Charles Spencer

Charles Spencer was a reporter on NBC's Today show from 1986 until 1995, and is the author of seven excellent history books, including the Sunday Times bestsellers Blenheim: Battle for Europe (shortlisted for History Book of the Year, National Book Awards) and Killers of the King: The Men Who Dared to Execute Charles I.

Earl Spencer joins us to give a talk on his Sunday Times bestseller, The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I's Dream.

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, Charles Spencer follows the story from the Norman Conquest through to the decades that would become known as the Anarchy: a civil war of untold violence that 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 desperate game of thrones. All because of the loss of one vessel - the White Ship - the medieval Titanic.

We do hope you'll join us in the bookshop for this chance to listen to a eloquent and insightful historian speak. Your entrance voucher will be redeemable against any of Charles Spencer's books.