Brother Cadfael's Penance facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Ellis Peters |
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| Series | The Cadfael Chronicles |
| Genre | Mystery novel |
| Publisher | Headline |
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Publication date
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May 1994 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) & audio book |
| Pages | 288 plus royal family tree, two maps |
| ISBN | 0-7472-1184-1 |
| OCLC | 30702176 |
| Preceded by | The Holy Thief |
Brother Cadfael's Penance is an exciting mystery novel set in the year 1145. It was written by Ellis Peters and is the very last book in The Cadfael Chronicles series. It was first published in 1994.
In this story, Brother Cadfael, a monk from Shrewsbury Abbey, leaves his quiet monastery. He goes on a dangerous journey to save two people he cares about deeply. One of them is his own son, whom he has never told he is his father. His son is being held prisoner by a knight who has changed sides in a big war.
When the book came out, people loved it. Many said it was "moving and suspenseful" and one of Cadfael's most touching adventures.
Contents
The Story Begins
The story takes place during a time called The Anarchy in England. This was a long civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud. By 1145, the fighting had reached a stalemate, meaning neither side could win.
Meanwhile, far away in the Holy Land, a city called Edessa had fallen. This made many church leaders in England want the civil war to end. They hoped the knights and soldiers would instead go on another Crusade to protect Jerusalem.
In the late summer of 1145, a young knight named Philip FitzRobert switched sides. He gave his castle to King Stephen. Another knight, Brien de Soulis, also surrendered his castle. But not all the soldiers agreed to change sides. Thirty men were taken hostage, but one knight, Olivier de Bretagne, was missing.
What Happens in the Story
In November 1145, the Earl of Leicester sends a list of the hostages to Hugh Beringar, the Sheriff of Shrewsbury. He also shares news of a peace meeting in Coventry. Hugh notices that Olivier de Bretagne's name is not on the list.
Hugh tells Brother Cadfael about it. Cadfael realizes Olivier is his son, though Olivier doesn't know this. Cadfael feels he must rescue Olivier, even if it means breaking his monk's vows. The Abbot allows Cadfael to go with Hugh to Coventry, but after that, Cadfael is on his own.
In Coventry, Cadfael meets Yves Hugonin, Olivier's brother-in-law. Yves is very angry at Brien de Soulis, the knight who switched sides. He even attacks him with a sword! The Bishop of Lichfield calms things down. The Empress Maud, who is fighting for the throne, secretly hints that she wouldn't mind if de Soulis was harmed.
The peace talks fail. Later, Yves asks de Soulis about Olivier, but de Soulis says he knows nothing. That night, Yves finds de Soulis dead on the chapel steps. Philip FitzRobert accuses Yves of murder. Yves is then captured. Now, Cadfael has two people to find and save.
Cadfael, Hugh, and the Bishop examine de Soulis's body. They find a strange seal ring that doesn't belong to him. Cadfael decides to continue his search for Olivier and Yves, choosing his son over returning to the monastery.
Cadfael learns that the seal belongs to Geoffrey FitzClare, a captain loyal to the Empress. It turns out de Soulis tricked his men into surrendering by using a fake document with FitzClare's seal. De Soulis had actually killed FitzClare and made it look like an accident.
Cadfael finds Philip FitzRobert and convinces him that Yves is innocent. Philip releases Yves. Cadfael then pleads for Olivier's release, even offering to take his place as a prisoner. He reveals that he is Olivier's father. Philip refuses to release Olivier. He tells Olivier that Cadfael is his father, which stuns Olivier and makes him angry at first.
In Gloucester, Yves asks the Empress to attack Philip's castle to rescue Olivier. The Empress agrees, but she plans to hang Philip, which would make the war even worse. The night before the attack, Yves sneaks into the castle to warn Philip.
Philip is badly wounded during the attack. Cadfael helps him. Philip gives orders for his deputy to surrender the castle and trade him to the Empress for the best terms. He also gives Cadfael the keys to Olivier's cell. Cadfael releases Olivier, and they finally face each other as father and son.
They make a plan to get Philip out of the castle safely. Olivier uses his uniform to get through the enemy lines. He finds a local man to pretend Philip is his dead nephew. The plan works, and Philip recovers at an abbey. Olivier brings his father, Robert of Gloucester, to the abbey to make peace with Philip.
Before leaving the castle, Cadfael discovers who killed de Soulis. It was Lady Jovetta, whose son, Geoffrey FitzClare, was murdered by de Soulis. She wore a ring with the same design as her son's seal. De Soulis thought she was someone else, allowing her to get close enough to stab him. Cadfael keeps her secret.
Olivier and Cadfael ride to Gloucester and then part ways. Cadfael asks to be told when his grandson is born. Cadfael rides back to Shrewsbury alone, feeling the importance of his life as a monk. When he arrives, the Abbot tells him that Philip and his father have made up. Philip has decided to join the next Crusade. The Abbot tells Cadfael that his journey is "enough" and welcomes him back among his fellow monks.
Main Characters
- Brother Cadfael: A wise monk and herbalist from Shrewsbury Abbey. He used to be a soldier and sailor. Now 65, he leaves the monastery to find his son, Olivier.
- Hugh Beringar: The Sheriff of Shropshire and Cadfael's close friend. He helps Cadfael search for Olivier. He is 30 years old.
- Abbot Radulfus: The head of Shrewsbury Abbey. He allows Cadfael to leave, even though it breaks his vows. He learns that Olivier is Cadfael's son in this story.
- Olivier de Bretagne: A young knight and Cadfael's son. He is half Welsh and half Syrian. He is 30 years old, disciplined, and brave.
- Prior Robert Pennant: A monk at Shrewsbury Abbey who doesn't approve of Cadfael leaving.
- Brother Jerome: A monk who is doing penance for past actions. He is now more humble.
- Brother Winfrid: Cadfael's assistant in the herb garden. He takes over Cadfael's work while he is away.
- Brien de Soulis: A knight who switched sides to King Stephen. He is about 32 years old.
- Philip FitzRobert: A knight who also switched sides. He is about 30 years old, the same age as Olivier. He is a man of strong feelings and skilled in many areas.
- Yves Hugonin: A brave and intelligent young man, Olivier's brother-in-law. He is 19 years old.
- Roger de Clinton: The Bishop of Lichfield, who hosted the peace meeting.
- King Stephen: The King of England, fighting for his crown.
- Henry, Bishop of Winchester: King Stephen's younger brother and a powerful bishop.
- Empress Maud: King Stephen's cousin, who believes she should be the ruler of England. She is just over 40 years old.
- Robert of Gloucester: The Empress Maud's half-brother and a strong supporter. He is about 50 years old.
- King David of Scotland: Empress Maud's uncle and King of Scotland.
- Robert of Leicester: An Earl who supports King Stephen and is friends with Hugh Beringar.
- Lady Jovetta de Montors: A lady-in-waiting to the Empress, about 60 years old.
- Isabeau: Lady Jovetta's attractive niece, about 19 years old.
What People Thought of the Book
When Brother Cadfael's Penance was published, many reviewers praised it. They found it to be a very moving story.
Kirkus Reviews said it was "one of Cadfael's most moving adventures." They liked how Cadfael's journey touched his own heart.
Publishers Weekly praised the plot and how the book showed strong emotions between friends. They noted how the story moved from big public issues to private family problems. They also said Cadfael did his usual excellent detective work.
Library Journal pointed out that the series was becoming more and more popular. They mentioned that Cadfael decided to break his vows to save his son.
Booklist from the American Library Association called the story "moving and suspenseful." They described Cadfael as "intrepid and valiant" and at his "wise and gentle best."
How it Connects to Other Books
This book is the final story in the series, but you can read it on its own. You don't need to read all the previous books to understand it.
However, many characters from earlier books appear here. All the important historical figures from the time also have speaking roles. Brother Cadfael's assistant, Brother Winfrid, has been with him for three years. Hugh Beringar is still his close friend and the Sheriff. Many other monks from the abbey also appear.
Olivier de Bretagne and Yves Hugonin, who were rescued in an earlier book, The Virgin in the Ice, have grown up. Olivier married Yves's sister, Ermina. Cadfael realized Olivier was his son from a past relationship in Antioch, about 30 years ago. He had never told Olivier.
Cadfael risked his peaceful life as a monk to save his son. This was a huge choice for him. He was a father before he became a monk, even if he didn't know it at the time.
Abbot Radulfus, the head of the Abbey, met Olivier in an earlier book. But in this story, he learns that Cadfael is Olivier's father. The Abbot has the power to forgive Cadfael for breaking his vows.
King Stephen and Empress Maud, along with their supporters, meet at Coventry. This is another attempt to end their long war, but it doesn't work.
Cadfael, who was born in Wales, thinks about how sons born outside marriage are viewed differently there compared to England. In Wales, if a father accepted his son, the son had full rights. In England, such sons could be educated and powerful, but they couldn't become king. Cadfael wonders if England's history would have been different if King Henry's first son, Robert of Gloucester (who was born outside marriage), had been accepted as king.
The story brings Cadfael's life to a satisfying end. His son Olivier is safe, and Olivier's wife, Ermina, is expecting a baby. This means Cadfael will have a grandchild!
Historical Background
The novel takes place in November and December of 1145. This was during a period called the Anarchy, a civil war in England. At this point, neither side could win, so it was a stalemate.
During this time, Geoffrey of Anjou, the Empress Maud's husband, had gained control of Normandy. But King Stephen had also gained new allies in England. Two of the Empress's knights, including Philip FitzRobert, had switched sides to King Stephen.
At the meeting in Coventry, many real historical figures from both sides of the war are present. They speak their own views. The novel uses these real people to create the setting for Brother Cadfael's personal journey.
The story includes a medieval siege of a castle. This was a common way of fighting during the Anarchy. Sieges involved attacking a castle to try and capture it. Weapons of the time were simple but effective. Soldiers used swords and daggers for close combat. For attacking and defending castles, they used siege engines to throw rocks or fire. Archers used longbows or crossbows to shoot arrows from the castle walls or from outside. Defending a castle was often easier than attacking it, unless the attacking army was huge or could wait long enough to starve the defenders out.
The fall of Edessa in the Holy Land in 1144 was a big event. It led to the start of the Second Crusade. Many bishops in Europe were worried about the safety of Jerusalem. People in England felt a strong desire to fight for a more important cause than their own civil war.
The war for the English crown effectively ended three years later, in 1148, when Maud left for Normandy. The war officially ended in 1154 when King Stephen died. Maud's son, Henry, then became king.
The places in the novel are real. These include Coventry, Lichfield, Cricklade, Faringdon Castle, La Musarderie near Greenhamsted (now Miserden), and several abbeys like Deerhurst Abbey and Cirencester Abbey. Of course, Brother Cadfael's home, the Shrewsbury Abbey, is also a real place.
Publication Details
This book was published in several formats. Four hardback editions were released between May 1994 and May 1995.
There were also fourteen paperback editions, starting in 1994. The latest paperback was published in January 2000.
Seven audio book editions have been released. Some were narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi and Stephen Thorne. You can also find a Kindle edition.
The book has also been translated into other languages, including Italian, French, and German.
Images for kids
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A mangonel siege engine
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A type of crossbow called a Windlass
