"Insightful historical fiction"
Early in his reign, King Henry II successfully subdues
his rebellious lords, who prefer their little fiefdoms to a
powerful central state figure like His Highness. He
decides he must also act accordingly with the Church in
order to bring the priests in line. He chooses his most
trusted ally Chancellor Thomas Becket to serve as the
Archbishop of Canterbury though his friend is not a
priest. However, once Sir Thomas takes over his new
position, he changes his philosophy and becomes a fanatical
supporter of the Church publicly opposing much of what his
mentor desires. Though over a decade younger than his wife Eleanor, Henry
still loves her madly. He sires two daughters and five
sons with her, while anchoring the throne for his
Plantagant descendants (Richard, John, etc.) through war,
treachery, and statesmanship. However, his fame (or shame)
in history hinges on the murder of Sir Thomas, considered a
saint by almost everyone else in the country. TIME AND CHANCE, the sequel to WHEN CHRIST AND HIS SAINTS
SLEPT, is an insightful historical fiction that brings to
life the Henry II nation-building era. Reminding the
audience in many ways of A Man for All Seasons, the tale is
vividly loaded so that the audience can see a critical
period in the building of a nation. Henry is a complex
individual whom Sharon Kay Penman insures the audience
fully comprehends how deep the King was. The look at the
fights Henry fought and their impact on his family, his
subjects, and his enemies make this mid to late twelfth
century tale a must read for genre fans. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted February 10, 2002
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