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The White Ship
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
12 posts | 7 read | 15 to read
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 Atheling. 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.
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review
mandarchy
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
Pickpick

I was not expecting to get sucked into this story. There are a lot of names and most of them are William, Henry, Mathilde and Robert or Richard don't forget Eleanor... I didn't know I was so fascinated by their dynastic struggles, but it has me curious, what were these people doing between battles and coronations besides eating and drinking? How did the average person deal with all of this turmoil? I may need to read some more of this stuff!

mandarchy I earned some credit from Google play for contributing to Maps. My photos have had 2 million views and it basically got me a $5 ebook. I picked this one curious about Spencer as an author and historian. I wasn't expecting to like it. I thought it was going to be another floater on my list of currently reading (taking my sweet time). 2y
mandarchy I was expecting to get more credit from Google for the contributions I have made, the credits are pretty puny. But I enjoy contributing. I really wish they would increase my storage space. I have maxed out my storage with images of my kid and dog. I could probably delete more emails... 2y
Singout My favorite genre back in my early teens! If you recommend the book maybe I‘ll take a look for it. 2y
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mandarchy @Singout this is my first book by Charles Spencer and they are not as easy to find as I hoped. This one is on special for black Friday on kindle. It's worth 5 bucks. His other books are old and $30 bucks. I'm too cheap. 2y
Suet624 Re: google and the space they allow. Can you start a second account? 2y
mandarchy @Suet624 I am tempted! 2y
39 likes6 comments
review
Librarybelle
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Pickpick

A fascinating look at twelfth century politics in England, culminating in the White Ship disaster that completely changed the trajectory of the Royal dynasty at the time. Fair warning, though: there are so many Henry‘s and William‘s and Matilda‘s that, unless you‘re well-versed in this history, it could get a tad confusing. But, this is also a time of upheaval, and Spencer lays it out well. Great history! #Booked2022 #AboutARealOrFictionalRoyal

Cinfhen Oh ALL those Henry‘s are killers!!! 3y
TrishB I enjoyed this one 👍🏻 one of my fave periods of history. 3y
Librarybelle This is a period of history that I have limited knowledge of, and it‘s such a good reminder of how contentious and unstable and bloody it was. So much violence! But also so fascinating to see how this period shaped the generations to come - things that happened 900 years ago are still impacting today. @Cinfhen @TrishB 3y
82 likes2 stack adds3 comments
review
rabbitprincess
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
Mehso-so

A so-so for me that is likely more due to personal circumstances than the book itself. The writing was fine, and I liked the visible endnoting of the direct quotes, but I put it down and didn‘t feel any interest in picking it up again. I blame pandemic brain.

review
melissajayne
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Pickpick

4⭐️ I really liked the book. I had wanted to read this book for quite some time and when Chris from The Book Cougars mentioned it on a recent episode, I knew I had to read it. The book recounts the build up to the disaster, the disaster itself and the dynastic repercussions of the disaster.#2021 #nonfiction #history #disasters #bookreview #bookstagram #englishhistory #mistletoemaniacs #wintergames2021 +16pts

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Purpleness
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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melissajayne
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Looking back on this, a night whose repercussions would change Europe‘s history for ever, some claimed to remember nothing more than a distant noise.

#firstlinefridays

LeahBergen I‘ve been eyeing this book. Are you enjoying it? 3y
melissajayne @LeahBergen I am enjoying it. 3y
TrishB I enjoyed this one 👍🏻 3y
18 likes3 comments
review
TrishB
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Pickpick

‘To think that such a brilliantly effective and strategic king- one of the great Monarchs of British history- most likely rests for eternity under ....a school building in Reading, rather than in the monumental pomp that he planned, is - to me- as sad as it is wrong.‘
Couldn‘t agree more with the author 😁
Only read if you love detailed English history with many Henry‘s, Williams and Richards.
Great read ❤️

MsMelissa This sounds good! I love that period in English history. 4y
TrishB @MsMelissa me too 😁 4y
Cathythoughts Excellent review! I love the ..... “ ONLY READ IF “ tips 😂 (edited) 4y
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Caroline2 Oh sounds good! Stacked. 👍 4y
TrishB @Cathythoughts didn‘t want to give the wrong impression 😁 4y
TrishB @Caroline2 cool 👍🏻 4y
112 likes3 stack adds6 comments
blurb
TrishB
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Tonight‘s #motherdaughterread
Daughter wants to finish Shadow and Bone as there is a series starting in Netflix at the end of the month and she wants to read the book first (that‘s my girl!).

JennyM Enjoy your time reading with C xx 4y
squirrelbrain Have a lovely evening! 4y
Kalalalatja Enjoy! I‘m so looking forward to the series 🙌 4y
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MsMelissa Trish, you have raised your daughter well ☺️ 4y
TrishB @Kalalalatja she definitely is too! 4y
TrishB @MsMelissa 😂 she said to me when she was younger that she actually thought it was illegal to not read the book before watching the film, I‘d said it that many times. Well, as far as laws go 😉 4y
MsMelissa @TrishB That‘s funny 😂 4y
Cathythoughts Illegal not to read first .... that is so sweet & funny 4y
TrishB @Cathythoughts my kids also thought fizzy drinks and chewing gum were illegal before aged 10 as I wouldn‘t let them have them! They used to get very confused when other kids had them 😁😁 4y
Centique @TrishB illegal fizzy drinks makes me laugh 😂😂😂 My kids thought Coca Cola was a sin or something because they were never allowed it. They would get wide eyed and shocked if anyone drank it. 😛 4y
TrishB @Centique exactly! 😁 4y
102 likes12 comments
blurb
Texreader
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Our late Christmas celebration last week meant more books! My in-laws in Reading, UK sent me this one! I‘m thrilled! The museum in Reading has a replica of the Bayoux Tapestry (the replica was embroidered in the late 1800s by an army of women), and they must have remembered how taken I was with it when we were there a few years ago.

Bklover This sounds really good!! 4y
Texreader @Bklover Right? I‘m so excited!! 4y
MittenGirlPeach That sounds fabulous! 4y
rwmg Wishlisted 4y
79 likes3 stack adds4 comments
review
CindiB
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this. It was interesting, accessible, and lively. I learned more about the sinking of the White Ship and its devastation, as well as more about the reign of Henry I. It is a time period I am interested in and this book will go on my re-read shelf. 4/5

Freespirit I think this sounds interesting and it‘s written by Lady Diana‘s brother🤔 4y
CindiB Yes it is @Freespirit. It‘s well-written and good. 4y
63 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
umbrellagirl
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Wondering what‘s the best way to report an error in a book. This image, intended to be the coronation of Henry I, is actually the coronation of Edward the Confessor.

Texreader Oh wow. Interesting question! 4y
umbrellagirl @Texreader You can it says Eadwardi above his head and the text below mentions his predecessor, Hardecnutuf. 4y
katy4peas Oh no! Can you contact the publisher? 4y
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umbrellagirl @katy4peas That‘s what I‘ve done. I thought it was better than contacting the author directly. I‘m enjoying the book otherwise. 4y
umbrellagirl @katy4peas and I was able to verify the correct info online before I did that. 4y
ValerieAndBooks Bummer! Funnily I‘m descended from Henry 1. An error like that should have been caught by editors. Good thing you contacted the publisher! 4y
umbrellagirl @ValerieAndBooks that‘s cool! From which child do you descend? The publisher has not responded, but at least I tried. 4y
ValerieAndBooks @umbrellagirl From his daughter Matilda, who was the mother of Henry II. The publisher is probably mortified about this error! 4y
33 likes8 comments
blurb
umbrellagirl
The White Ship | Charles Spencer
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Him: what do you want for our anniversary?
Me: just buy me a book.

SheReadsAndWrites ❤️❤️❤️ 4y
LeahBergen Perfect! 👌🏼 4y
62 likes3 stack adds2 comments