Summary

Historical fiction piece set during one of England's many rough patches, during the time period following the death of King Henry I's sole male heir in the infamous "White Ship" disaster of 1125 AD. Maude (aka Mathilda, the King's only daughter) is then the sole direct bloodline heir to the reining King. Upon the King's death, Maude's throne is usurped using trickery by her cousin Stephen, and thus starts a civil war, termed by modern historians "The Anarchy". The fictional protagonist of the story, Tom Builder, is hired to design and construct a cathedral in the new Gothic architecturral style in the town of Kingsbridge during these turbulent times.