. It was always going to be mostly about the aristocracy (of which the author is a part) but the extent is annoying as it must have oversimplified the events. The book is more of a Henry I biography than anything else; after the death of Henry I (when the effects of the white ship disaster become their most pronounced) the quality drops. A complicated civil war is going on with simultaneous events occurring across England and Normandy yet it is this section where the book rushes and I found the book began to jump backwards and forwards in time to deal with the concurrent events. These jumps were not very clear and made it difficult to read. The author also appears to unquestioningly accept the presentation of people's character in the sources. For instance: Spencer thinks that the aristocrats were unable to accept Matilda as queen because she had the traits of a strong monarch like her father and the men of the time couldn't handle a woman treating them like she did. Yet Spencer doesn't seem to question that she was too extreme, unquestioningly presenting the narrative that she was too strong willed and decisive and that this caused her downfall without a detailed critique of the sources that paint her that way.

[Orsolya · Rating 2 out of 5]

England is notable for its disastrous sinking of large ships. One only has to remember King Henry VIII’s Mary Rose or in more recent modern time: the Titanic. Another ship that can be added to list is King Henry I’s White Ship which met its end on November 25, 1120 after striking heavy boulders. Carrying Henry’s heir to the English throne, William; the sinking of the White Ship changed the course of English history. Charles Spencer highlights this period in history and the traumatic loss of the ship and all those aboard in, “The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream”.

Spencer’s “The White Ship” begins laying the foundation of the Norman Conquest under William the Conqueror (Henry’s father), the political landscape of the reign and the arguing between the brothers (William’s sons) Robert, William Rufus and Henry. Although this coverage is necessary to dissect Henry’s adult self and understand how the White Ship came to be fruition; “The White Ship” feels lost without a solid purpose and dusty in its premise. Are we discussing William? His sons? The reign, overall? It is difficult to see Spencer’s point which can be argued that he wasn’t aware of, himself.

This causes an entire host of issues with the main being the slow, dry recap style of Spencer’s writing. Those familiar with Spencer’s other works will not find this surprising but the lack of emotive flow/narrative and insistence on presenting the material as, “Event A happened, then B and then C”; results in “The White Ship” failing to be ‘sticky’ with readers and is often skimmable especially with Spencer’s habit of running off on tangents. Spencer is simply not doing any favors to the subject on hand.

That being said, even though Spencer’s hypothesis is lost; the information he does offer is clean and concise. The problem, as previously stated, is that it is not memorable and therefore doesn’t truly educate or impact the reader. “The White Ship” is also riddled with repetition and occasional back-and-forth jumps in chronology resulting in frustration and confusion. Spencer does well with eschewing the urge to offer opinions, biases and speculation but this is canceled back to zero with the excessive quotes from sources without strong credibility dated much after the events (at least Spencer mentions when sources are post-dated).

None of the figures (not even Henry I) or the events discussed in “The White Ship” come ‘alive’ and therefore the straight-forward academia is all that merits “The White Ship”. Occasionally, Spencer debunks some myths by suggesting alternate theories matching puzzle pieces to provide a rounded, macro view of the period adding some strength to “The White Ship”.

It takes 150 pages for Spencer to bring Henry I to the forefront and begin analyzing the White Ship . Finally, the text becomes vivid, compelling, and rich with historical storytelling; quickening the pace of “The White Ship”. Spencer explores every aspect of the tragedy from the actual event, logistics and important figures who met their deaths in the cold seas; to the psychological and political aftermath (such as the court positions up for grabs from those who passed) and the impact on the monarchial landscape. “The White Ship” is worth reading at this juncture and suggests new information even to those readers familiar with the topic. The issue is that it takes too long to reach this crescendo which tends to be a typical Spencer habit in his writing. Plus, this height of excitement comes and goes like a lightning bolt and Spencer returns to simply recapping historical events of the period post-sinking of the ship.

Even though the discussion of the actual White Ship is brief; Spencer highlights the political maneuverings and machinations of Stephen of Blois (future King Stephen) and the battle for the throne against Matilda which will satisfy those readers interested in such events and also of the future King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. In this regard, “The White Ship” is a theory piece concerning the cause and outcome of the ship’s sinking. This angle has its own merits as a written text but isn’t the initial presented intent and strays from reader expectation.

Spencer “tries too hard” to conclude “The White Ship” in a dramatic manner expressing the impact of White Ship on 900 years of English history. However, in essence, “The White Ship” fails to execute such theatrics and prove the thesis resulting in a ‘meh’ finality and work, overall; leaving the text compromised.

“The White Ship” is a well-conceived book in theory but completely misses its target and rather offers a slow text lacking cohesive strands making it one of Spencer’s weaker works (the worst one, in my opinion). “The White Ship” is recommended for readers who must read all text concerning this period of English history but otherwise, it can be passed over entirely.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, the author is that Charles Spencer. Princess Diana’s brother. After I finished, I tried to see if we could trace their family tree back to Henry I and… yep you can!

I’ve tried to read this book multiple times, and it only clicked with me this week. A couple things at play here:

-The queen’s death. Most of this book is about the setup for a situation where England very nearly had a queen regnant all the way back in the 12th century. It was unthinkable then, which is wild since so many of England’s most iconic rulers have been women. Love them or hate them (and there’s a lot of reason to hate them.)
-I’ve been enjoying House of the Dragon, which is basically just a fantasy retelling of the Anarchy.
-A podcast where Spencer talked about a weird situation in which courtiers knew about the white ship crash ahead of the king and we’re afraid to tell him, so they had to hide their own grief until someone mustered up the courage to tell him.

I’ll be honest, I read this book thinking it would have more about the White Ship incident itself. I fell down a Titanic rabbit hole back in the spring and so I’m used to reading about agonizingly slow ship wrecks. But no, this one was the equivalent of a DUI. The passengers went from partying hard, to being tossed into the sea and dying within seconds. You really can’t get a minute by minute account if that. In the end the white ship incident is like the climactic event that divides a play into two bits; Henry I’s rise and then the chaos that followed him.

It speaks to the strength of this non-fiction book that I went in expecting one thing, got something else, and was riveted. I’ve never been particular interested in the British monarchy until around Henry II but this changed my mind.

I mean… How can you not be fascinated by a historical time period that has the illegitimate daughter of a king trying to kill him with a crossbow and then jumping into the moat to avoid retribution? And then later being welcomed back into the fold with gifts of silver? Give me this tv show, please.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the Norman Conquest of 1066 is seen as the most pivotal event in English history, it can also be said that the sinking of the White Ship in 1120 was the most consequential sea disaster that England has ever suffered. In this excellent history, the sinking of the White Ship serves as the centerpiece for the turbulent years following the Conquest on one side and through to the disastrous English civil war known as the Anarchy on the other side.

When the Conqueror’s youngest son, Henry, finally wrestled control from his brothers and a nephew to become Henry I of England and Duke of Normandy, he brought peace following years of turmoil. He rested his hopes on his only legitimate beloved son and heir, William Aetherling. However, calamity struck when the ship carrying three hundred of Henry’s courtiers and family members, including William, struck a rock off the coast of Balfour while attempting to cross the channel to England, killing all but one.

Henry died fifteen years later, naming his daughter Matilda as his successor. However, his nephew Stephen (also a grandson of the Conqueror who was to have sailed on the ill-fated ship but became ill at the last minute) claimed the throne for himself, setting off years of violence and untold suffering in England and Normandy and pitched family members against each other in constantly shifting alliances.

It’s a credit to Charles Spencer that he not only brought such clarity to this account but manages to bring a sense of immediacy and emotional response to these events that happened over 900 years ago and for which there exists just a handful of contemporary records. A great read by a very skilled writer and researcher who also happens to be the late Princess Diana’s brother.

[Brendan Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rollicking Medieval history of power struggles, family feuds and a disastrous booze-cruise that resulted in a dynastic crisis. Spencer careers through the Norman Conquest to the beginnings of Plantagenet rule at a furious pace, unconcerned with how much the reader is actually taking in. But that matters little when the narrative is this compelling, and Spencer masterfully marshals contemporary chroniclers to tell a thrilling story.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, I love me a well written history book. I knew a bit about this already, but now it has all become much clearer to me. Before that the whole Norman vs Anglo-Saxon vs French was a bit of a tangled web, but now it falls into place.

The true scale of the disaster this would have been is also well described.

[Zdravko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many times, one event changes the course of history. The sinking of the White Ship was one of those events.
This was a bit of a confusing read if you can keep track of who is who. Lots of William, Robert and Henry. And Mathilde too. Joking aside, a good history book but it lacks… Emotions. I know it’s hard, these events occurred 900 years ago but almost every time Spencer just writes: And he died in August 1153. Or something similar. And yes, it's hard to imagine how much of human history consists of disgusting, bloody events that were considered perfectly normal at the time.
And yet, we learned nothing.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read focusing on the period immediately following William the Conquer's death and his (two) sons' feuding for the throne of England and control of Normandy. The cleverness of the book centres on the unexpected consequences of the disastrous sinking of the White Ship, an episode which singularly destroyed Henry I's succession plans which were so hardly fought for and won in the brotherly stuggle for power. A confusing, bloody but riveting read if you can keep track of who's who in this historical Game of Thrones scenario. Fun facts and spoiler alerts: Henry I was the king whose demise came by a surfeit of lampreys. His daughter Matilda is the one who escaped by scailing down Oxford castle one freezing wintery snowy evening and making her escape to Wallingford and whose son eventually became the first Plantagenet King, Henry II. A strong 3.5

[ConstantReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The White Ship" is about the accident that changed the course of history: on 25 November 1120 Henry I's son and heir, William Adelin, drowned on the White Ship together with some 300 other people. His death led to a succession crisis and a period of civil war in England known as the Anarchy.

The book is divided into three parts. Part 1, "Triumph", tells the story of Henry I's path to the throne. Part 2, "Disaster", is about William Adelin's death and its impact on Henry I's private and political lives. Part 3, "Chaos", recounts the events that occurred following Henry I's death: the Anarchy, the war between Henry's daughter Empress Matilda whose royal inheritance was stolen from her by Stephen of Blois.

"The White Ship" is my first book by Charles Spencer and I immensely enjoyed his writing style. He recounts this amazing story with great skill, but also shows that these historical personages were people: human beings who lived and loved as we do today. Spencer is very compassionate in his portrayal of William Adelin's death and his father's reaction to it.

This is a book that you simply cannot miss. It's different than other accounts of this story because it concentrates on one even. The subtitle is very apt: "Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream". It is an amazing story told with such vividness, I could picture being there.

Highly recommended.

(I received this book for review via NetGalley. I would like to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read "The White Ship" before it was published.)

[Jamie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is mostly the story of England’s Henry I: the youngest son of William the Conqueror, who took the throne of England after a suspicious hunting accident killed his older brother William II, then took Normandy away from his other brother Robert. At the peak of Henry’s power and influence, the course of history was abruptly changed when the White Ship sank in the English channel, killing Henry’s only legitimate son and heir, along with many other noble men and women.

The disaster led to a civil war after Henry died. Due to the rising influence of the church, he could not leave the throne to any of his more than 20 illegitimate children (many of whom had titles and wealth and power) so he left it to his daughter Maud. His nephew Stephen disputed her claim, and there was a long, bloody, bitter war. Eventually the throne was settled on Maud’s son, Henry II. (Who was married to Eleanor of Aquitaine and fathered Richard the Lionheart and bad King John.)

The book is readable enough, if a little dry, and I found it interesting. (Most of my knowledge of this period comes from Sharon Kay Penman’s novel When Christ and His Saints Slept). While I understand the appeal of the title (certainly that’s why I bought the book) I think it will cause some disappointment since the book is not so much focused on the White Ship disaster as it is centered around it.

[Cathryn Pattinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well researched historical book. From 900 years distance, I can see why Charles Spencer, had to write it as historical fact to set the scene, rather than more emphasis on the drama & and colourful life /relationships of the time. Also, there is probably little or less facts known about the individual relationships in the story.
An interesting read, as I have learnt stuff about Stephen, Matilda & the 19 years anarchy.

[Nikki Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written take on a well known disaster. Not the fault of the author, but hard to follow who’s who sometimes as there are so many similar names!

I think it covers too much of the (many) years before the sinking of the White Ship and not enough given over to the long shadow cast by the disaster. I was more interested in the Anarchy and Henry II’s accession than how Henry I got the throne in the first place.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 3 out of 5]

ROYALTY READS PROJECT

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book, I realised as soon as I started how little I knew of this time in history, apart from, of course, the battle of Hastings, we all know the year 1066 don’t we? Anyway this provided a much needed fleshing out of the details before and afterwards, mainly afterwards.

This was an interesting and well told history, it didn’t feel like a lecture or a textbook, there was enough detail to educate but not bore you to tears. There are quite a few names and dates, this cannot be helped, a lot of it was quite incestuous really; the wife was his brother-in laws niece or something like that happened regularly, there were so many complicated families and interlinking marriages and the names all re-appear too - so many Henrys for example. but I believe it is all laid out as interestingly and as simply as possible to know what is going on, why and to whom.

The only part I struggled with was the section regarding the actual incident involving the White Ship, there were so many people to name it was like a roll call. To hear all the names of those people who lost their lives as well as their place in society or the royal household was a mammoth task and I lost interest, the list went on too long, but that's just the way it was.

Overall I don’t believe you could find a better book about this period of time, if you are reading for enjoyment and not for study that is. I liked the writing and I really felt I learned something here. Will I remember everything I read? Probably not but I am quite sure some of it will stay with me. I would recommend this book and will look out for more from this author. Oh and I almost forgot, it had a very good picture section too which I enjoyed.

A very good 4 stars. (4.5 stars rounded down)

[Julian Worker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The central point of this book is the sinking of the White Ship on the night of 25th November 1120.

The lead up to this event is dealt with in great detail as are the consequences which resulted in a period of anarchy / civil war that lasted decades and exhausted everyone in the country. The sinking was a pivotal moment in English history.

The royal party was in Barfleur on the north coast of France heading back to Southampton in England.

There were two ships. The first carrying King Henry I of England set off earlier in the evening with all the passengers aware of who was on board and with no hint of drunkeness.

On the other hand...on the White Ship there had been plenty of drinking prior to embarkation. This had the feel of a party boat heading out on a lake for a good time, rather than a trip across the English Channel on a cold winter night. On board were many nobles of the English court including King Henry I's only legitimate son, his heir, William Aetheling.

Once the White Ship started off, it was rowed with reckless abandon towards the open sea - the stated intention of the captain was to catch the other boat - but unfortunately the well-known hazard known as the Quilleboeuf rock got in the way, gashed the port side of the ship and destroyed many oars. The ship shuddered and keeled over. William Aetheling was taken to safety on the only rowing boat aboard but he ordered his helpers to go back to help his half-sister.

There was only one survivor and most of the bodies were never found.

[Julie Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommend! An excellent introductory read on era of Conquest of 1066 through Henry II. Written in a very readable, conversational tone (much like Dan Jones or Marc Morris.) Moves briskly starting with conquest of England, hits all the major players succinctly while bringing them to life, commentary never drags.

However I did have to remove a star: Suffers from inadequate footnotes, reporting as facts things that are only conjecture and the amusing tendency to support salacious reports rather than more mundane actions. [Does Edmund Ironsides die from battle wounds … or is he killed by an assassin in the privy?! Does Curthose’s wife Sibylla die after childbirth due to an infection …. Or is she poisoned by another woman?! That type of thing.]

A bit overly simplistic, but one isn’t going to get full nuance in a 300 page book spanning 100 years. That said: still a very readable intro to the era and correct on the major points.

Aside: an excellent 3 page discussion on why Henry’s magnates would have had issues with his daughter (and more importantly her husband Geoffrey of Anjou) becoming the rules of England.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spenser packs a lot into this book. A couple of times I felt overwhelmed by the number of names and relationships* (for example, there are so many Matildas!), but I enjoyed it and will never forget Henry I, his daughter Empress Matilda, or the idiocy that sunk the White Ship 901 years ago on 25 November 1120.

I’d actually like to read more about Empress Matilda. Anyone have reading recommendations?

* Spencer does a good job of reminding the reader who’s who, it just took some extra brain power to keep them all organized in my mind.