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Norman Trilogy #3
The Passionate Enemies
VERY GOOD
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 31, 1976
19 people are currently reading
457 people want to read
About the author
Jean Plaidy
189 books1,591 followersEleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
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-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 4, 2023
Another great book by this author. I'm so impressed. I've read a handful of books about the anarchy/civil war and never have I seen the theory that Stephen and Matilda were lovers. At first, I was skeptical, but it all made so much sense in the end. I can't wait to start on the Plantagenet books.
October 2, 2011
No nasty descriptive sex in this book, like all her books. And I like that. I love all her books,but I liked The Bastard King; the first of her Norman Trilogy, the best.
February 4, 2019
This is an ok ending to a series. I would have liked to see more effort on the character of Stephen. I think he’s an interesting king when it comes down to it. Matilda is a woman who stands out. The other characters in the book pull it together nicely, but it’s lacking the spice of the first two.
November 15, 2021
Jean Plaidy's historical fiction - enjoyable as ever.
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September 9, 2015http://www.burtonbookreview.com/2015/...
OMG stick a fork in me
OMG stick a fork in me
April 29, 2025
Classic Jean Plaidy historical novels usually follow the secondary sources that were available to the author at the time they were written but The Passionate Enemies goes in some bizarre directions. Plaidy imagines that King Stephen and Empress Matilda, adversaries in "The Anarchy" that followed the death of King Henry I in 1135 were obsessed with one another from childhood and had an affair that changed the course of history. Plaidy also imagines that Empress Matilda's first husband faked his own death to go on a pilgrimage, something that would have been difficult for a Holy Roman Emperor to achieve without the truth becoming evident. The pacing is uneven as well - half the book is King Henry I brooding about the looming succession crisis and the two decades of the Anarchy including multiple dramatic changes in fortune for Stephen and Matilda are crammed into the last 100 pages of the novel. There are unnecessary tangents following the adventures of minor characters such as Henry I's second wife's second husband and there is little character development beyond King Stephen's queen becoming an accomplished stateswoman. When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman is a much better novel about this same time period.
November 12, 2018
Incredibly melodramatic and occasionally unintentionally hilarious in its depiction of the relationship between Stephen and Matilda as they circle warily but obsessively about each other and the throne.
Plaidy is usually reliable on her history but two legends are woven into the fabric of the story - that of her first husband faking his death, thereby casting doubt on Matilda's marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou and that of Stephen and Matilda's relationship. I could have bought into both had they been better handled. There were glimpses of good writing and strong characterisation but these were lost I think in the rush to tell the story, cram all the history in and cover an enormous amount of ground.
This isn't the worst introduction to this period. That said, for a deeper insight Sharon Penman's When Christ and His Saints Slept is a weightier tome in more ways than one, Ellis Peters uses the civil war as the background to her Cadfael novels and Helen Castor is excellent in She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth in digging into the huge problems facing a potential Queen in an age when Sovereignty went hand in hand with war.
Plaidy is usually reliable on her history but two legends are woven into the fabric of the story - that of her first husband faking his death, thereby casting doubt on Matilda's marriage to Geoffrey of Anjou and that of Stephen and Matilda's relationship. I could have bought into both had they been better handled. There were glimpses of good writing and strong characterisation but these were lost I think in the rush to tell the story, cram all the history in and cover an enormous amount of ground.
This isn't the worst introduction to this period. That said, for a deeper insight Sharon Penman's When Christ and His Saints Slept is a weightier tome in more ways than one, Ellis Peters uses the civil war as the background to her Cadfael novels and Helen Castor is excellent in She-Wolves: The Women Who Ruled England Before Elizabeth in digging into the huge problems facing a potential Queen in an age when Sovereignty went hand in hand with war.
May 12, 2024
This is the story of two people. They are Matilda, the daughter of Henry I, the king of England from 1100 to 1135 and Stephen of Blous, the nephew of Kong Henry I. After King Henry's death, there is a fight between them over who will reign over England.
Like the other historical novels that Jean Plaidy has written, this one is interesting and is hard to put down.
I gave this book only 3 stars however because the author uncharacteristically jazzed up the battle between Matilda and Stephen with some made up consummated romance. There's absolutely no reliable record of a romance between the two let alone an affair. I've read multiple books by Plaidy and usually she's meticulous about following the actual history of the individuals she's writing about. Not this time.
Family corner: Keep in mind, this is the middle ages, and some of the punishments for disobeying the Kong are gruesome. There's also a fair amount of adultery recorded, but that's because the novel is detailing the lives of rich and powerful men who tended to take on mistresses back then. However, there's no details of the encounters.
Like the other historical novels that Jean Plaidy has written, this one is interesting and is hard to put down.
I gave this book only 3 stars however because the author uncharacteristically jazzed up the battle between Matilda and Stephen with some made up consummated romance. There's absolutely no reliable record of a romance between the two let alone an affair. I've read multiple books by Plaidy and usually she's meticulous about following the actual history of the individuals she's writing about. Not this time.
Family corner: Keep in mind, this is the middle ages, and some of the punishments for disobeying the Kong are gruesome. There's also a fair amount of adultery recorded, but that's because the novel is detailing the lives of rich and powerful men who tended to take on mistresses back then. However, there's no details of the encounters.
February 27, 2020
This third in the trillergy was a good read focusing on the later life of Henry I and the love/hate relationship which led to and continued throughout the period of anarchy as Eing Stephen and Emporess Matilda vied for the thrown.
In this novel I did notice quite a few points and statements repeated regularly throughout and at times this felt laboured. I would say of all the books it felt most drawn out with less material behind the novel, if it had been a shorter novel I think this would have been an improvement.
I am looking forward to continuing into Plaidy's Plantagenet series soon.
In this novel I did notice quite a few points and statements repeated regularly throughout and at times this felt laboured. I would say of all the books it felt most drawn out with less material behind the novel, if it had been a shorter novel I think this would have been an improvement.
I am looking forward to continuing into Plaidy's Plantagenet series soon.
November 21, 2023
Jean Plaidy did it again, putting together an entertaining summary of the last in the Norman trilogy. This book moves and is entertaining as one reads about the end of Henry I and the resulting civil war between Steven and Matilda (Maud). Plaidy has a different take than Sharon Kay Penman. Plaidy has Steven and Maud as lovers with Henry II’s paternity put into question. Penman did not take Steven and Maud’s relationship that direction. For richer, more thorough, and more balanced writing I like Penman better. For a quick read overview, Plaidy is the one!
Appropriate for my teen? Yes.
Appropriate for my teen? Yes.
November 21, 2017
I think I prefer Sharon Kay Penman's "When Christ and all his saints slept" to this book. It was a good book but I found too much was crammed into the last 150 pages. Sharon's book has more detail into this civil war and the people involved than Jean does.
December 11, 2018
A bit of a throw away. It includes the concept that Stephen and Matilda were in love and met way more than is possible, factually.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2019
empress mathilda daughter of Henry I Beauclerc and grand daughter of Willia the Conqueror and the fight for the throne between her and her cousin Stephen de Blois
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February 11, 2021Lots of flashing eyes and a speedy ending
February 23, 2022
Henry the first is dying. His son is dead. The throne will pass to his daughter Matilda. But will the people execpt a female rule? She must produce a son before Civil War tares England apart
January 6, 2023
Continuing the saga................
January 3, 2021
A great read with massive doses of intrigue, tension and suspense. A fantastic story!
September 7, 2013
The Passionate Enemies has a laughable jacket description. Definitely leaning on the side of ridiculousness:
She was Matilda.
The arrogant, cold daughter of Henry I. An empress, a woman who had worn out one aging husband, only to dominate her next, a mere boy, Geoffrey, first of the fiery Plantagenets.
Only one man had ever mattered to Matilda, ever since childhood.
He was her cousin. He was married. He was her true love.
He was her rival to the throne -- her enemy...
He was Stephen.
A man who used honey in a land of warriors, who sweetened whatever cup would toast his claim to the throne.
And the only obstacle in his path toward ruling all of England and Normandy was Henry's daughter, his own cousin, his one true love.
Forever to fight.
Forever to love, they were...
THE PASSIONATE ENEMIES.
The Passionate Enemies falls into the so bad it's almost good group. I definitely enjoyed The Bastard King more than this one. This is the third book in the trilogy. The middle book is The Lion of Justice. Stephen and Matilda's "love story" begins in the second book. Considering the fact that she left Henry I's court to marry when she was so very young (at most 12 or 13), there are so many creepy layers to this one. (NOT that I'm saying The Passionate Enemies is creepier than say Flowers in the Attic. That would be impossible!!!)
The book begins with the tragedy of the White Ship. Henry I loses his son and heir, William. While Henry I has scores of illegitimate children, he has only one other legitimate child: Matilda. His first idea is, of course, to remarry and have a new son. But after years of waiting for this new wife to conceive, he admits that it isn't to be. He then decides that Matilda will be the one. But can he convince a nation to be be ruled by a Queen? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Stephen, is the ever-hopeful nephew. He wants his uncle to name him as heir. He is desperate to be king. If only he wasn't married to ANOTHER MATILDA, he would try to marry his cousin, Matilda. (By the way, the two Matilda's are cousins as well.) Life would be perfect if Matilda and Stephen could "share" the throne. The reader is "privileged" to all of Stephen's daydreams about his cousin.
The battle between Stephen and Matilda begins after Henry I's death...
The book is readable. I couldn't say I enjoyed it exactly. It is so dramatic and ridiculous in places. But it's never boring.
She was Matilda.
The arrogant, cold daughter of Henry I. An empress, a woman who had worn out one aging husband, only to dominate her next, a mere boy, Geoffrey, first of the fiery Plantagenets.
Only one man had ever mattered to Matilda, ever since childhood.
He was her cousin. He was married. He was her true love.
He was her rival to the throne -- her enemy...
He was Stephen.
A man who used honey in a land of warriors, who sweetened whatever cup would toast his claim to the throne.
And the only obstacle in his path toward ruling all of England and Normandy was Henry's daughter, his own cousin, his one true love.
Forever to fight.
Forever to love, they were...
THE PASSIONATE ENEMIES.
The Passionate Enemies falls into the so bad it's almost good group. I definitely enjoyed The Bastard King more than this one. This is the third book in the trilogy. The middle book is The Lion of Justice. Stephen and Matilda's "love story" begins in the second book. Considering the fact that she left Henry I's court to marry when she was so very young (at most 12 or 13), there are so many creepy layers to this one. (NOT that I'm saying The Passionate Enemies is creepier than say Flowers in the Attic. That would be impossible!!!)
The book begins with the tragedy of the White Ship. Henry I loses his son and heir, William. While Henry I has scores of illegitimate children, he has only one other legitimate child: Matilda. His first idea is, of course, to remarry and have a new son. But after years of waiting for this new wife to conceive, he admits that it isn't to be. He then decides that Matilda will be the one. But can he convince a nation to be be ruled by a Queen? Only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Stephen, is the ever-hopeful nephew. He wants his uncle to name him as heir. He is desperate to be king. If only he wasn't married to ANOTHER MATILDA, he would try to marry his cousin, Matilda. (By the way, the two Matilda's are cousins as well.) Life would be perfect if Matilda and Stephen could "share" the throne. The reader is "privileged" to all of Stephen's daydreams about his cousin.
The battle between Stephen and Matilda begins after Henry I's death...
The book is readable. I couldn't say I enjoyed it exactly. It is so dramatic and ridiculous in places. But it's never boring.
October 14, 2015
Like the second instalment of the Norman Trilogy, “The Passionate Enemies” does not match the brilliance of Book 1, yet it is impressive nonetheless.
I find this period of the 1100s an interesting one. Here we see the latter days of Henry I followed by the reign of King Stephen. Throughout the narrative there’s Henry’s daughter – and Stephen’s cousin and sometimes lover – Matilda, one of the most arrogant royal woman in history.
The love/hate relationship between Stephen and Matilda serves as the novel’s backbone, which works well on the most part, though at times it becomes too repetitive in its nature. The amount of times one of the other states how they should’ve been married, or ponders how different things would be had they been married, is so overdone that it grew to irritate me.
Similarly, Henry’s regular reference to the sinking of the White Ship that cost his son’s life becomes tedious. As much as I like this author, if I had to pick one fault in her writing in general it would be her repetition of certain themes throughout all her novels.
But apart from the above negative comments this story proved engaging. Think my favourite character has to be another Matilda – for there are several – namely the one who became Stephen’s queen. She enters the tale as a meek background figure but when her and the king’s backs are against the wall she develops into someone quite formidable.
I also liked Stephen himself and Robert of Gloucester. Although it was impossible to “like” the arrogant Empress Matilda, she is a fascinating personality, and her two methods of escaping capture may be compared to the best episodes in the average adventure story.
I find this period of the 1100s an interesting one. Here we see the latter days of Henry I followed by the reign of King Stephen. Throughout the narrative there’s Henry’s daughter – and Stephen’s cousin and sometimes lover – Matilda, one of the most arrogant royal woman in history.
The love/hate relationship between Stephen and Matilda serves as the novel’s backbone, which works well on the most part, though at times it becomes too repetitive in its nature. The amount of times one of the other states how they should’ve been married, or ponders how different things would be had they been married, is so overdone that it grew to irritate me.
Similarly, Henry’s regular reference to the sinking of the White Ship that cost his son’s life becomes tedious. As much as I like this author, if I had to pick one fault in her writing in general it would be her repetition of certain themes throughout all her novels.
But apart from the above negative comments this story proved engaging. Think my favourite character has to be another Matilda – for there are several – namely the one who became Stephen’s queen. She enters the tale as a meek background figure but when her and the king’s backs are against the wall she develops into someone quite formidable.
I also liked Stephen himself and Robert of Gloucester. Although it was impossible to “like” the arrogant Empress Matilda, she is a fascinating personality, and her two methods of escaping capture may be compared to the best episodes in the average adventure story.
September 2, 2015
Jean Plaidy's writing can be too over the top sometimes, which is a shame because the first book in this Norman trilogy, The Bastard King, was excellent. The Passionate Enemies left me wanting something, though.
Henry I finds himself advancing in age with no son and heir in sight and so he marries Adelicia of Louvain, a woman much younger than he is, to produce a son. After some time without even a hint of a pregnancy, Henry forces his court to swear fealty to the Empress Matilda (former empress of the Holy Roman Empire, newly returned to England after the death of her husband). That doesn't quite work out the way anyone planned when Henry dies and his nephew, Stephen of Blois, takes the throne instead. A bloody civil war ensues.
This story is fascinating in and of itself and any time I read an author's interpretation of the events, I love to see how they characterize the major players. Here is how Plaidy characterized them:
Women = either megalomaniacal with a touch of sadist or meek and mild.
Men = sex-crazed and obsessed with power or good and loyal.
You would think that would make for a good story, but the characters were over the top. I especially disliked the overarching theme of obsession between Stephen and Matilda, it didn't fit at all. I'm sure I will pick up another Plaidy novel at some point, but for now I think I'll stick to Philippa Carr's novels.
Henry I finds himself advancing in age with no son and heir in sight and so he marries Adelicia of Louvain, a woman much younger than he is, to produce a son. After some time without even a hint of a pregnancy, Henry forces his court to swear fealty to the Empress Matilda (former empress of the Holy Roman Empire, newly returned to England after the death of her husband). That doesn't quite work out the way anyone planned when Henry dies and his nephew, Stephen of Blois, takes the throne instead. A bloody civil war ensues.
This story is fascinating in and of itself and any time I read an author's interpretation of the events, I love to see how they characterize the major players. Here is how Plaidy characterized them:
Women = either megalomaniacal with a touch of sadist or meek and mild.
Men = sex-crazed and obsessed with power or good and loyal.
You would think that would make for a good story, but the characters were over the top. I especially disliked the overarching theme of obsession between Stephen and Matilda, it didn't fit at all. I'm sure I will pick up another Plaidy novel at some point, but for now I think I'll stick to Philippa Carr's novels.
April 24, 2021
I had an extremely hard time reading this book. But I got about half way and then I could not put the book down. I wanted to rate this book low but I thought about it. I hate and love some of these characters. If the author wasn't able to provoke an emotion out of me, I would not have enjoyed this book. This was an absolute delight to read. I would agree with everyone else, it is NOT as GREAT as the first one but I liked this one way much more than the Lion of Justice. Overall, what a great ending to the norman trilogy and cannot wait to read the others. This book I would definitely recommend and I would reread this later on in my life.
November 24, 2009
King Henry I left no male heir, only his daughter Matilda. His nephew Stephen of Blois felt himself a more appropriate ruler and insisted his uncle meant him to rule. So begins the feud between these lovers, a feud which breeds much hatred although their connection can never be severed. While Stephen marries yet another Matilda, a soft sweet woman who shows a surprising aptitude for government, Matilda of Normandy is forced to marry first the Emperor of Germany, many years her senior, and then Geoffrey Plantagenet, 15 years her junior. Because Matilda never reaches the title of Queen, she clings to her title of Empress for the rest of her life.
Matilda in the end realizes that the people will never have her as their queen; her haughty behavior puts them off. So she resigns herself to knowing that one of her three sons from Geoffrey, most likely the oldest, Henry, will be able to succeed Stephen upon his death as the true heir.
Plaidy remains true to her storytelling ability and characters of long ago times jump to life off the page.
Matilda in the end realizes that the people will never have her as their queen; her haughty behavior puts them off. So she resigns herself to knowing that one of her three sons from Geoffrey, most likely the oldest, Henry, will be able to succeed Stephen upon his death as the true heir.
Plaidy remains true to her storytelling ability and characters of long ago times jump to life off the page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2020
The latter part of the reign of Henry I in which all of England's hopes are lost with the drowning of his male heir William in the White Ship leaving only his eldest daughter Matilda as potential Queen and his nephew Stephen of Blois, son of his sister Adela. Both Stephen and Matilda fight for the throne of England tearing it apart in the First Civil War. Her arrogance eventually loses her the throne with Stephen the all out winner in this Royal Game. However the loss of his heir Eustace leaves the path clear for Matilda's son Henry Plantagenet to become king as Henry II.
January 27, 2016
Matilda was the only living child of Henry I of England. Stephen was his nephew. While Matilda was arrogant and cold, Stephen wanted nothing more than to please the people of England. Raised together as children and married to others, they still had a passion for each other. When Henry I died Stephen was in England with his wife while Matilda was with her husband Geoffrey, Count of Anjou resting from childbirth. Stephen wasted no time in claiming possession of the crown and the treasury and so began years of battles between these passionate enemies both desiring to rule the country.
March 22, 2015
I enjoyed this one a lot. I assume the odd relationship between Stephen and Matilda is her own poetic licence/oppinion but it did give some reason to his behaviour. I read all Philipa Gregory's books on the Plantagenets so I am excited to now start Jean's. Especially now I know the back story thanks to this series.
July 14, 2015
Even more enjoyable second time around. First read this trilogy in the late 70s. Completed the repeat run 2015. That's a heck of a gap but I was drawn into their world as fully this time as I was first time around. These are such enjoyable, interesting and captivating books I don't think I'll leave it so long next time! Think I'm ready to revisit the next set - Plantagenets here I come!
April 2, 2016
I normally love Jean Plaidy's book but I can't agree the relationship between Matilda and Stephen and also their charactors in this book. Makes me dislike Matilda... It is far different from what I visualize. Though the book is fun to read.
July 18, 2007
Matilda (daughter of Henry I) and Stephen (nephew of Henry I, grandson of William I)
September 30, 2007
Plaidy is not a good writer, and this is one of the weaker books. However, she does seem to get her history right.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews