In her foreword to the collection, Peters stated that, after introducing Cadfael in her novel A Morbid Taste for Bones, she was not interested in writing a novel depicting him during the pre-monastic phase of his life (i.e., during his adventures in The Holy Land as a crusader and sea captain), but did want to provide a brief look at how he came to renounce his former life and become a monk.
Plot Summaries
A Light on the Road to Woodstock
In 1120, King Henry's force is returning in triumph to England, having secured control of Normandy once again. Cadfael, an experienced man-at-arms in the service of Roger Maduit, one of Henry's knights, accompanies his lord back to England, at a loss to decide what to do with his life once his term of service with Roger expires in a few days.
Cadfael's last duty is to help escort Roger to Woodstock, where Henry is holding court, to defend a lawsuit against the Benedictines of Shrewsbury Abbey, which claims to have been granted land by Roger's father. Roger's young wife slyly suggests that all he need do to ensure the outcome of the suit is to waylay the Abbey's representative on the road to Woodstock and keep him incommunicado for a day or two. With no one present to speak for the Abbey, it will lose by default judgment.
Cadfael is not privy to this plan, but, as Roger and a few select men are returning to their lodgings at night after kidnapping the Abbey's Prior, Roger is ambushed and nearly stabbed to death with a dagger, before Cadfael saves his life. Roger presumes the would-be assassin to be one of the Prior's escorts, in an over-zealous attempt to protect his master.
However, the hearing of the lawsuit is unexpectedly delayed, when disastrous news arrives of the wreck of the White Ship off Barfleur, resulting in the loss, in one fell swoop, of Prince William and most of the King's other likely successors. During the delay, Cadfael re-traces Roger's steps and discreetly rescues Prior Heribert from his confinement. When the King's Courts resume business three days later, Roger is stunned when Heribert appears, presenting sufficient proofs to gain judgment for the Abbey.
Roger is furious at Cadfael's "disloyalty," but Cadfael leaves him with a warning: he learned from Heribert that none of the Abbey's servants were armed; meaning the would-be assassin could only have been one of Roger's own men – likely the handsome young squire, conspiring with Roger's young wife, Lady Eadwina, to murder him. Roger, suddenly in terror over the long journey home, begs Cadfael to remain with him as the only man he can trust, but Cadfael says his term of service with Roger is over.
Approaching Prior Heribert before his party's return to Shrewsbury, Cadfael lays aside his arms and asks that he be allowed to go back with them.
The Price of Light
Lord of the Manor Hamo FitzHamon, after a lifetime of lechery, overindulgence and general cruelty to his fellow men, reaches old age and begins worrying over some way to ensure his welcome into Heaven. Thoughts of charity for the poor are quickly discounted in favour of making a lavish gift to Shrewsbury Abbey, who he is sure can provide more "potent" and longer-lasting prayers for his soul. The gift is a beautiful pair of silver candlesticks for St. Mary's Altar, along with a donation to ensure the lighting of the Altar year-round.
Hamo and a small party visit the Abbey for the formal bestowal of the gift, which are received with mixed feelings. While the candlesticks are undoubtedly exquisite, the Abbey's almoner laments that he would rather receive their value in cash, to help provide for the many poor sheltering in the Abbey, many of whom may die in the coming winter for lack of food or proper clothing.
Hamo's young wife asks Cadfael, the Abbey's herbalist for a sleeping draught to help her rest. Later that evening, Cadfael comes back to his workshop and overhears the lady in dalliance with one of her husband's servants, indicating that she drugged her husband into slumber.
In the morning, the candlesticks have disappeared from the altar, and a search of the Abbey fails to locate them. Hamo is livid, promising bloody retribution on the thief when he is caught. Cadfael, through patient investigation, finds the candlesticks hidden in a sack of lavender flowers in his own workshop, and identifies the thief as Lady FitzHamon's maidservant, Elfgiva. He confronts her in secret, and she says that the only theft committed was by Hamo: he commissioned the candlesticks from his villein, Elfgiva's fiancé Alard, promising him his freedom in return. But when Alard completed his craft, Hamo reneged and sent Alard to do manual labour on one of his estates. Alard escaped a year ago, and within three days Hamo will be unable to reclaim him by law. Elfgiva has been awaiting her own chance to run and reunite with him. She pledges that if she finds him, she will convince him to sell the candlesticks and donate the proceeds to the Abbey.
Fully in sympathy with Elfgiva and Alard, Cadfael allows her to disappear from the Abbey with the candlesticks. Hamo is enraged, believing her to be the thief of the candlesticks, but Lady FitzHamon (after a word in her ear from Cadfael) realises that Elfgiva could expose her infidelity on the night of the theft, and quickly speaks up and says Elfgiva was attending her in her bedchamber that night.
A few days after a disgruntled Hamo departs, the almoner is ecstatic to find a basket dropped anonymously at the Abbey gate, filled with enough gold coins to provide for those most in need during the winter.
Eye Witness
The Abbey's lay steward, William Rede, makes his rounds of the Abbey's tenants, collecting the annual rents, but is hit over the head and dumped into the river on his way back to the Abbey. Although William is rescued before he can drown, his purse of rent money is stolen.
When he recovers consciousness, he says he cannot identify his assailant. However, Cadfael examines the place of the assault and remembers that a beggar, Rhodri, is allowed to sleep in a loft overlooking the spot. With the help of the local Sheriff's sergeant, Cadfael spreads the word that Rhodri witnessed the attack and will be questioned about the identity of the thief the following morning.
That evening, Cadfael, the sergeant, and William's young son are lying in wait in the loft, and ambush the thief and would-be murderer, who turns out to be William's innocent-looking apprentice clerk. Cadfael confides that the clerk, had he possessed Cadfael's local knowledge of Shrewsbury and its people, might have spared himself the trouble, since Rhodri was born blind!
Historical background
The first story takes place in 1120. The wreck of the White Ship, and the loss of Henry I of England's male heir, leaving his daughter Maud as his only surviving legitimate child, leads to the dynastic conflict, and the civil war that forms the background for the events of the main series.
Publication history
This collection was issued in three hardback editions. After the first edition in the UK, Mysterious Press issued an edition in the US in November 1989, ISBN0892963972 / 9780892963973. One year later, Ulverscroft Large Print issued large print in the UK, ISBN0708923259 / 9780708923252.[1]
Four paperback editions came out from September 1989 to April 2006. The most recent edition is from Headline Review, ISBN075533079X / 9780755330799 (UK edition). There are five audio editions, the first in November 1994. The most recent was issued on CD in December 2005 by Hodder & Stoughton ISBN1844561216 / 9781844561216 (UK edition). A Kindle edition was published in July 2013, ISBN B00DYV1XMQ.[1] A Kindle edition was released in July 2013, ISBN B00DYV1XMQ.[2]
Editions in French and Dutch are noted on Goodreads.[3]
French: Un bénédictin pas ordinaire (Frère Cadfael, #21), Published 2001 by 10/18, Mass Market Paperback, ISBN9782264033451
Dutch: Een bijzondere benedictijn, Paperback Published 1992 by De Boekerij, 123 pages, Pieter Janssens (Translator), ISBN9789022513606
Related Research Articles
Brother Cadfael is the main fictional character in a series of historical murder mysteries written between 1977 and 1994 by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the name Ellis Peters. The character of Cadfael himself is a Welsh Benedictine monk living at the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in Shrewsbury, western England, in the first half of the 12th century. The stories are set between about 1135 and about 1145, during "The Anarchy", the destructive contest for the crown of England between King Stephen and his cousin Empress Maud.
The Rose Rent is a medieval mystery novel set in the summer of 1142 by Ellis Peters. This is the thirteenth novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1986.
One Corpse Too Many is a medieval mystery novel set in the summer of 1138 by Ellis Peters. It is the second novel in the Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1979.
Dead Man's Ransom is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, first of four novels set in the disruptive year of 1141. It is the ninth in the Cadfael Chronicles, and was first published in 1984.
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Monk's-Hood is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in December 1138. It is the third novel in The Cadfael Chronicles. It was first published in 1980.
Brother Cadfael's Penance is a medieval mystery novel set in the autumn of 1145 by Ellis Peters. It is the last novel in the Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1994.
The Virgin in the Ice is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in late 1139. It is the sixth novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1982.
Saint Peter's Fair is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in July – September 1139. It is the fourth novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1981. The story occurs during The Anarchy, in the English town of Shrewsbury.
A Morbid Taste for Bones is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters set in May 1137. It is the first novel in The Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1977.
The Leper of Saint Giles is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in October 1139. It is the fifth novel in The Cadfael Chronicles and was first published in 1981.
The Devil's Novice is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in autumn 1140. It is the eighth novel in the Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1983.
The Holy Thief is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters set in 1144–1145. It is the 19th and penultimate volume of the Cadfael Chronicles, first published in 1992.
The Pilgrim of Hate is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in spring 1141. It is the tenth in the Cadfael Chronicles, and was first published in 1984.
The Confession of Brother Haluin is a medieval mystery novel set in the winter of 1142–1143 by Ellis Peters. It is the fifteenth novel in the Cadfael Chronicles, and was first published in 1988.
The Cadfael Chronicles is a series of historical murder mysteries written by the linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter (1913–1995) under the name "Ellis Peters". Set in the 12th century in England during the Anarchy, the novels focus on a Welsh Benedictine monk, Cadfael, who aids the law by investigating and solving murders.
The Raven in the Foregate is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, fourth of the novels set in 1141, a year of great political tumult in the Anarchy. It is 12th of The Cadfael Chronicles, and first published in 1986.
The Hermit of Eyton Forest is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in the autumn of 1142. It is the 14th novel in the Cadfael Chronicles and was first published in 1987.
The Heretic's Apprentice is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters set in June 1143. It is the 16th novel in the Cadfael Chronicles and was first published in 1989.
Cadfael is a British mystery television series, broadcast on ITV between 29 May 1994 and 28 December 1998, based on The Cadfael Chronicles novels written by Ellis Peters. Produced by Central, it starred Derek Jacobi as the medieval detective and title character, Brother Cadfael. The complete series was released on DVD on 24 August 2009. The series aired in the United States as part of the Mystery! series.
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