Misplaced Pages

#163836

122-421: In all, Pargeter wrote twenty Cadfael novels between 1977 and 1994, plus one book of short stories. Each draws on the storyline, characters and developments of the previous books in the series. Pargeter planned the 20th novel, Brother Cadfael's Penance , as the final book of the series, and it brings together the loose story ends into a tidy conclusion. Pargeter herself died shortly after its publication, following

244-524: A charter with the Shrewsbury Abbey in which she gave the house and lands where she lived with her late husband to the Abbey. She made one stipulation, that she receive a single white rose from the bush on the property, on the feast day of the translation of Saint Winifred . The title may also be a pun on a significant scene where the rose bush is damaged (i.e. 'rent'). Grief and love, ambition and greed are

366-519: A seal ring that does not belong to him, which no one in Coventry can identify. Cadfael must decide whether to continue searching for Olivier and Yves and break his monastic vows, or return with Hugh to Shrewsbury. He chooses his son. At Deerhurst Abbey, Cadfael meets a mason's assistant who identifies the seal as belonging to a captain of the garrison, Geoffrey FitzClare, loyal to the Empress. De Soulis showed

488-614: A cad, calling her a "shopkeeper's girl of no account." In most cases, it seems that Pargeter's characters deliberately curtail their romantic aspirations where class conflict would undermine them. There are some exceptions to this class consciousness; in The Virgin in the Ice a noblewoman marries her guardian's favourite squire, though he is the illegitimate son of a footsoldier and a Syrian widow, and in The Pilgrim of Hate an aristocratic youth marries

610-412: A chance encounter years earlier. Although Cadfael has lost track of the boy's mother, he's never forgotten his son, and once he finds out that Olivier has been spirited away and imprisoned, nothing—not even his vow of obedience to God and the abbot—can keep him from setting out to find the young man who has never known his true father. The quest becomes fraught with peril when Yves, Olivier's brother-in-law,

732-611: A fight with Brien de Soulis, a commander who may know where Olivier is held-but won't say. When Brien is found murdered, Yves is abducted by one who holds him responsible for the killing, and then Cadfael has two men to find. In the process, he delicately explores puzzles related to Brien's death and to shadowy deeds in the larger political scene. While Cadfael does his usual excellent sleuthing, Peters succeeds at an equally subtle game, demonstrating how personal devotion can turn to enmity-and how such enmity can be forestalled by justice and mercy. Mystery Guild selection. Library Journal sees

854-400: A knife, but de Soulis and Yves were open enemies. Repulsed by de Soulis's treachery, Philip releases Yves. Philip holds Olivier in the castle. Cadfael pleads for his release, offering himself in exchange and revealing that he is Olivier's father. Philip refuses. He and Olivier were the closest of comrades, but Olivier refused to follow his friend in defecting to Stephen. Philip changed sides in

976-464: A large collection of suitors, all of whom would gain greatly from a match with the widow. Peters ( The Raven in the Foregate ) is in fine form in this 13th book, with a leisurely mystery that once again creates a 12th century world that is both comfortable and strange, and a series of delightful, interesting characters. Kirkus Reviews finds the stories unflaggingly inventive. A tenuous peace reigns in

1098-471: A long illness. Many of the books have been adapted as radio episodes, in which Ray Smith , Glyn Houston and subsequently Philip Madoc played the titular character. An ITV television series was also developed from the books, which starred Derek Jacobi as Cadfael. Pargeter's Cadfael Chronicles have been credited for popularizing the genre of historical mystery novels. Unlike his fellow monks, who took their vows as youths (and some as children), Cadfael

1220-615: A manor were called up for service as men-at-arms when the need arose ( An Excellent Mystery ). The burghers of Shrewsbury are concerned to repair the damage caused to their city during fighting in which they had little interest (the question who would pay for it is an undercurrent in Saint Peter's Fair ). Thereafter, the traders and artisans of the city are well-content to live under the reasonably efficient and honest administration offered on behalf of King Stephen by Prestcote and later by Beringar. They might have been equally content to live under

1342-574: A medical examiner, detective, doctor and diplomat. His worldly knowledge, although useful, gets him into trouble with the more doctrinaire characters of the series, and the seeming contradiction between the secular and the spiritual worlds forms a central and continuing theme. The stories are set between 1137 and 1145, during the Anarchy , the destructive contest for the crown of England between King Stephen and Empress Matilda (also known as Empress Maud). Many historical events are described or referred to in

SECTION 10

#1732844811164

1464-456: A merger by marriage, or a marriage of love, are constantly rising as her clothier business remains prosperous. All the aspects of the clothier trade are described as the story unfolds, from sheep shearing to carding the wool, to dyeing, fulling and weaving it, including the sources of the dyes. This era is in the start of the formation of craft guilds in England ( Middle Ages Economics ). Much of

1586-453: A new mystery. Though living in a war-torn country, Cadfael is often seen sitting contented in his garden and reflecting on the harmonic turn of the year's seasons. An Excellent Mystery concludes: September was again September, mellowed and fruitful after the summer heat and drought. After every extreme the seasons righted themselves, and won back the half at least of what was lost. In general,

1708-399: A peaceful resolution ending in nought. The fighting ended mainly three years after the last book when Robert of Gloucester died, and Empress Maud returned to Normandy. A new era opened for England when King Stephen died in 1154, having signed a treaty with his successor, Henry FitzEmpress , eldest son of Maud and her second husband Geoffrey of Anjou . But for the writer's death, the format of

1830-499: A plan to get Philip out of the castle to save him from the Empress. Olivier bears no grudge for his imprisonment, living in the moment as his father does. He uses his uniform to get through the besieging forces, seeking a local man who can claim the unconscious Philip as the corpse of his nephew. The plan works, and Philip recovers in the Augustinian Cirencester Abbey . Brought by Olivier, Robert of Gloucester arrives at

1952-471: A professional relationship. In the books, despite the more than thirty years difference in their ages, Hugh and Cadfael are best friends who think alike in crucial ways, particularly as to what is justice. Hugh and Aline Siward are both introduced in One Corpse Too Many . Hugh appears in all of the books except A Morbid Taste for Bones and The Leper of St Giles whilst Aline does not appear in any of

2074-460: A projectile lobbed in by a siege machine. The castle was not too far from Gloucester, among the ongoing battles in the Thames Valley. For all that, for most of the series the war happens elsewhere. Hugh Beringar, though in effect assuming the functions of a military governor and civil administrator as well as head of the police, finds the time and energy to personally work with Cadfael on solving

2196-441: A real father was no benefit to his son; he had the father described to him by his mother. At their second meeting ( The Pilgrim of Hate ), Cadfael shares the knowledge with his friend Hugh, who has come to like this knight in service to the other side. Cadfael risked his settled life as a cloistered monk to save his son, a freighted choice, because he was a father before he was a brother, though he did not know it when he committed to

2318-440: A tough defence. Philip suffers serious wounds from a crate of metal pieces thrown by a siege engine into the courtyard. Cadfael ministers to him, while Philip gives his final orders before falling unconscious. His deputy shall surrender the castle and trade Philip to the Empress for the best terms he can get; he gives Cadfael the keys to Olivier's cell. As Cadfael releases Olivier, they face each other as father and son. They arrange

2440-454: A wax impression. Judith arrives to pick up the repaired girdle; Cadfael tells Judith about Eluric's desire for her. That night, Judith tells her servant Branwen that in the morning she will make the gift unconditional, which news Branwen shares in the kitchen. The next day, Judith fails to arrive at the abbey. The Sheriff, called back to town, Cadfael, and Abbot Radulfus believe that Judith was kidnapped, either to be forced into marriage or to void

2562-456: A white rose. He picked the bloom the day before the fire. He delivers the rose rent to her, thus securing the charter. As he steps away, Judith asks him to stay, rediscovering her reasons to live. The Library Journal review in 1987 said that "twelfth century England blossoms again as Cadfael in his understated way moves through the now familiar environs of Shrewsbury piecing together a devious plan that went awry." Publishers Weekly likes

SECTION 20

#1732844811164

2684-533: Is a conversus who entered the cloister in his forties after being a well-travelled crusader and sea captain. His experiences give him an array of talents and skills useful in monastic life and in his frequent role as investigator. He is a skilled observer of human nature and a talented herbalist, a skill he learned from Muslims in the Holy Land. He is inquisitive and energetic, and has an innate though obviously modern sense of justice and fair play. Abbots call upon him as

2806-470: 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. When a rebellion arises in the south, Cadfael leaves the Shrewsbury Abbey cloister to save two who are dear to him. One is the son he has not yet acknowledged, held prisoner by a disillusioned knight. The novel received strongly positive reviews when it

2928-424: Is already taken; Hugh will release him eventually. Cadfael asks Sister Magdalen to obtain two well worn left shoes from Judith's household. She sends them via a trusted messenger, Edwy Bellecote the young carpenter. Cadfael examines the shoe that belonged to Bertred. It does not match the mould of the print from Brother Eluric's murder. The other shoe matches. Realizing the trouble is not over, Cadfael walks out to find

3050-433: Is also a three-book "collection pack set" containing the first three books ("A Morbid Taste for Bones", "One Corpse Too Many" and "Monk's Hood" as separate books. An omnibus edition published as The Brother Cadfael Mysteries (published by Quality Paperback Book Club, New York, in 1995) contains The Leper of Saint Giles , Monk's Hood , The Sanctuary Sparrow and One Corpse Too Many . A stage adaptation of The Virgin in

3172-478: Is also available as e-books from multiple sources, as noted in the publication history for each novel. The first two novels in the series, along with Cadfael Country: Shropshire and the Welsh Borders , are available as one edition from Mysterious Press. Seven Cadfael Omnibus editions were published, with three novels in each volume. Most are available as paperbacks, and were later published in hardback. There

3294-410: Is altered, giving Cadfael more of a speaking role. In the episode Monk's Hood , Hugh has a somewhat larger role than in the book, following Cadfael to the court and suffering a stab wound when he walks in unexpectedly on Cadfael's accusation of the true criminal. In The Rose Rent, Cadfael gives the young wife a potion to ease her terminally ill husband's pain, warning her that too much will kill him; in

3416-512: Is always open as a place of retreat. Niall, a widower, keeps his young daughter with his sister in Pulley , three miles away. He returns from an overnight visit to find that the white rose bush has been hacked at its bole. At its base lies young Eluric, dead with a knife by his side. While investigating the murder scene with the Abbot and Brother Anselm, Brother Cadfael finds a distinctive footprint and makes

3538-419: Is being held. Late that night, he goes to Hynde's disused counting-house , in an outbuilding to store the wool clips. The disused room was not known to the searchers in the daytime. Bertred hears Judith Perle inside with her gaoler, Vivian Hynde. Though confined, Judith is in control of the situation. Vivian pleads with Judith to marry him, but she scornfully rejects him. Bertred's foothold gives way and he falls;

3660-492: Is betrayed by her own family. Miles hoped that she would enter the convent, leaving her shop and property to him. He destroyed the rose bush so the house would revert to her estate. Eluric stopped him in the first attack on the rose bush, when Miles stabbed him, leaving that boot print. Later, he followed Bertred to the Hynde property and killed him. The next night he followed Judith to Godric's Ford, where he tried to kill her, stopped by

3782-406: Is born. Cadfael rides alone through rough winter weather to Shrewsbury, feeling fully the importance of his life in the monastery. Arriving at Shrewsbury Abbey after Matins and Lauds , Cadfael lies prostrate on the floor of the chapel as a penitent. Entering before the rest of the monks, Abbot Radulfus informs him that news came before him. The rift between Philip and his father Robert of Gloucester

The Cadfael Chronicles - Misplaced Pages Continue

3904-611: Is called to the Fens to aid King Stephen in controlling the rampaging Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex ; on return the Sheriff doublechecks the story of a character who escaped from that area back to Shropshire. The quarrel between Owain Gwynedd and his impetuous younger brother Cadwaladr on account of Cadwaladr's murder of the prince of a southern principality in Wales, combined with the push to spread

4026-658: Is expected to give birth soon – a grandchild in addition to his son, and his godson Giles, son of Hugh and Aline Beringar ( One Corpse Too Many ). The novel takes place in November – December 1145 as the Anarchy is in a phase of stalemate. Neither side can gain enough ground to stop the other from fighting. On the one hand, Geoffrey of Anjou , husband of the Empress Maud brought his military forces to bear on Normandy being recognised by King Louis VII of France as Duke of Normandy in 1144, where many of Stephen's barons hold land. On

4148-412: Is fairly typical of most members of the aristocracy depicted in the series, who are described as fair-minded and just to their underlings, within the context of the hierarchical feudal social system and ideology. The books do present some manifestly unjust, tyrannical and or outright cruel members of the aristocracy, though they are definitely in the minority. Faced with such, peasants can and do resort to

4270-412: Is falsely accused of murder, and only Brother Cadfael can save him. Peters' graceful writing perfectly captures the spirit and ambience of early Britain. Intelligently written, the story is moving and suspenseful, with the intrepid and valiant Cadfael at his wise and gentle best. (Reviewed December 1, 1994) Emily Melton This final story is complete on its own, as to plot and setting in history. That is, it

4392-477: Is given a list of the thirty men and their captors, but one man among Faringdon's garrison is unaccounted for: Olivier de Bretagne. In November 1145, Robert sends a copy of the list to Hugh Beringar, Sheriff of Shrewsbury , along with news that the two factions will meet for a peace conference at Coventry . Earl Robert asks Hugh to attend. Not seeing Olivier's name among the men being offered for ransom, Hugh tells Cadfael, who tells Abbot Radulfus that he feels it

4514-406: Is his duty to rescue his son Olivier, at the risk of breaking his vows. Radulfus allows him to accompany Hugh to Coventry. Beyond that, Cadfael is on his own. In Lichfield's chapel, Cadfael recognises Yves Hugonin, Olivier's brother-in-law. Riding to Coventry, barely have they entered the town when Yves draws his sword and flies in rage at Brien de Soulis, the turncoat castellan of Faringdon. Order

4636-413: Is in close proximity to the border of Wales, which has its own troubles and wars – distinct from, though often interconnected with, those of England ( Dead Man's Ransom ). In the last novel, Brother Cadfael's Penance , Cadfael and Sheriff Hugh Beringar start out at a peace conference in Coventry, but Cadfael ends up in the midst of a castle under siege, with castellan Philip FitzRobert seriously wounded by

4758-529: Is mended. Philip in his sick bed has taken the Cross . He will join the next Crusade , having despaired of princes in England. Radulfus declares "it is enough!" and invites Cadfael to take his place among his brothers at Prime . These reviews were written at the time of publication, before it was known to be the end of the series. Kirkus Reviews finds this book to be one of the most moving adventures in this series: The ruinous civil war between King Stephen and

4880-436: Is no exception. Publisher: Morrow. The most recent audio book edition for libraries from Blackstone Audio carries this review: Peters's complex character Brother Cadfael, who applies his forensic skills in an authentic Middle Ages setting, surrounded by other monks, chivalrous knights and flirtatious ladies, has won the author critical acclaim and comparisons with Ngaio Marsh and P.D. James. (The Brother Cadfael novels inspired

5002-588: Is not considered officially over, however, until 1154, when King Stephen dies and Maud's son, Henry , ascends the throne according to the treaty made between Stephen and Henry the year before. Stephen's eldest son Eustace died in 1153 a month after the encounter at Wallingford, and his son William was settled in Normandy, not considered for succession after his father. The places of the novel are real, including Coventry , Lichfield , Cricklade , Faringdon Castle , La Musarderie near Greenhamsted (now Miserden ),

The Cadfael Chronicles - Misplaced Pages Continue

5124-652: Is not necessary to read all the prior novels to fully grasp this one. It does include many characters introduced in earlier novels, and includes all the major historical persons in speaking roles at the meeting in Coventry, speaking their own views. Brother Cadfael has the same assistant in the herbarium, Brother Winfrid, for three years ( The Hermit of Eyton Forest ). Hugh Beringar is still his close friend, and Sheriff of Shropshire, selected by King Stephen, making friends with major barons (Robert of Leicester, character in The Holy Thief ) who appear again in this story. Many of

5246-437: Is restored by Bishop Roger de Clinton . Yves is called to a private audience with the Empress Maud. She officially rebukes him for disturbing the peace, yet hints that she would be delighted if de Soulis were killed. The peace talks come to nothing. Before the talks end, Yves asks about Olivier's whereabouts. De Soulis claims to know nothing. In the winter darkness, as the two sides exit the chapel after Compline , Yves trips over

5368-444: Is the godfather of Hugh's son, and he confides several of his deepest secrets only to Hugh. These are numbered in order of the time in which the novel was set and the order of publication. Each book has been published in hardback and paperback, and in a number of languages. The first publication in the UK, by Macmillan (or Headline Book Publishing, beginning with The Hermit of Eyton Forest ),

5490-451: Is the murderer. Lovers in the Cadfael books face a whole series of obstacles, which sometimes seem insurmountable (in one book, it seems they are relatives too close to marry) but are invariably overcome. However, the problem is almost never a significant difference in social status between the two. In this series, aristocratic boys usually fall in love with aristocratic girls, artisans fall for

5612-694: Is the starting point for one character in The Pilgrim of Hate . The next turning of Henry of Blois's coat and the rising fortunes of King Stephen involve the Abbot and send three new people into the Foregate and the Abbey in The Raven in the Foregate . One main character in The Hermit of Eyton Forest arrives in Shropshire while the Empress is besieged in Oxford Castle. In The Potter's Field Hugh Beringar's force

5734-411: Is the target of several suitors, among them wealthy fleece-processor Godrey Fuller and Vivian Hynde, charming wastrel son of the shire's biggest sheep-rancher. But Cadfael has scarcely begun probing Eluric's death when Judith herself suddenly disappears. The whole town and most of Sheriff Hugh Beringar's garrison turn out to look for her, none more concerned than Naill, the bronzesmith tenant of her gift to

5856-522: Is the year of first publication. A Rare Benedictine is in the order of publication, but not in the order of setting. That book includes three short stories describing how Cadfael, man-at-arms in the Crusades and Normandy, joined a Benedictine monastery. The numbering of the Brother Cadfael Chronicles as published in paperback by Mysterious Press does not include A Rare Benedictine (instead,

5978-496: Is there, her nephew but now her enemy. She alarms her advisers when she announces her intention to hang Philip. This brutality would drive a wedge between her and her brother Robert, absent from Gloucester for this discussion, and increase the fighting in this war-torn country. The Empress orders her entire army to Philip's castle. The night before the attack, Yves enters the castle to warn Philip of her intention via Cadfael, and succeeds in this undercover quest. Philip's garrison puts up

6100-411: Is tormented by his desire for the widow Perle. The Abbot asks Niall the bronzesmith, who rents the property, to deliver the rose rent. Judith asks Niall to make a new buckle for a girdle . She has several active suitors but is not interested in remarrying, still grieving her losses. She considers taking the veil at Godric's Ford with Sister Magdalen. Sister Magdalen advises her to wait, saying their door

6222-439: The crenels or behind arrowslits . Both attacking and defending archers used longbows , self bows or crossbows . Siege warfare in this era favoured the defenders, unless the besiegers were of huge force or could endure long enough to starve the defenders to submission with no other forces coming to the aid of the defenders. Siege engines were used by the defenders of a well-armed castle, as well. The Fall of Edessa in

SECTION 50

#1732844811164

6344-401: The "safety-valve" built within the feudal system itself, by escaping from their lord to a chartered borough where after a stay of one year and one day they become free. On several occasions, Cadfael facilitates and helps such escapes. Also, cruel and unjust landowners may end up as the victims of the murder which Cadfael needs to solve, in which case the reader is curious to know the solution of

6466-489: The Crusades didn't lead to bigotry. Cadfael remembers Mariam, a Muslim woman, as "well worth the loving," and had many other profitable friendships with Arabs and Muslims. His companion from The Leper of Saint Giles , who spent many years as a captive of the Fatimid Egyptians, agrees, saying he always found his hosts "chivalrous and courteous," who gave him medical help and supported him in his convalescence. Thirteen of

6588-412: The Empress Maud for 12th-century England brings added heartache to Brother Cadfael ( The Holy Thief , 1993, etc.) when he learns that his unacknowledged son, Olivier de Bretagne, has become a casualty. . . . Cadfael will have little trouble proving Yves's innocence, or eliciting a confession from the real assassin, but the abiding interest here is in the increasingly revelatory series of meetings he has with

6710-417: The Empress Maud, provided only that her local representatives offer them the same possibility of developing undisturbed their trade and commerce. This cannot be known, as Maud never held Shropshire, nor protected their farms, trade and commerce. The series ends with the battles ongoing, though it is a stalemate, and the earls and barons began to make their own peace treaties. There was an effort to bring about

6832-620: The Holy Land the previous December in 1144, an event which led to the declaration of the Second Crusade , is much in the air, as bishops across Europe fear for the safety of Jerusalem. Men of England feel this pull to the East, seeking a worthier cause than this tiresome fight in their own nation. The war over the English crown comes to an effective close three years later, in 1148, when Maud retreats to Normandy after Robert of Gloucester's death. The war

6954-742: The Ice starred Gareth Thomas as Cadfael. BBC Radio 4 produced adaptations of several novels in the Cadfael Chronicles with three different actors voicing Cadfael. Starring Ray Smith as Cadfael: Starring Glyn Houston as Cadfael: Written and produced by Bert Coules and starring Philip Madoc as Cadfael: Produced in Britain by Central for ITV , 75 minutes per episode. Filmed on location in Hungary and starring Sir Derek Jacobi . All thirteen episodes have been released on DVD. Brother Cadfael%27s Penance Brother Cadfael's Penance

7076-589: The King is away from Shropshire, at Wareham and Cirencester , giving heart to his supporters. In the shire, people focus in June on doing the tasks of agriculture and sheep shearing, delayed by the late frost (longer spell of cold weather in the spring). The main characters of the plot reveal the life of the skilled craftspeople and merchants in the commonalty of the era. The widow is wealthy because she inherited her father's business, there being no sons. She learned every aspect of

7198-496: The PBS television series Cadfael) Susan Gillmor notes that "English novelist Edith Pargeter, writing under her pseudonym of Ellis Peters, does not disappoint either in her skillful weaving of an intricate whodunit, ornamented with abundant historical detail, including the portrayal of an historically accurate late thaw and delayed planting that occurred in England in 1142, and how that affected Brother Cadfael's herbarium." The description of

7320-657: The Roman rite into Wales, are parts of the story told in The Summer of the Danes . In novels where the plot does not hinge on a historical event or have historical characters walking through the story the focus is on one or two aspects of life in medieval England. Examples include the importance of pilgrimage in The Heretic's Apprentice , the wool and clothmaking trades in The Rose Rent ,

7442-481: The TV version of Virgin in the Ice , when Cadfael is treating a gravely wounded brother, the best remedy another brother can suggest is bleeding, which Cadfael scorns.) Several of the books feature returning crusaders who have central roles in the plot, while in others there are characters who depart England on the way eastwards. All of these crusading characters are depicted as sterling, model knights, brave and chivalrous, and

SECTION 60

#1732844811164

7564-600: The US edition in October 2002 ( ISBN   1-57270-282-6 / 9781572702820, USA edition, published by The Audio Partners). There is now a Kindle edition, ISBN B00DYV2NN4. Editions in other languages have been published. The Rose Rent 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. It

7686-524: The abbey to reconcile with his son. Before leaving La Musarderie, Cadfael learns the killer of de Soulis. Lady Jovetta, lady-in-waiting to the Empress, was Geoffrey FitzClare's mother; she wears as a ring the same design as Geoffrey's seal. Brien de Soulis made what he thought to be an assignation with her niece. He allowed Jovetta to approach him in the mistaken belief that she was the niece. Cadfael keeps her secret. Olivier and Cadfael ride to Gloucester, where they part. Cadfael asks for word when his grandson

7808-694: The auspices of three major bishops at Coventry (Roger de Clinton, character in The Heretic's Apprentice , Henry of Winchester brother to the King and character in The Pilgrim of Hate , and Nigel of Ely), in another unsuccessful effort to move toward resolution and acceptance that just one can hold the crown of England at a time. Cadfael, as observer to this chaos among the aristocracy of his adopted home of England, thinks how differently sons are viewed in his birthplace in Wales. In both places, there are children born outside marriage : in England, those sons in particular can be educated, supported, have lands and power, but not succeed as king; in Wales, if acknowledged by

7930-466: The book. The most significant change is that Miles ( Crispin Bonham-Carter ) is motivated not by greed, but by secret love for his cousin, and first attacks the rose bush to convince her to let go of her devotion to her deceased husband. Another change of note is that Cadfael gives the young wife a potion to ease her terminally ill husband's pain, warning her that too much will kill him; in the next scene,

8052-405: The books were adapted for television. They starred Derek Jacobi . The sequence of the television episodes differs from the sequence of the novels. Within the individual screenplays, with one major exception, most are reasonably faithful to the books, being modified primarily to minimise the size of the speaking cast, the running time of the script, or the need for extravagant special effects. Only in

8174-405: The books, Cadfael speaks Welsh and translates for several non-English-speaking Welshmen. One episode, The Pilgrim of Hate , bears almost no resemblance to the eponymous book save the presence of a few characters sharing the names (but not the actions) of the characters in the book. In The Holy Thief , one of the characters is turned into a villain. In A Morbid Taste For Bones the climax sequence

8296-454: The books. For example, the translation of Saint Winifred to Shrewsbury Abbey is fictionalised in the first chronicle, A Morbid Taste for Bones , and One Corpse Too Many is inspired by the siege of Shrewsbury Castle by Stephen in 1138. The burning of Worcester puts the characters on the run into the countryside around the town in The Virgin in the Ice . The pillage of Winchester and

8418-404: The brothers introduced throughout the series appear and react to Cadfael's trip out of their cloister, including Prior Robert, his shadow Jerome, the precentor Anselm, among others. The sister and brother rescued in The Virgin in the Ice , Ermina and Yves Hugonin, have grown in the past six years. Ermina married Olivier de Bretagne, a squire in service to their uncle Laurence d’Angers. When Yves

8540-615: The burning of the abbey there sends the monks who are at the centre of the story to Shrewsbury Abbey in An Excellent Mystery . In Dead Man's Ransom the fictional characters are involved with the small group of Welshmen who take part in the Battle of Lincoln, drawing the historical prince of Gwynedd, Owain, into the plot. Empress Matilda's brief stay in London, when she tried to gain approval for her coronation while she held Stephen in prison,

8662-497: The bush ablaze. The attacker dropped a burning torch over the wall onto the oil-covered bush. The bush is destroyed. Early the day of Saint Winifred's translation, Hugh asks Judith's cousin Miles Coliar when he gave his boots to Bertred. Miles' mother says it was the day Eluric was found dead. Miles had killed Eluric and then given his boots to Bertred. Miles confesses all and he is taken away by Hugh's men to await his trial. Judith

8784-400: The business of making cloth from wool, from her father. The men who have an eye on her and her successful operation are all in the same stratum of society: her foreman, her cousin, a man with large flocks of sheep, a prosperous dyer and fuller, and a bronze smith. Because her father has died, she has an unusual amount of freedom to choose in marriage. But the pressures on her from those seeking

8906-542: The characters of this story, as well as Peters's writing: In this 13th mystery in the Brother Cadfel series, a beautiful widow rents part of her estate to the brothers of Shrewsbury Abbey for the modest sum of one rose from a certain bush, per year, and all are happy with this arrangement for three years. But then Brother Eluric, the young monk whose job it is to deliver the rose on the day of St. Winifred's translation (the pre-arranged rent-paying day) asks to be excused from

9028-489: The charter by her absence on rent day. The search begins. Cadfael finds the once firmly-attached bronze tag from the end of Judith's girdle, suggesting a struggle. It is found under the bridge where a boat had been hauled up for convenient use, stolen by the kidnapper. Cadfael searches the River Severn with Madog, finding the stolen boat discarded downstream. Bertred, a foreman in her business, believes he knows where Judith

9150-437: The church and caretaker of the rosebush she cherishes. There will be another murder before Judith reappears, and a desperate attempt on her life, foiled by Naill, before Cadfael's inspired hunch brings forth unassailable evidence that pinpoints the murderer. The author's prolific but unflaggingly inventive Cadfael stories may not be mead for everyone, but they continue to educate, absorb and enchant her legion of fans. The Rose Rent

9272-491: The clothier crafts grew in the countryside, outside London, where innovations in process took hold more quickly. Five hardback editions were issued, beginning in October 1986 by Macmillan. The latest edition was printed in June 2000 by Chivers Large Print. Eight paperback editions were published beginning in December 1987 by Sphere. The latest edition was published in June 2000 by Chivers. Nine audio books have been released,

9394-440: The clothier trade is also accurate, from "carding and teasing to the loom", "even the dyestuffs came seasonally, and last summer's crop of woad for the blues was generally used up by April or May.” She finds that "Brother Cadfael's continued popularity is the result of the seamless blending of creative mystery plots with historical authenticity, as The Rose Rent beautifully illustrates. (1986, 190 pages)" A widow has entered into

9516-415: The country. In One Corpse Too Many , the second book in the series, Shrewsbury itself is a battlefield, and the wholesale execution of the defeated garrison by order of King Stephen forms the gruesome background to the book's murder mystery. Further on, however, Shrewsbury is an island of calm in the raging storm. Refugees as well as spies and conspirators constantly come in, considerably impacting life in

9638-404: The cover refers to it as "The Advent Of Brother Cadfael"); the total of the numbered chronicles (by Mysterious Press) is therefore 20 (per the covers of this set). All of the novels are also available as audiobooks. Narrators include Vanessa Benjamin ( The Devil's Novice from Blackstone Audio ), Philip Madoc , Derek Jacobi , Roe Kendall, Stephen Thorne, Patrick Tull and Johanna Ward. The series

9760-534: The crusading enterprise itself is invariably regarded by all characters as a most noble and worthy cause. There is occasional oblique mention of acts of cruelty committed in the course of the Crusades. In conversation with a fellow crusader, Cadfael remarks, "After the killing that was done in Jerusalem, of so many who held by the Prophet, I say they deserved better luck against us than they had." In adding that his companion

9882-604: The daughter of a tradesman. A passage in The Confession of Brother Haluin introduces a nobleman whom the reader (and Cadfael) had not met before: Here he came, Audemar de Clary, on a tall chestnut horse, a big man in dark, plain, workmanlike riding clothes, without ornament, and needing none to mark him as having authority here. (...) Not a man to be crossed lightly, but no one feared him. They approached him cheerfully and spoke with him boldly. His anger, when justified, might be withering, even perilous – but it would be just. This

10004-476: The daughters of artisans, and a lowly wandering juggler is charmed beyond measure by a lowly kitchen maid. In The Hermit of Eyton Forest a prosperous forester's daughter falls in love with a runaway villein , a skilled leatherworker who will work his year and a day to establish himself in his trade in Shropshire before he marries her. In St. Peter's Fair , a tradesman's daughter settles for another tradesman's son after her aristocratic first choice turns out to be

10126-531: The dead body of de Soulis on the chapel steps. Philip FitzRobert accuses Yves of murder. Defying a promise of safe conduct to all who came with the Empress, twelve men seize Yves near Gloucester, which is duly reported to the Bishop. The Bishop, Cadfael and Hugh examine de Soulis's body and belongings, discovering that de Soulis was stabbed from the front with a dagger. His killer was someone he knew and trusted, and allowed to approach him. In de Soulis's bag, Cadfael finds

10248-399: The father, they have full rights. Cadfael speculates on the possibly different path for England if the first son of old King Henry, the illegitimate Robert of Gloucester, had been recognised and accepted. This difference between Wales and England in the 12th century figures in many of the twenty novels. The threads of Cadfael's life are brought to a place of satisfaction and of hope, as Ermina

10370-733: The first on audio cassette by Blackstone Audio Books in December 1990. The most recent issue was by the same publisher in February 2012 on CD. The novel has been published in several other languages, per Goodreads.com. The Rose Rent was adapted into a television program as part of the Brother Cadfael series by Carlton Media and Central for ITV , in Season 3, Episode 1. It filmed on location in Hungary and starred Sir Derek Jacobi as Cadfael, Kitty Aldridge as Judith, and Tom Mannion as Niall Bronzesmith. The adaptation makes some changes from

10492-462: The gentle monk leaving his cloister on a journey that will prove both dangerous and wrenching. In twelfth-century Britain, a rebellion has arisen, with factional fighting between the knights supporting Empress Maud and those swearing allegiance to her cousin Stephen. Philip FitzRobert, a traitor to the empress, has taken 30 hostages, among them a young man named Olivier de Bretagne, who is Cadfael's son from

10614-497: The hope of breaking the stalemate between the two sides, which Olivier saw as simple treason. Philip visits Olivier in his cell, telling him of Cadfael's offer. Olivier is dumbfounded, not understanding why Cadfael would do this for him. Philip shares that Cadfael is Olivier's father. Olivier is stunned, then enraged, feeling that Cadfael has cheated him. In Gloucester , Yves begs the Empress to lay siege to La Musarderie to rescue Olivier. She agrees only after Yves tells her that Philip

10736-440: The implications of the failed peace talks. Such sieges of castles were the common form of warfare in the Anarchy , "war dominated by sieges" per Sarah Speight . Weapons of the time were few, brutal and less precise compared to those of modern times. Man to man combat included swords and daggers. For both attack and defence, siege warfare employed siege engines to project rocks or incendiaries , while defending archers aimed from

10858-550: The increasing popularity of the series of novels: Peters's last Brother Cadfael mystery, The Holy Thief (Mysterious Pr., 1993), sold nearly a third more than its predecessor, so Peters is clearly on a roll. In his 20th outing, Brother Cadfael decides to break his monastic vows to save his long-lost son. Booklist from the American Library Association finds the story suspenseful and Cadfael valiant: Peters' twentieth tale in her popular Brother Cadfael series has

10980-506: The knife away, getting a gash on his left arm. The attacker flees. Niall and Judith continue to Godric's Ford. Judith asks Sister Magdalen for her help. Sister Magdalen stays close to Judith, keeping her reputation safe in Shrewsbury. Judith tells her tale to Hugh, including her promise to keep her captor's name secret. The captor was with her when they heard Bertred fall, so he did not kill Bertred. Hugh acquiesces, telling her that Vivian Hynde

11102-408: The late summer of 1145, the younger son of Robert of Gloucester , Philip FitzRobert, switches sides, yielding his castle at Cricklade to King Stephen. Philip's castellan at Faringdon , Brien de Soulis, quickly follows his example, surrendering his castle to Stephen's besieging forces. Not all the garrison of Faringdon agree to change sides, and thirty men are taken hostage. Robert, Earl of Leicester

11224-529: The latest in January 2000 from Warner. Seven audio book editions are listed. The first listed is ISBN   0-7540-5364-4 / 978-0-7540-5364-4, UK edition, published by Chivers Audio Books. The most recent edition was published in December 2006 on CD, with Sir Derek Jacobi as the narrator ( ISBN   1-84456-106-2 / 9781844561063, UK edition, published by Hodder & Stoughton) and originally issued on audio cassette in September 1996. Stephen Thorne narrated

11346-469: The lovers to a happy union. In this latter, he seems the literary descendant of Shakespeare 's Friar Laurence who made great (though ultimately futile) efforts to help Romeo and Juliet . Cadfael is far more successful, with virtually all pairs of lovers in the series getting off to happy consummations, except when one of them turns out to be the wanted murderer. In one case, indeed, the lovers get their happy ending with Cadfael's help, even though one of them

11468-602: The medieval monk's new adventure with family ties, moving from issues intensely public to problems determinedly private. Olivier de Bretagne, who (unknown to himself) is Brother Cadfael's son, has been taken prisoner during England's dynastic war between two grandchildren of William the Conqueror. Cadfael is determined to find Olivier, although to do so he must leave the monastery without his abbot's leave or... blessing. The search begins badly when, at an unsuccessful peace conference, Yves Hugonin, Olivier's hot-headed brother-in-law, picks

11590-531: The meeting called by Bishop Roger de Clinton, most of the people active on each side of this dispute have speaking lines at the table, or later when advising Empress Maud in Gloucester. Many of the characters in the novel are real historical people, as the backdrop for the personal journey of Brother Cadfael. This story includes a medieval siege of a castle , lasting over two days, with the largest military force Empress Maud could muster, initially gathered to discuss

11712-460: The men a document with this seal along with that of the other five captains, agreeing to surrender to the King. This was a ruse, as de Soulis murdered FitzClare, reporting it as an accidental death. Knowing this, Cadfael finds Philip FitzRobert at his castle of La Musarderie in Greenhamsted . He convinces him that Yves is innocent: de Soulis allowed his killer to approach close enough to stab him with

11834-401: The monastery, integral in the plots not dependent on a historical event. The real people portrayed in the series include: A distinctive feature of the series is a pair of star-crossed lovers in nearly every book, who invariably get the full sympathy of Brother Cadfael (and the reader). Typically, Cadfael bends his full energy and ingenuity to the double task of solving the mystery and bringing

11956-472: The monastery. Abbot Radulfus, head of the Abbey since 1138 (the end of Monk's Hood ), met Olivier in The Pilgrim of Hate , learning in this story that Cadfael is his father. Radulfus sees the sin in Cadfael's earlier time with Mariam, which Cadfael sees otherwise. Radulfus holds the power of forgiveness, to decide the time of penance for this transgression of vows, to say "it is enough". King Stephen and his cousin Empress Maud and their supporters meet under

12078-422: The mystery, but is not particularly eager to see the perpetrator punished. The civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud is a constant background to the series, called the Anarchy by many. Despite the lack of newspapers and other mass news media, the inhabitants of Shrewsbury are kept well informed of the latest developments as the town is a major centre of commerce, constantly getting visitors from all over

12200-438: The next scene, the man is dead, implying a mercy killing. In the book, there is no such implication; the man dies of his illness without any hint that Cadfael or the widow acted to hasten his end. The character of Hugh Beringar is markedly different in the television series, particularly in his relationship with Cadfael. In the series, Hugh is the sheriff who sometimes helps, and sometimes hinders Cadfael - friendly but maintaining

12322-501: The north of England in spring of 1142, and Brother Cadfael—herbalist-sage-sleuth of Shrewsbury's Benedictine monastery ( The Devil's Novice , etc.)--is faced with the murder of young, intense Brother Elude, found stabbed to death near a half-destroyed rosebush in the garden of a house donated to the abbey by Judith Perle. Judith, now 25, widowed three years before, runs the family's prosperous clothing business, with help from her cousin Miles, and

12444-416: The ongoing strife growing clear. The Crusades form an important part of the backdrop to the books. There are Cadfael's own memories of his crusading life, which occur in virtually every one of the books, and the circumstances of Olivier's early life. In addition, most of Cadfael's knowledge of herbs and medicine was learned in the East, from more sophisticated sources than he would have found in England. (In

12566-619: The other, King Stephen has recently gained valuable allies in England. After much waffling between the two sides, the powerful Earl of Chester has joined Stephen in a meeting at Stamford . In the Thames Valley , two of the Empress's castellans have defected to Stephen, bringing their castles and garrisons in Faringdon and Cricklade with them, most notably the younger son of Robert of Gloucester , Philip FitzRobert. Philip's story has an interesting parallel with that of William de Dovre. At

12688-403: The pair's presence the night before. Niall visits his daughter again. On his return in the moonless night, he sees a man on a horse with a woman riding pillion and recognises Judith Perle. He follows them for an hour when Judith parts from the man on horseback, walking alone. Once Judith is alone, Niall hears her scream as someone attacks her with a knife. He struggles with her attacker and knocks

12810-427: The rent due to the widow Judith Perle. Three years earlier, she lost both her husband and her unborn child within three weeks. She gave their home in the Foregate to the Abbey, half her patrimony, in a charter . The Abbey pays a single white rose from the garden, delivered to her in person, as rent. Brother Eluric delivers the rose. Eight days before the feast, he asks Abbot Radulfus to be released from this duty, as he

12932-533: The rules of inheritance under Welsh law in Monk's Hood , and specific merchant trades in Saint Peter's Fair and The Sanctuary Sparrow . The annual fair raised funds for the Abbey, authorised by Earl Roger or King Henry I . The use of a house of worship for sanctuary from secular law is also a feature of The Sanctuary Sparrow . Cadfael is an herbalist, whose skills and potions bring him into contact with people outside

13054-497: The ruthlessly political yet deeply human turncoat Philip FitzRobert over the fates of Yves, Olivier, and FitzRobert himself. Persevere past the drumbeat of canned history in the opening chapter and you'll find the pace quickening to unfold one of Cadfael's most moving adventures, one that touches his own generous heart most closely. Publishers Weekly has high praise for the plot and depiction of strong emotions between friends: In Brother Cadfael's 20th chronicle, Peters deftly binds

13176-400: The series – chronologically consecutive – might have left room for additional volumes before the end of Stephen's reign was reached. Cadfael would have been in his 70s, and based on actual history, Prior Robert Pennant would have become the Abbot in place of Radulfus, so the last book was perhaps a satisfying close, with Cadfael's personal life expanding, his son safe, and the lack of interest in

13298-462: The shallows, and then kicks him out into the current of the river. Cadfael, working near the river the next morning, finds the dead body of Bertred. After examining the body, Cadfael sees that Bertred's boot is a match for the wax impression. He seems to be the murderer of Eluric. The watchman at Hynde's tells Hugh and Cadfael that Bertred was at the storehouse the night before, where they find the broken window sill. They search within but find no trace of

13420-645: The sounds alert those within and the watchdog. Bertred runs toward the river to escape. The watchman and his dog pursue. The watchman gives him a glancing blow to the head but Bertred dives into the water, hits rocks on the shelving bank and lies senseless. The watchman assumes the interloper is swimming across the river. In the counting-house, Judith convinces Vivian to take her to Sister Magdalen, where she will say she has been in retreat. She will not reveal Vivian's role. She wants her good reputation intact. He agrees; soon they slip out to stay in his mother's house until they can head for Godric's Ford. Someone sees Bertred in

13542-413: The subsequent television episodes. She appears in several of the books, where she plays an important role in sheltering women ( Saint Peter's Fair , An Excellent Mystery, One Corpse Too Many , The Sanctuary Sparrow ), and even when she does not appear in the books, Hugh speaks of her constantly and fondly. In the books, Hugh marries Aline and they have a son, Giles, named for Aline's dead brother. Cadfael

13664-451: The task (he finds he's starting to fall in love with the widow); he is later found murdered near the recently ruined rose rent bush. The abbey is thrown into a panic; not only has an innocent young monk been killed, but with no rose to pay the rent, the contract is cancelled and the widow's wealth multiplies remarkably. Soon, the widow herself disappears, and Brother Cadfel begins his search for her and for Eluric's murderer, casting his eye over

13786-430: The themes of the novel. The story is set in the real town of Shrewsbury, in the period of the Anarchy , when King Stephen is on the rise after a very rough year in 1141. During the King's illness early in the year 1142, Empress Maud moved into Oxford, while her staunchest supporter, Robert of Gloucester went over to Normandy for meetings with her husband Geoffrey of Anjou , to give her more help. Military action by

13908-426: The town and setting up the plot for many of the books. Characters occasionally set out to the battlefields, either to take direct part in the fighting or (as in the case of Cadfael himself) to offer some needed aid or rescue. Stories of woe and disaster come in from other locations, such as Worcester ( The Virgin in the Ice ), Lincoln ( Dead Man's Ransom ) or Winchester ( An Excellent Mystery ). Moreover, Shrewsbury

14030-470: The unexpected Niall. Miles is the only person with a motive to kill Judith, as he would inherit her business and property. Likely Miles never intended the first murder, but his ambition and greed led him down a path to murder. Judith has the full responsibility of the clothier business in her hands again, and will remake the charter with the Abbey, making a full gift of that house. That afternoon, Niall and his young daughter Rosalba arrive at Judith's house with

14152-990: The village of Winstone, Bagendon , Cowley , and the Deerhurst Abbey , the Augustinian Cirencester Abbey , Evesham Abbey , Leominster Priory and the home of Brother Cadfael, the Shrewsbury Abbey . Four hardback editions in English were published, from May 1994 to May 1995. The first edition in May 1994 was published by Headline Book Publishing ( ISBN   0-7472-1184-1 / 9781551440590, UK edition), followed by The Mysterious Press in December 1994 ( ISBN   0-89296-599-1 / 978-0-89296-599-1, USA edition). Fourteen paperback editions were listed, first published in 1994 ( ISBN   1-55144-078-4 / 9781551440781, USA edition, published by Warner Futura), March 1995 ( ISBN   0-7472-4698-X / 978-0-7472-4698-5, UK edition, published by Headline Book Publishing), and

14274-439: The war is seen as mainly the concern of the nobility. Some of its members take up a staunch and unwavering loyalty to one side or the other, and opposing partisans treat each other with utmost respect, as prescribed by the code of chivalry . Others are utterly opportunistic and seek only to make use of the situation for personal profit and advancement, and are regarded with contempt by the more principled characters (and seemingly by

14396-465: The writer as well). The lower classes, burghers and peasants, in general have little interest in who would win the war as long as the death and destruction end, either by one of the contenders winning or by their reaching some kind of compromise (the latter is what the Church is shown as trying to achieve, with little success). In the manorial system they have no share in political power; however, workers on

14518-430: Was adapted for television in 1997 by Carlton and Central for ITV . A young monk is murdered next to a white rose bush at a home bequeathed to the Abbey by a young widow. Brother Cadfael finds the murderer as the widow makes peace with her loss. Shrewsbury Abbey anticipates two events coming on 22 June in 1142: honouring the day five years earlier when Saint Winifred's reliquary was placed on its altar, and paying

14640-559: Was never accused of brutality, he implicitly passes judgment on the Crusades as a whole ( The Leper of Saint Giles ). While on various occasions Cadfael makes remarks showing him not pleased with such brutalities, the references are rarely specific. Cadfael (as all other characters) never casts any doubt on the morality of carving out a Christian kingdom in the Muslim East and maintaining it by force; indeed, it would have been anachronistic to have him express such doubts. Cadfael's experience of

14762-600: Was old enough to serve as squire, he stayed with his brother-in-law, Olivier for his training, until just before the incident at Faringdon in the summer. Brother Cadfael realised that Olivier was his unknown son from his last time with Mariam in Antioch, some 30 years ago when he left the Holy Land after the First Crusade, first seen at the Brompton Priory as he rescued the brother and sister and told his own story. Cadfael thought

14884-502: Was published, and some noted the increasing sales of books in the series. It was "moving and suspenseful", "one of Cadfael's most moving adventures". After eight years, The Anarchy moves into stalemate , as fighting continues in the Thames valley . In the Holy Land, Edessa has fallen, giving rise to a strong desire among bishops in England to end the civil war and redirect fighting men towards another Crusade to keep Jerusalem safe. In

#163836