{"product_id":"the-white-ship-9780008296841","title":"The White Ship","description":"'As gripping as any thriller. History doesn't get any better than this' BILL BRYSON\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'A brilliant read ... Spencer has a real facility for getting these characters to leap fully formed from the page ... \u003cem\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/em\u003e but in the real world' ANTHONY HOROWITZ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'The medieval \u003cem\u003eTitanic\u003c\/em\u003e ... Charles Spencer explores with brilliance ... the gripping, tragic story of the \u003cem\u003eWhite Ship\u003c\/em\u003e ... and brings it to vivid and thrilling life in this superb book' KATE WILLIAMS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePICKED AS A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 BY THE \u003cem\u003eDAILY TELEGRAPH\u003c\/em\u003e, THE \u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e, THE \u003cem\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/em\u003e AND THE \u003cem\u003eDAILY EXPRESS\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e'Highly enjoyable' \u003cstrong\u003eSimon Heffer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Brilliant' \u003cstrong\u003eDan Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Fascinating' \u003cstrong\u003eTom Bower\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe sinking of the \u003cem\u003eWhite Ship\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eKing 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  theling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHenry I and his retinue set out first. The \u003cem\u003eWhite Ship\u003c\/em\u003e - 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...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCharles 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e William Collins\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/10\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780008296841\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 352\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.59lbs","brand":"Charles Spencer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39992607080629,"sku":"9780008296841","price":16.14,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_3f861852-0b26-4319-b14d-41b6c1310084.jpg?v=1620710178","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-white-ship-9780008296841","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}