Historical Fiction
The sinking of the White Ship is referenced in Ken Follett's novel The Pillars of the Earth (1989). The ship's sinking sets the stage for the entire background of the story, which is based on the subsequent civil war between Matilda (referred to as Maud in the novel) and Stephen. In Follett's novel, it is implied that the ship may have been sabotaged; this is directly confirmed in the TV adaptation, even going so far as to show that William Adelin was assassinated whilst on a lifeboat.
It is also described in detail by Sharon Kay Penman in the historical novel When Christ and His Saints Slept (1994).
The sinking of the White Ship is briefly referenced in Glenn Cooper's novel The Tenth Chamber (2010).
The White Ship also sets the stage for the novel Hiobs Brüder (The Brothers of Job) by the German author Rebecca Gablé, which details the rise of Henry II of England, son of Empress Matilda.
The long conflict between Stephan and Matilida is important in the Brother Cadfael series. This 20-book set of mysteries, by Ellis Peters, has a 12th century Benedictine monk as its protagonist. Depending on the book, the conflict is either very important or just serves as a backdrop to the plots.
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Famous quotes containing the words historical and/or fiction:
“It is hard to believe that England is so near as from your letters it appears; and that this identical piece of paper has lately come all the way from there hither, begrimed with the English dust which made you hesitate to use it; from England, which is only historical fairyland to me, to America, which I have put my spade into, and about which there is no doubt.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Being is a fiction invented by those who suffer from becoming.”
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