Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Morrow
Description
On an expedition to acquire a saint's remains, Brother Cadfael instead finds intrigue and murder It is 1137, and the ambitious head of Shrewsbury Abbey wishes to acquire the remains of Saint Winifred for the glory of his Benedictine order. Brother Cadfael is part of the expedition sent to the saint's final resting place in Wales, where he finds the villagers divided over the Benedictines' quest. When the leading opponent to moving the grave is shot dead with a mysterious arrow, some believe Winifred herself delivered the blow. Brother Cadfael knows that an earthly hand did the killing. But he doesn't know that his plan to root out a murderer may dig up a case of love and justice, where the waves of sin may be scandal-or his own ruin.
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
At last I've started the Brother Cadfael mysteries, after several friends recommended the books for quite some time. I enjoyed this story and I'll certainly be looking for the rest of the series.
Brother Cadfael is an old Welsh adventurer, who has joined the Benedictine order as a retirement rather
In this first story, Brother Cadfael joins a party from his monastery that is going in search of a saint's relics to boost its monastery's importance among the religious orders. Everyone around this time was relic-crazy, with bones and body parts of saints performing great miracles (or so everyone said) for the faithful. Prior Robert, who is leading their group, has set his sights on Saint Winifred, a centuries-old saint of a small village in Wales. The people of the village don't want the monks to take her away, and one man in particular, Rhisiart, leads the movement against the monk's mission. When he is found murdered with an arrow through his chest, the resistance collapses. Prior Robert claims that it's saintly vengeance for Rhisiart's opposition to the monks. But Brother Cadfael knows better — who really killed Rhisiart?
Brother Cadfael begins his own investigations, aided by the dead man's daughter Sioned. The story has a good dash of humor, especially with the earthy, young Brother John, and there is also a bit of the supernatural. Of course a lot of it is just the ready ambition and competition of the monks, but not everything is so neatly explained. I like that... so much in religious experience is overblown and unreal, but not all of it. And there are some good insights about religion and psychology. My favorite line: "It's a kind of arrogance to be so certain you're past redemption."
Peters gives plenty of hints about Brother Cadfael's varied past, and it will be interesting to see how these things pop up in later stories. Though the mystery is nothing earth-shattering, it's fairly well-written, and the characters are interesting. Enjoyable and light.
Brother Cadfael is an old Welsh adventurer, who has joined the Benedictine order as a retirement rather
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than for religious reasons. He is quite worldy-wise and astute about the motivations of others, and he observes his spiritual brothers with interest. I found him a little too cynically modern in his thinking, a little too easy to relate to — but I suppose it would be difficult for modern readers to really identify with a zealously strict monk. In this first story, Brother Cadfael joins a party from his monastery that is going in search of a saint's relics to boost its monastery's importance among the religious orders. Everyone around this time was relic-crazy, with bones and body parts of saints performing great miracles (or so everyone said) for the faithful. Prior Robert, who is leading their group, has set his sights on Saint Winifred, a centuries-old saint of a small village in Wales. The people of the village don't want the monks to take her away, and one man in particular, Rhisiart, leads the movement against the monk's mission. When he is found murdered with an arrow through his chest, the resistance collapses. Prior Robert claims that it's saintly vengeance for Rhisiart's opposition to the monks. But Brother Cadfael knows better — who really killed Rhisiart?
Brother Cadfael begins his own investigations, aided by the dead man's daughter Sioned. The story has a good dash of humor, especially with the earthy, young Brother John, and there is also a bit of the supernatural. Of course a lot of it is just the ready ambition and competition of the monks, but not everything is so neatly explained. I like that... so much in religious experience is overblown and unreal, but not all of it. And there are some good insights about religion and psychology. My favorite line: "It's a kind of arrogance to be so certain you're past redemption."
Peters gives plenty of hints about Brother Cadfael's varied past, and it will be interesting to see how these things pop up in later stories. Though the mystery is nothing earth-shattering, it's fairly well-written, and the characters are interesting. Enjoyable and light.
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LibraryThing member Joycepa
The first in the Brother Cadfael series.
We're in 12th century England near the Welsh border at Shrewbury, the site of the Benedictine Abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul. Brother Cadfael at 57 has had his share of worldly adventures as part of the First Crusade fighting in the Holy land; he has also had
No organization is immune from politics and its ambitious practitioners, least of all the Catholic Church. The prior of Shrewsbury Abbey, Prior Robert, is a descendant of the Norman conquerors, and while he may have given up lordship over a secular domain, he definitely aspires to rise to the top within the Church. Thus he chafes under the galling lack of a saint's relics at the abbey, diminishing the abbey's (and therefore his) reputation. Prior Robert launches a campaign to transfer the bones of St. Winifred, a little-known virgin Welsh saint from their resting place in Wales to Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Welsh community is NOT amused, and the opposition is led by a prominent Welsh landowner who is soon found murdered.
The plot is excellent, given the era in which the story is set. Peters draws the characters--all of them, including the haughty Prior Robert--with great affection. She has a wonderful ability to put us right in the time and the location.
The climax of the story is very well done and Brother Cadfael's solution to the resulting problem a stroke of genius; the humor and irony are exquisite.
It may be a murder mystery, but Peters writes with great gentleness, humor, and fondness for the period. Brother Cadfael is one of the most endearing "detectives" of the genre.
Highly recommended.
We're in 12th century England near the Welsh border at Shrewbury, the site of the Benedictine Abbey of Sts. Peter and Paul. Brother Cadfael at 57 has had his share of worldly adventures as part of the First Crusade fighting in the Holy land; he has also had
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his share of experiences with women, which he remembers with affection. For the past 15 years, he has been a contented member of the Benedictine community, his major responsibility being the abbey garden, especially the medicinal herbs.No organization is immune from politics and its ambitious practitioners, least of all the Catholic Church. The prior of Shrewsbury Abbey, Prior Robert, is a descendant of the Norman conquerors, and while he may have given up lordship over a secular domain, he definitely aspires to rise to the top within the Church. Thus he chafes under the galling lack of a saint's relics at the abbey, diminishing the abbey's (and therefore his) reputation. Prior Robert launches a campaign to transfer the bones of St. Winifred, a little-known virgin Welsh saint from their resting place in Wales to Sts. Peter and Paul.
The Welsh community is NOT amused, and the opposition is led by a prominent Welsh landowner who is soon found murdered.
The plot is excellent, given the era in which the story is set. Peters draws the characters--all of them, including the haughty Prior Robert--with great affection. She has a wonderful ability to put us right in the time and the location.
The climax of the story is very well done and Brother Cadfael's solution to the resulting problem a stroke of genius; the humor and irony are exquisite.
It may be a murder mystery, but Peters writes with great gentleness, humor, and fondness for the period. Brother Cadfael is one of the most endearing "detectives" of the genre.
Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member seoulful
In this First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Shrewsbury we journey with Brother Cadfael and a retinue from the abbey to Gwytherin, Wales to recover the bones of St. Winifred from her resting place in a small cemetery in Gwytherin and transport
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her to grace the grand altar at Shrewsbury. We witness the clash of two cultures as the patrician Norman, Prior Robert of Shrewsbury, who thinks in terms of heirarchies and Rhisiart, the landholder of Gwytherin who thinks in terms of blood ties battle over the right to St. Winifred's bones. Prior Robert, who comes with the blessing and authority of church and state and with an overbearing arrogance has little to say to a culture which looks upon itself as kinship members, with different places but not inferior one to the other. Brother Cadfael, a native of Wales, is in the thick of the arguments and resulting murders with his empathetic outlook and his knowledge of the language and culture. A surprise ending which will be alluded to and cause unease to Cadfael in succeeding books of this very engaging series of medieval mystery by a master storyteller. Show Less
LibraryThing member justchris
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters is the first of a long series of Brother Cadfael mysteries. I have watched many televised episodes, in no particular order, and enjoyed them a great deal. Of course, I am generally a fan of BBC and most of my limited viewing time is devoted to British
In this story, the ambitious members of Brother Cadfael's monastery decide to appropriate an obscure Welsh saint for the benefits that miracles and pilgrims can bring. Brother Cadfael, with his Welsh background and language skills joins the expedition over the border to translate the saint's bones. Not surprisingly, the local villagers are not pleased with the idea, and the most outspoken opponent turns up dead. In this story, Brother Cadfael relies on basic forensics observations rather than his extensive herbal and botanical knowledge to investigate the murder, though the book clearly lays out his personality and background.
It was a charming story that brought the era to life and highlighted the differences between Wales and England. It also gives insights into monastic life, which must seem quite alien to most modern readers. The characters were sympathetically drawn though without much depth. The dialogue was good, the narrative was in reasonable proportion, and the plot was moderately interesting if generally predictable. And of course, the poetic justice was lovely.
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productions.In this story, the ambitious members of Brother Cadfael's monastery decide to appropriate an obscure Welsh saint for the benefits that miracles and pilgrims can bring. Brother Cadfael, with his Welsh background and language skills joins the expedition over the border to translate the saint's bones. Not surprisingly, the local villagers are not pleased with the idea, and the most outspoken opponent turns up dead. In this story, Brother Cadfael relies on basic forensics observations rather than his extensive herbal and botanical knowledge to investigate the murder, though the book clearly lays out his personality and background.
It was a charming story that brought the era to life and highlighted the differences between Wales and England. It also gives insights into monastic life, which must seem quite alien to most modern readers. The characters were sympathetically drawn though without much depth. The dialogue was good, the narrative was in reasonable proportion, and the plot was moderately interesting if generally predictable. And of course, the poetic justice was lovely.
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LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
Brother Cadfael, the sleuth in this book, is a monk in the Benedictine Order in the 12th Century during the struggle for the throne between King Stephen and Empress Maud and the history of the time is skillfully woven into the tales. I recommend not just this book but the entire series--they're
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favorites of mine. Good comfort reads for when you want to immerse yourself in another world with a characters you think of as friends, and there's usually an element of romance. I've seen Cadfael compared to Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet in his attempts to aid lovers, only he's wiser, smarter and more successful. I think each novel could be read on its own, and isn't dependent on the earlier ones, but I think you do enjoy it more when you read it from the beginning, because there is also an underlying arc to the series, such as the friendship between Cadfael and the sheriff Hugh Beringar (Who first appears in One Corpse Too Many. I liked the ending in particular in this--justice done with a light touch. A good read and a strong opening for the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member MrsLee
A favorite, this gives a lot of explanation of Cadfael's faith and truth vs. religiosity.
LibraryThing member chrissie3
Marvelous story. You have to read it to find out exactly what happens. A fun spoof on religion. The historical detail, the characters, and the humor are enchanting. By the end I loved Brother Cadfael and all the villagers of Gwytherin, Wales. An utterly charming tale and funny too!
Completed Oct 6,
Completed Oct 6,
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2010 Show Less
LibraryThing member leesclubhaarenjb
In the first part the characters are described; at p. 114 the adding of characters is stopped and a murder is analyzed in the nexth pages by experimenting. Things work not out so well, such is life. At the end the quality of the plot is diminishing; more humour is introduced and a happy ending
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concludes a nice story, which puts you back in time. Show Less
LibraryThing member kaulsu
Ah, Brother Cadfael. I'd only seen him on PBS, nice to meet him in print. And how serendipitous to find this is the first in the Cadfael series!
I have to admit I had the wrong culprit to near the end. I won't say more, to not be a spoiler! Nice to be so duped. The best part of the book is the
"I do believe I begin to grasp the nature of miracles! For would it be a miracle if there was any reason for it? Miracles have nothing to do with reason. Miracles contradict reason, overturn reason, make game of reason, they strike clean across mere human deserts, and deliver and save where they will. If they made sense, they would not be miracles."
I have to admit I had the wrong culprit to near the end. I won't say more, to not be a spoiler! Nice to be so duped. The best part of the book is the
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following quotation about miracles on pg. 189 (spoken by Brother Cadfael):"I do believe I begin to grasp the nature of miracles! For would it be a miracle if there was any reason for it? Miracles have nothing to do with reason. Miracles contradict reason, overturn reason, make game of reason, they strike clean across mere human deserts, and deliver and save where they will. If they made sense, they would not be miracles."
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LibraryThing member benfulton
I did like this one. Often the first book or two in a series are the weakest as the author, not to mention the characters, begin finding their way in their world, but Brother Cadfael seems to be well fleshed out from the beginning. The plot hangs together fairly well, and the driving motivations of
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all the main characters make for some interesting interactions between them. Finally - and this is always a favorite plot device of mine - there is just a hint that St. Winifred is taking a direct hand in the proceedings. Nothing so crass as melting away the bad guys like Indiana Jones, but, just as you would expect from a saint, a light touch having a significant effect; and the touch is so light it's not clear that it's really there. Nicely done, although if it happened in every book of the series it would get old fast. Show Less
LibraryThing member goth_marionette
As a lover of British TV how did I miss not only this series but the great books? I loved this book. The main character Brother Cadfael is engaging and well developed. In this first book his monastery is trying to get the bones of a saint from a Welsh village when a town leader is murdered. Brother
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Cadfael steps in and assists the remaining family with trying to determine who did the horrible deed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or mysteries, Enjoy! Show Less
LibraryThing member elwyne
Loved it! A good mystery, with some nice twists and turns. Good, interesting, likable - and unlikable - characters. Cadfael himself is interesting and enjoyable enough that I look forward to reading many more of his adventures. Great sense of humor in him. I would recommend this to anyone who
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enjoys a good "popcorn" mystery - not much substance but tons of fun. :) Show Less
LibraryThing member bibliothecarivs
In this first chronicle of Brother Cadfael, the medieval monk and amateur sleuth, Peters takes us along as the Benedictine brothers travel to a small Welsh village in order to claim the relics of a neglected saint as their own. But when the community's most outspoken opponent of the relocation is
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murdered, Cadfael sets out to discover the killer and ends up becoming involved in the miracles attendant upon the saint. A wonderful, short mystery that has become a classic in the genre. The television adaptation starring Derek Jacobi is also highly recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member maita
A man is stuck down by an arrow and people take it as a sign that a saint is angry. Brother Cadfael knows this to be the work of a mortal, a work of hate rather than heavenly vengeance.
I love the book. There is a bit of humor in Cadfael. Medeival life has more to it than blunt killings and crude
I love the book. There is a bit of humor in Cadfael. Medeival life has more to it than blunt killings and crude
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farm works. The human mind is as complex in murdering as the present day criminals. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
Fifty-seven year old Welshman Brother Cadfael is a “squat, barrel-chested, bandy-legged” Benedictine monk in the 12th Century at the Abbey of Shrewsbury. He came to the monastery late in life after an action-packed youth that included a stint in the Crusades. The Abbey is a sort of retirement
The Abbey Administrator, Prior Robert, ambitious and vain, is seeking some saintly relics (at that time they were considered as good as penicillin for what ailed you) to add to the glory of himself as well as the Abbey. Thus, he looks toward Wales, “where it was well known that holy men and women had been common as mushrooms in autumn…”
After a vision by Brother Columbanus, they settle on Winifred of Gwytherin in Wales, and the Abbot sends out a delegation to get her bones. Brother Cadfael goes along as an interpreter. In Gwytherin, the primary opponent of moving the saint, Rhisiart, is murdered, and Brother Cadfael helps solve the crime with the assistance of Sioned, the beautiful daughter of the murdered man.
When Brother Cadfael isn’t solving mysteries, he’s playing matchmaker, helping various young people find love and happiness. This process is assisted by his sense of humor, a wry religious realism, and a generosity of spirit. In addition, he alludes to memories of happiness with women as a young man, so you get a strong image of Anna in "The King and I," looking out at the starry night and singing:
"Hello young lovers, whoever you are,
I hope your troubles are few.
All my good wishes go with you tonight,
I've been in love like you.
Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star,
Be brave and faithful and true,
Cling very close to each other tonight.
I've been in love like you.
I know how it feels to have wings on your heels,
And to fly down the street in a trance.
You fly down a street on the chance that you meet,
And you meet -- not really by chance.
Don't cry young lovers, whatever you do,
Don't cry because I'm alone;
All of my memories are happy tonight,
I've had a love of my own.
I've had a love of my own, like yours-
I've had a love of my own."
Evaluation: This is a book one might call cozy-historical. It’s pleasant enough, although it’s a bit like drinking lite beer. The mystery is fairly obvious, and the characters aren’t fully fleshed out: what we learn about them is pretty much on a need-to-know basis. Still, you get some interesting insights into 12th Century England and Wales, especially into the religious life, and the story is not without its charms. It provides an enjoyable way to pass some time, although to be honest, the next book in the series is better. I would say this first book is one in which Peters sets out the premises of the series, lays some background, and tests her stride. You don't need to read it to keep going in the series, but you won't regret reading it, either.
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for him, and he works in the herbarium. There he is assisted by “the youngsters” Brother John and Brother Columbanus, only two years tonsured. The Abbey Administrator, Prior Robert, ambitious and vain, is seeking some saintly relics (at that time they were considered as good as penicillin for what ailed you) to add to the glory of himself as well as the Abbey. Thus, he looks toward Wales, “where it was well known that holy men and women had been common as mushrooms in autumn…”
After a vision by Brother Columbanus, they settle on Winifred of Gwytherin in Wales, and the Abbot sends out a delegation to get her bones. Brother Cadfael goes along as an interpreter. In Gwytherin, the primary opponent of moving the saint, Rhisiart, is murdered, and Brother Cadfael helps solve the crime with the assistance of Sioned, the beautiful daughter of the murdered man.
When Brother Cadfael isn’t solving mysteries, he’s playing matchmaker, helping various young people find love and happiness. This process is assisted by his sense of humor, a wry religious realism, and a generosity of spirit. In addition, he alludes to memories of happiness with women as a young man, so you get a strong image of Anna in "The King and I," looking out at the starry night and singing:
"Hello young lovers, whoever you are,
I hope your troubles are few.
All my good wishes go with you tonight,
I've been in love like you.
Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star,
Be brave and faithful and true,
Cling very close to each other tonight.
I've been in love like you.
I know how it feels to have wings on your heels,
And to fly down the street in a trance.
You fly down a street on the chance that you meet,
And you meet -- not really by chance.
Don't cry young lovers, whatever you do,
Don't cry because I'm alone;
All of my memories are happy tonight,
I've had a love of my own.
I've had a love of my own, like yours-
I've had a love of my own."
Evaluation: This is a book one might call cozy-historical. It’s pleasant enough, although it’s a bit like drinking lite beer. The mystery is fairly obvious, and the characters aren’t fully fleshed out: what we learn about them is pretty much on a need-to-know basis. Still, you get some interesting insights into 12th Century England and Wales, especially into the religious life, and the story is not without its charms. It provides an enjoyable way to pass some time, although to be honest, the next book in the series is better. I would say this first book is one in which Peters sets out the premises of the series, lays some background, and tests her stride. You don't need to read it to keep going in the series, but you won't regret reading it, either.
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LibraryThing member Othemts
I’m not one for murder mysteries, but this one was kind of neat. Brother Cadfael is a former crusader who has taken the vow at a monastery in Shrewsbury. Unlike his contemporaries, he reasons rather than sees things through superstition or religiosity, although he does hold faith in God all the
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same. While the characters speech is not likely very authentic, and some of their behavior seems modern, I liked the setting of story and casting of a monk as detective. The ending was not very surprising in so much as whodunit (which is fairly obvious) but in how Brother Cadfael and his accomplices catch the murderer and working everything out to their advantage. Show Less
LibraryThing member maryanntherese
An entertaining mystery with a good plot and characters. I would like it better if Cadfael was actually a faithful Catholic instead of a moral relativist.
LibraryThing member countrylife
Loved it! A medieval murder mystery with characters fleshed out and real to their times, and the setting just as you’d imagine Wales to be at that time.
LibraryThing member ragwaine
Good writing, good characters, decent mystery. Kinda slow, it could have ended at about 17 places in the last 2 chapters but it just kept going.
LibraryThing member bookwoman247
This is the first in the Brother Cadfael mysteries.
When a Welsh saint, St. Winifred, appears to have cured a Shrewesbury Abbey Brother of fits, the prior takes it as a sign that St. Winifred's bones should be removed from the Welsh village where they've lain peacefully, yet seemingly neglected, and
However, the Welsh villagers prove reluctant to disturb their saint's rest.
When a rich landholder is found dead, and an honest man stands accused, while a brother of the abbey is locked up for allowing the man to escape, Brother Cadfael determines that he must uncover the truth.
The Brother Cadfael mysteries are as addictive as crack, (or chocolate). I love these books!
When a Welsh saint, St. Winifred, appears to have cured a Shrewesbury Abbey Brother of fits, the prior takes it as a sign that St. Winifred's bones should be removed from the Welsh village where they've lain peacefully, yet seemingly neglected, and
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brought to Shrewsbury Abbey to be honored and venerated, to the glory of the abbey, and the personal glory of the prior.However, the Welsh villagers prove reluctant to disturb their saint's rest.
When a rich landholder is found dead, and an honest man stands accused, while a brother of the abbey is locked up for allowing the man to escape, Brother Cadfael determines that he must uncover the truth.
The Brother Cadfael mysteries are as addictive as crack, (or chocolate). I love these books!
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LibraryThing member Meredy
Six-word review: Clever medieval monk investigates Welshman's murder.
Extended review:
The first of the well-known Brother Cadfael mysteries by Edith Pargeter (writing as Ellis Peters) is also my first exposure to the series. I managed to miss all twenty of the novels, published beginning in 1977,
Now, it seems, I'm in for a treat.
Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine monk of the twelfth century, a Welshman living in an English abbey. After an adventuresome life as a soldier and sailor, he took the cowl in middle age. Hints of his colorful background enliven the quiet picture of a monastic herbalist and also account for his world-weary ability to see past men's poses to read the evil behind their acts.
In this novel, the prior of Cadfael's abbey takes it as a personal mission to annex a long-dead Welsh saint and have her relics moved from her resting place to England where they can be properly venerated. The Welsh parish that has kept her chapel over the centuries objects. A violent death ensues, amidst thwarted love, a blooming romance, clan loyalties, and ecclesiastical ambition. Only Brother Cadfael can see the way to uncover the truth of the crime and accomplish justice for the afflicted parties.
Extended review:
The first of the well-known Brother Cadfael mysteries by Edith Pargeter (writing as Ellis Peters) is also my first exposure to the series. I managed to miss all twenty of the novels, published beginning in 1977,
Show More
and the four-season TV series broadcast in the nineties.Now, it seems, I'm in for a treat.
Brother Cadfael is a Benedictine monk of the twelfth century, a Welshman living in an English abbey. After an adventuresome life as a soldier and sailor, he took the cowl in middle age. Hints of his colorful background enliven the quiet picture of a monastic herbalist and also account for his world-weary ability to see past men's poses to read the evil behind their acts.
In this novel, the prior of Cadfael's abbey takes it as a personal mission to annex a long-dead Welsh saint and have her relics moved from her resting place to England where they can be properly venerated. The Welsh parish that has kept her chapel over the centuries objects. A violent death ensues, amidst thwarted love, a blooming romance, clan loyalties, and ecclesiastical ambition. Only Brother Cadfael can see the way to uncover the truth of the crime and accomplish justice for the afflicted parties.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
Brother Cadfael is settling in to a quiet life at the monastery, when he is called upon to travel to a remote village in Wales and act as translator for the prior, who wishes to bring back the bones of a saint; while there, one of the village leaders and their staunchest opponent is murdered, and
I enjoyed this first in a murder series, both for its historical detail and its characters. Peters tells a detective story that seems appropriately rooted in the distant past but doesn't feel remote. She even gives us two remarkable female characters, who come across not only as complete people but who also take action to change the course of events. In a story about monks, it would have been all too easy to forget the women. Peters injects a fair amount of humor in her story, as well as a genuine affection for most of her characters. Perhaps the Welsh villagers are all a tad too saintly, but they are also charming, and so is this novel.
Read for the HistoryCAT (2015).
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Brother Cadfael must solve the crime with the help of the murdered man's daughter.I enjoyed this first in a murder series, both for its historical detail and its characters. Peters tells a detective story that seems appropriately rooted in the distant past but doesn't feel remote. She even gives us two remarkable female characters, who come across not only as complete people but who also take action to change the course of events. In a story about monks, it would have been all too easy to forget the women. Peters injects a fair amount of humor in her story, as well as a genuine affection for most of her characters. Perhaps the Welsh villagers are all a tad too saintly, but they are also charming, and so is this novel.
Read for the HistoryCAT (2015).
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LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes
Having seen a number of good recommendations for this novel, I looked forward to reading it, but alas I couldn't get into the story. I say this regretfully since I don't easily give up on books. It doesn't help that the narrative takes its time to get going, with this Brother talking to that Prior
Not necessarily a bad book, just not for me.
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using a stilted, high language. Even the words themselves feel slow.Not necessarily a bad book, just not for me.
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LibraryThing member mamzel
Cadfael left his life crusading and traveling to join a monastery and choose a quiet contemplative life. He lends his knowledge of herbs and medicine to his brothers and tends the gardens for them. One of the brothers has a vision involving a minor Welsh saint that seems to ask them to move her
One of the most ardent arguers of this move is the major landowner of the village of Gwytherin who is not cowed by the august company that descends on his community. Unfortunately, before he can deliver his final verdict he is found dead. Cadfael helps solve the incongruities of the death and at the same time help to settle Saint Winifred where she should be.
Lovers of medieval mysteries will have a blast with Brother Cadfael.
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bones to their church from her grave in Wales. Cadfael travels with a group of monks to collect Saint Winifred. Cadfael is not thoroughly convinced of this vision and goes along to help translate English to Welsh and see if he can enable Winifred to stay where she is.One of the most ardent arguers of this move is the major landowner of the village of Gwytherin who is not cowed by the august company that descends on his community. Unfortunately, before he can deliver his final verdict he is found dead. Cadfael helps solve the incongruities of the death and at the same time help to settle Saint Winifred where she should be.
Lovers of medieval mysteries will have a blast with Brother Cadfael.
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LibraryThing member MarysGirl
Enjoyed the TV series with Darek Jacoby (I have yet to NOT like anything he's in), but had never read the books. When this came up on an ebook special, I took a chance. It's been a while since I watched the shows, so didn't remember precisely how this mystery would pan out. I found the characters
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charming, the history and setting interesting, and the mystery mild. A fun short read. Show Less
Awards
Original publication date
1977
Local notes
Brother Cadfael, 01
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery Peters |