NEWS & EVENTS
Join the virtual conversation with Charles Spencer with The National Arts Club
The sinking of the White Ship in 1120 is one of the greatest disasters England has ever suffered. In one catastrophic night, the king’s heir and the flower of Anglo-Norman society were drowned, and the future of the crown was thrown violently off course.
In a riveting narrative, historian Charles Spencer follows the story from the Norman Conquest through to the decades known simply as “the Anarchy”: a brutal civil war between English and Norman barons, rebellious Welsh princes, and the Scottish king, all gambling to win in a desperate game of thrones.
Spencer, 9th Earl of Spencer and the author of The Sunday Times bestseller Blenheim: Battle for Europe, discusses his latest book with moderator Glenn Raucher.
Watch Charles Spencer talks to Steve Clemons, The Hill
Listen as Charles Spencer talks to Steve Clemons about his latest book, The White Ship.
Charles Spencer talks at the Boston Athenaeum
Join Charles Spencer on Monday Oct 4th when he will be speaking online at the Boston Athenaeum about his book THE WHITE SHIP ahead of its US launch on October 19th.
Register for your attendance here
Monday, October 4, 2021 – 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Aspects of History Summer Festival
Over each evening, from June 7th – 10th, our editor, Oliver Webb-Carter, will interview four of our historians about their latest books and future projects.
We have arranged a high quality line-up of Charles Spencer, Helen Fry, Saul David and Giles Milton.
Tune-in each evening at 19:00 on our YouTube Channel, which you’ll also be able to access on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to watch each interview.
Monday 7th June 2021
7pm
Charles Spencer to talk at Chalke Valley History Festival
The festival will offer its usual amazing line-up of talks, topical debates, living history and activities for children, with eminent historians and household names all bringing history to life.
23rd – 27th June 2021
Further ticket information coming soon
The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream, with Earl Spencer
The sinking of the White Ship on the 25th November 1120 is one of the greatest disasters England ever suffered. Its repercussions would change English and European history for ever.
Lord Spencer, author of historical novels that include ‘Killers of the King – the men who dared to execute Charles I’ and ‘To Catch a King – Charles II’s great escape’ will join us by Zoom to talk about The White Ship, his most recent book. The paperback will be released on June 10th and everybody who buys a ticket for his talk will get a copy, hot off the press, signed and dedicated.
£15 Online Only
Tuesday, 18th May 2021
7:30 pm
The White Ship: an online talk by Earl Spencer
To coincide with the day on which ‘The White Ship’ is released in paperback, Charles Spencer will take up the themes of his book: conquest, anarchy and the wrecking of Henry I’s dream.
Thursday 10th June 2021
4pm
The 45 minute talk, via Zoom, will be followed by a short Q&A.
Tickets
UK: lecture plus signed book – £25 (inc. UK postage)
Worldwide: lecture plus signed book – £32 (inc. worldwide postage)
Charles Spencer: The White Ship; Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream
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.
Zoom Webinar
Tuesday 29th, June 2021
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Charles Spencer in Bath
Lord Spencer discuss his seventh and latest book The White Ship which sank near the Normandy coast on 25 November 1120. Amongst the dead was William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of Henry I. His death led to a crisis of succession and a period of bloody civil war know as the Anarchy.
Monday 30th November
Doors open – 6:30 pm
Start time – 8:00 pm
Christ Church, Julian Road, Bath, BA1 2RH
Signed Book and Ticket £25
Bring a friend £7
Charles Spencer – The White Ship
Lord Spencer’s seventh and latest book The White Ship evokes the harsh and brutal story of a dead heir, a civil war of untold violence and a game of thrones which saw families turned in on each other and how the course of British history changed overnight
Stratford Play House
Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6LU
Friday 20th November 2020
6 pm – 7 pm
Live venue event £12
Live event viewable online £5
Charles Spencer in Ely
Lord Spencer discuss his seventh and latest book The White Ship which sank near the Normandy coast on 25 November 1120. Amongst the dead was William Adelin, the only legitimate son and heir of Henry I. His death led to a crisis of succession and a period of bloody civil war know as the Anarchy.
Thursday 12th November
Doors open – 7:10 pm
Start time – 7:30 pm
St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Street, Ely, CB7 4HF
Signed Book and Ticket £25
Bring a friend £7
Charles Spencer in conversation
Lord Spencer is discussing The White Ship, his seventh and latest book with Sally Laverack .
The tragedy that led to decades of civil war, untold violence, rebellion and the collapse of Henry I’s legacy of stability and wealth, which changed English history for ever.
Thursday 5th November 2020
4:30 pm
Bridport Electric Palace
35 South Street, Bridport, Dorset DT6 3NY
Entry ticket £12
Wells Festival of Literature
Lord Spencer will be discussing his latest book The White Ship – conquest, anarchy and the wrecking of Henry I’s dream.
This thrilling story, written to mark the 900th anniversary of one of the greatest maritime disasters in English history, describes how the fastest ship afloat sank, taking with it the only legitimate heir to King Henry 1.
Thursday 22 October 2020
6 pm – 7 pm
Cedars Hall, The Liberty, Wells, BA5 2ST
Entry ticket £10, Students £6
Daily Telegraph: Great Estates
The Spencers have been in public life since the 16th century, when Sir John Spencer was knighted by Henry VIII. Lord Spencer, the 19th generation of his family at Althorp, considers his position.
“When I took over, I walked through the saloon, which is hung with family portraits going back 500 years. It was like walking across the stage with an audience. I thought, My goodness, it’s my turn to do something with the place.”
The Independent: ‘Killers of the King’
“This is a thrilling tale of pursuit and resistance and it is based on deep original archival research. It is a credit to Spencer’s skill that he both creates a vivid and enlightening picture of the age – a fevered time of denunciation and reprisal – and draws out the touching moments of human drama and sentiment from the stories of imprisonment and execution.”
The Telegraph: ‘Killers of the King’
“When I was writing my most recent book, Killers of the King, I noticed a portrait hanging in a row of other men in armour that I’d never looked closely at before. It turned out he was Lord Grey of Groby, one of the killers of Charles I and a central character in my book. I never even knew he was there, let alone that I was related to him.”
