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

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

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  • Create Date：2021-06-08 06:51:52
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Charles Spencer
  • ISBN：0008296847
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Summary

‘As gripping as any thriller。 History doesn't get any better than this’ BILL BRYSON

’A brilliant read … Spencer has a real facility for getting these characters to leap fully formed from the page … Game of Thrones but in the real world’ ANTHONY HOROWITZ




‘The medieval Titanic … Charles Spencer explores with brilliance … the gripping， tragic story of the White Ship … and brings it to vivid and thrilling life in this superb book’ KATE WILLIAMS



PICKED AS A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 BY THE DAILY TELEGRAPH， THE GUARDIAN， THE DAILY MAIL AND THE DAILY EXPRESS。


‘Highly enjoyable’ Simon Heffer
‘Brilliant’ Dan Jones
‘Fascinating’ Tom Bower



The sinking of the White Ship on the 25th November 1120 is one of the greatest disasters that England has ever suffered。 Its repercussions would change English and European history for ever。



King Henry I was sailing for England in triumph after four years of fighting the French。 Congregating with the king at the port of Barfleur on that freezing night was the cream of Anglo-Norman society， including the only legitimate heir to the throne。 By 1120， Henry was the most formidable ruler in Europe with an enviable record on the battlefield， immense lands and wealth and unprecedented authority in his kingdoms。 Everything he had worked for was finally achieved， and he was ready to hand it on to his beloved son， William Ætheling。


Henry I and his retinue set out first。 The White Ship – considered the fastest afloat – would follow， carrying the young prince。 Spoilt and arrogant， William had plied his comrades and crew with drink from the minute he stepped aboard。 It was the middle of the night when the drunken helmsman rammed the ship into rocks。 There would be only one survivor from the gilded roll call of passengers…


Charles Spencer evokes this tragic and brutal story of the Normans from Conquest to Anarchy。 With the heir dead， a civil war of untold violence erupted， a game of thrones which 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 bloody， desperate scrum for power。

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Reviews

Thomas ，

Another superb read by Charles Spencer， dipping into the Norman history of England to the beginnings of Plantagenet House of English Royalty。 The book has three parts， first giving the backstory to Norman rule in Britain and building up the story of Henry I。 Second the life of Henry and aftermath of the White Ship tragedy。 Finally the fallout from the passing of Henry I and the fighting to gain the throne。 Overall very interesting and a part of history I know very little about， aside from what I Another superb read by Charles Spencer， dipping into the Norman history of England to the beginnings of Plantagenet House of English Royalty。 The book has three parts， first giving the backstory to Norman rule in Britain and building up the story of Henry I。 Second the life of Henry and aftermath of the White Ship tragedy。 Finally the fallout from the passing of Henry I and the fighting to gain the throne。 Overall very interesting and a part of history I know very little about， aside from what I was taught in school with 1066 and The Battle of Hastings。 Certainly made me interested to learn more of the period。 。。。more

Rachel ，

The White Ship: Conquest， Anarchy， and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream by Charles Spencer is a great historical account of the events leading up to， during， and also after the infamous shipwreck in 1120 that changed English history。It is fascinating to know that this one singular occurrence dramatically changed the course of the English monarchy。 I have read articles and also listened to history podcasts that delve into the shipwreck， loss of life aboard， and the lineage change of the English mo The White Ship: Conquest， Anarchy， and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream by Charles Spencer is a great historical account of the events leading up to， during， and also after the infamous shipwreck in 1120 that changed English history。It is fascinating to know that this one singular occurrence dramatically changed the course of the English monarchy。 I have read articles and also listened to history podcasts that delve into the shipwreck， loss of life aboard， and the lineage change of the English monarchy in the past。 It was great to be able to have everything tied in together nicely， including the political， personal， societal， and intercontinental events that were occurring before， and because of， the death of Henry I's heir， William。Mr。 Spencer did a fabulous job presenting a well-researched book， creating a narrative that was easy to read， comprehend， and follow。 It kept my interest and was engaging from beginning to end。 While I did not learn anything new， for others that have not researched this already， this is a great introduction and overall coverage of these monumental and course-changing events。5/5 starsThank you EW and William Collins/Harper Collins for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion。 I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon， Instagram， and B&N accounts upon publication。 。。。more

Susan ，

I thoroughly enjoyed this account of the sinking of The white Ship off Barfleur on the coast of France in 1120。 The heir to the throne， William Atheling and many leading members of the English elite were suddenly wiped out， ultimately leading to the years of the Anarchy。 the actual sinking only takes up a small part of the book ， whilst the rest is given over to the lead up and the consequences， which were significant。 Although this is a 900 year old story， Charles Spencer tells it afresh and as I thoroughly enjoyed this account of the sinking of The white Ship off Barfleur on the coast of France in 1120。 The heir to the throne， William Atheling and many leading members of the English elite were suddenly wiped out， ultimately leading to the years of the Anarchy。 the actual sinking only takes up a small part of the book ， whilst the rest is given over to the lead up and the consequences， which were significant。 Although this is a 900 year old story， Charles Spencer tells it afresh and as ever， the way he writes is a dream。 。。。more

Henrietta Reade ，

A fascinating read on a period of history that I know very little about （more now！）。 It would have 5 stars but for the struggle with all the Williams and Matildas - a family tree would have been helpful！ Also the tone was a little “removed” from events， but otherwise very informative。

Ash ，

L

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 ha 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。 。。。more

Fiona Howells ，

Well written non-fiction account of the sinking of the White Ship， in 1120。 It’s the story of how the period of English history now known as the Anarchy came about。 At the beginning of the 12th Century – 60 years after the Norman conquest， William the Conqueror’s youngest son Henry I is on the throne and ruling over a stable kingdom， with the succession secure in his 17 year old son William Ætheling。 In November 1120， both King Henry， William and their entire retinue of hundreds of nobles and cl Well written non-fiction account of the sinking of the White Ship， in 1120。 It’s the story of how the period of English history now known as the Anarchy came about。 At the beginning of the 12th Century – 60 years after the Norman conquest， William the Conqueror’s youngest son Henry I is on the throne and ruling over a stable kingdom， with the succession secure in his 17 year old son William Ætheling。 In November 1120， both King Henry， William and their entire retinue of hundreds of nobles and clergy were in Barfleur in northern France， getting ready to set sail back to England。 The King and a smaller party went ahead， while the heir to the throne William set sail the following day on the White Ship with two of Henry’s illegitimate children， and a huge party of young nobles。 The ship sank as soon as it was out of the harbour with only one survivor。 The loss of the heir to the throne， threw England into turmoil， the contenders for the throne being Henry’s only surviving legitimate child， a daughter Matilda and his nephew Stephen （who was due to sail on the White Ship himself， but disembarked at the last minute as he was unwell）。 Before his death some 15 years later， Henry demanded his noblemen swear an oath that they would support his daughter Matilda to be Queen in her own right。 When Henry died， Matilda was in France and before she could return to England， Stephen seized the throne。 The years that followed were known as the Anarchy and England was at war with itself。 It was only brought to an end when Stephen recognised Matilda’s son Henry as his heir when his own son Eustace died。 Matilda’s son Henry became Henry II and ruled for 35 years。 A good history book， well written and interesting。 It could have benefited from a family tree （I was on Google a lot）， and it would have been helpful if not every woman of significance was called Matilda！ A good read though。 。。。more

Dedmanshootn dedmanshootn ，

writing almost entertaining like a novel。 enjoyed the read and timeline info

Kathleen ，

Well written history of England after the Norman conquest thru the ascension of Henry II。 Lays out with great detail and excellent footnotes how the death of Henry I's legitimate son and heir and the young lords and ladies died on the White Ship （ leaving France and sailing to England） created a void and destroyed most of Henry I's legacy。 Well written history of England after the Norman conquest thru the ascension of Henry II。 Lays out with great detail and excellent footnotes how the death of Henry I's legitimate son and heir and the young lords and ladies died on the White Ship （ leaving France and sailing to England） created a void and destroyed most of Henry I's legacy。 。。。more

Chris Stott ，

This really is historical non-fiction at its finest。 Spencer goes beyond a mere presentation of the facts of this chaotic period in the English monarchy by bringing to life the key personalities， turning them from remote medieval figures into authentic， flesh-and-blood people with motives， passions， strengths and failings。 He also navigates the reader through what could have been an overwhelmingly bewildering mass of names， dates， events with clarity and assurance。 I came away with a secure unde This really is historical non-fiction at its finest。 Spencer goes beyond a mere presentation of the facts of this chaotic period in the English monarchy by bringing to life the key personalities， turning them from remote medieval figures into authentic， flesh-and-blood people with motives， passions， strengths and failings。 He also navigates the reader through what could have been an overwhelmingly bewildering mass of names， dates， events with clarity and assurance。 I came away with a secure understanding of the period and its people， and wanting to read on。 。。。more

Toni Kely-Brown ，

I was disappointed with this。 The title says the "The White Ship" quite clearly on the cover， yet besides a brief prologue it is half-way through this book before we even get to the White Ship！ Instead it was Anglo-Norman history。 I understand the need for context but did Charles Spencer have to go all the way back to Rollo！ Even when we get to the White Ship I felt like he was talking about everything but it！ I found it hard at times to see the link between the content of the book and its title I was disappointed with this。 The title says the "The White Ship" quite clearly on the cover， yet besides a brief prologue it is half-way through this book before we even get to the White Ship！ Instead it was Anglo-Norman history。 I understand the need for context but did Charles Spencer have to go all the way back to Rollo！ Even when we get to the White Ship I felt like he was talking about everything but it！ I found it hard at times to see the link between the content of the book and its title。 If this had been presented as general Anglo-Norman History （including The White Ship） I would be more forgiving！ 。。。more

William ，

An excellent view of Henry I's life， though I thought the Anarchy would take centre stage。 An excellent view of Henry I's life， though I thought the Anarchy would take centre stage。 。。。more

Oliver ，

Empress Matilda is one of the most underrated figures in history！

Cathy ，

I just really enjoyed this。 Well written， engaging and I believe well researched this looked at the White Ship disaster， what came before and the ramifications of the disaster itself。 A great read all round。

Steven Batty ，

Another well written book by Charles Spencer。 Knew very little on the White Ship disaster。 This book has changed that with it's excellent research。 Another well written book by Charles Spencer。 Knew very little on the White Ship disaster。 This book has changed that with it's excellent research。 。。。more

Shannon Vincent Nelson ，

I heard Charles Spencer discussing his book on the BBC History podcast and picked it up due to his sheer enthusiasm for the topic。 I found the book to be really engaging and readable， and Charles Spencer did an excellent job of making such a remote time period feel really interesting and relevant。 The book covers more than just the White Ship - covering the period of Normal rule in England - which serves to really show the tragedy of the White Ship disaster。 Spencer also really brings the remote I heard Charles Spencer discussing his book on the BBC History podcast and picked it up due to his sheer enthusiasm for the topic。 I found the book to be really engaging and readable， and Charles Spencer did an excellent job of making such a remote time period feel really interesting and relevant。 The book covers more than just the White Ship - covering the period of Normal rule in England - which serves to really show the tragedy of the White Ship disaster。 Spencer also really brings the remote historical characters to life and doesn’t shy away from sharing detailed information about their lives and death （even if gruesome）。 If you are interested in the Normans or English history in general， this is a really great book to add to your shelf。 。。。more

Matt ，

Enjoyable read about the sinking of the White Ship and its effect on the Anglo-Norman realm of Henry I。 There's a lot of good background information about the rise of Henry's ancestors from Rollo to William the Conqueror and Henry's own fraught ascension to the throne before tackling the sinking of the White Ship and the succession crisis thereafter。 Tends to veer off into the weeds somewhat at times with an addiction to context， most notably through the middle portion of the book， as the author Enjoyable read about the sinking of the White Ship and its effect on the Anglo-Norman realm of Henry I。 There's a lot of good background information about the rise of Henry's ancestors from Rollo to William the Conqueror and Henry's own fraught ascension to the throne before tackling the sinking of the White Ship and the succession crisis thereafter。 Tends to veer off into the weeds somewhat at times with an addiction to context， most notably through the middle portion of the book， as the author seeks to explain the background around everyone mentioned even the most minor of characters。Still it's a well told and ultimately interesting read 。。。more

Han ，

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

Grace-Elisa ，

3。5*。 A good account of events leading up to and surrounding a catastrophic period of English history。 Thanks to the author for sifting through the historical archives and presenting the information in a readable way。 I felt it was a little stilted and dry in parts， however， it is a work of non-fiction and fanciful embellishments were probably unnecessary。

Shell ，

A very readable book which describes events leading up to and the following consequences of the sinking of The White ship in 1120。 There is little known about the actual event as there was only one survivor， so the sinking itself is a very small part of the story。 However， the Royal tragedies and feuding prior to the disaster read like a soap opera。 And Charles Spencer describes vividly the long reaching effects of the death of England's only legitimate heir to the throne in great detail。 A very readable book which describes events leading up to and the following consequences of the sinking of The White ship in 1120。 There is little known about the actual event as there was only one survivor， so the sinking itself is a very small part of the story。 However， the Royal tragedies and feuding prior to the disaster read like a soap opera。 And Charles Spencer describes vividly the long reaching effects of the death of England's only legitimate heir to the throne in great detail。 。。。more

Ian ，

An excellent read， clearly and thoughtfully presented。 A superb overview of the events that led to the creation of the Plantagenet dynasty。

Laura ，

This is an easy read， a lot of the information is already known， but it's good to have the wider repercussions of the incident explained。 There was some jumping from year to year which if you're not paying full attention can throw you off a little - or it did me anyway。 Ultimately， a very enjoyable book This is an easy read， a lot of the information is already known， but it's good to have the wider repercussions of the incident explained。 There was some jumping from year to year which if you're not paying full attention can throw you off a little - or it did me anyway。 Ultimately， a very enjoyable book 。。。more

Carolyn Cash ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it， with a portrait of post-Conquest life in England。。The sinking of the White Ship， which occurred on 25 November 1120， is one of England's greatest tragedies with huge repercussions which changed history forever。 King Henry I was returning to England in triumph， after fighting the French for four years， after achieving everything he had worked so hard for， to hand it onto his heir， William Ætheling。His son would follow， accompanied by the cr I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it， with a portrait of post-Conquest life in England。。The sinking of the White Ship， which occurred on 25 November 1120， is one of England's greatest tragedies with huge repercussions which changed history forever。 King Henry I was returning to England in triumph， after fighting the French for four years， after achieving everything he had worked so hard for， to hand it onto his heir， William Ætheling。His son would follow， accompanied by the cream of Anglo-Norman society at the time， in the White Ship， but it never left Barfleur 。。。Anarchy and civil war soon followed， with families turning on one another， the brutality and violence and a woman's bid to become Queen of England。For anyone interested in post-Conquest England， this is a must-read。 。。。more

Brinx ，

The sinking of the White Ship is a powerful story with repercussions stretching far across Britain and France for decades。 As such this is a book about a truly intriguing and important historic event that is of huge interest。 However， for me， Spencer’s writing style lacks fluidity and instead of being a compelling read this book delivers a lengthy schoolboy essay rattling through the historic events without providing the historic， social and other contextual evidence around events to show what m The sinking of the White Ship is a powerful story with repercussions stretching far across Britain and France for decades。 As such this is a book about a truly intriguing and important historic event that is of huge interest。 However， for me， Spencer’s writing style lacks fluidity and instead of being a compelling read this book delivers a lengthy schoolboy essay rattling through the historic events without providing the historic， social and other contextual evidence around events to show what might have driven some of the extreme behaviours。 Overall， clearly well researched and interesting but just missing some extra insights that could make it sparkle。 。。。more

Kate Vane ，

[This is an edited extract from a longe post comparing this book with Alison Weir's Queens of the Conquest at https://katevane。com/2021/01/18/book-。。。]Charles Spencer takes as his starting point the sinking of the White Ship on a voyage from Normandy to England， carrying Henry I’s heir， William Ætheling， two of his illegitimate children and a number of the younger generation of courtiers。 In a prologue he paints a vivid picture of the event itself and the terror of those who had to break the new [This is an edited extract from a longe post comparing this book with Alison Weir's Queens of the Conquest at https://katevane。com/2021/01/18/book-。。。]Charles Spencer takes as his starting point the sinking of the White Ship on a voyage from Normandy to England， carrying Henry I’s heir， William Ætheling， two of his illegitimate children and a number of the younger generation of courtiers。 In a prologue he paints a vivid picture of the event itself and the terror of those who had to break the news to the king。The book then tells the backstory， showing how Henry went from impoverished youngest son of William the Conqueror to a king at the height of his powers， having secured his kingdom and prepared his son to inherit。 With the death of William Ætheling his plans are in disarray。We see the aftermath of the disaster， his remarriage， his attempts to secure the kingdom for his daughter （in The White Ship she is called Matilda）， and the way her cousin， Stephen of Blois， is able to take the throne at Henry’s death。 （Ironically， Stephen should have been on the ship， but did not sail because he was ill with diarrhoea。） Matilda fought bravely throughout her life to try and claim her inheritance and the battles and dramas of the period known as ‘the Anarchy’ are vividly told， ending with the death of Stephen and the crowning of Matilda’s son as Henry II。The White Ship is， for me， more of an entertaining read。 While it lacks some of the detail of Weir’s book， and is very much focused on the key characters in the drama， Spencer is a great storyteller and uses notes more sparingly in the text， including only what is relevant to the story he is telling。The chapters immediately before and after the sinking of the ship have the feel of a disaster movie， as we’re introduced to the key characters， watch them party， oblivious， before boarding， and then learn what happens as the ship sinks （based on the eyewitness account of the one survivor）。Then we see the distraught king， and the relatives of the other victims。 Seeing the chance events that led to that moment gives you that terrible feeling of ‘what if？’。 Reading the same events in Weir’s book did not have that emotional impact。The White Ship humanises and dramatises the events in a way that brings the characters and their world to life。 It’s a haunting story that not only tells you what happened but leaves you imagining how things could have been different。 Even though I’d read about the sinking of the White Ship before， it gave it a new resonance。*I received a copy of The White Ship from the publisher via Netgalley。 。。。more

Anand Chopra-McGowan ，

Strong storytelling， but it would have easier to follow if Spencer had dropped half the names who added 5% to the story but made the narrative twice as hard to follow。 Always hard to decide between an academic approach or a pop history one。

Kate Guinan ，

Charles Spencer is one of my favorite historians。 He always writes a vivid narrative that makes history read like a story。

Jo ，

Well written， engaging， authoritative - a delight to read。 This is an absorbing account of a little-known event in 1120 that changed the course of the English monarchy。 It deals clearly and thoroughly with the background， the key figures， the event itself and the aftermath。 I’ve learned a lot about the Normans， Henry I and this particular chapter in English history。 A lovely book， and highly recommended。

Nikki Poulton ，

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。

Nick ，

A solid enough history of the hundred years after the invasion of 1066。 The link to the disaster of the White Ship is used （sometimes in a rather laboured way） as a link to carry the reader through。 Not sure this adds much to the sum of human knowledge， but I found it interesting enough。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0