The Cadfael Chronicles facts for kids
The Cadfael Chronicles is a popular series of mystery books written by Edith Pargeter (1913–1995). She used the pen name "Ellis Peters." These stories are set in England during the 12th century, a time known as the Anarchy. The books are about a Welsh Benedictine monk named Cadfael. He helps solve murders and other crimes.
Edith Pargeter wrote 20 Cadfael novels and one book of short stories between 1977 and 1994. Each book builds on the characters and events of the ones before it. The last book, Brother Cadfael's Penance, was planned to wrap up all the story lines. Pargeter passed away shortly after it was published. Many of the books have been made into radio shows and a TV series. The TV show starred Derek Jacobi as Cadfael. These books helped make historical mystery novels very popular.
Contents
Meet Brother Cadfael
Brother Cadfael is different from most monks. He joined the monastery in his forties, after living a full life. Before becoming a monk, he was a crusader and a sea captain. His many experiences gave him special skills useful for monastery life and for solving mysteries.
Cadfael is very good at observing people. He is also a skilled herbalist, meaning he knows a lot about plants and medicines. He learned these skills from Muslims while in the Holy Land. He is curious and energetic. He also has a strong sense of what is fair and just. The abbots often ask him to act as a medical examiner, detective, doctor, or even a diplomat. His worldly knowledge is helpful, but it sometimes causes problems with stricter monks. This mix of worldly and spiritual life is a big part of the series.
History in the Stories
The Cadfael stories take place between 1137 and 1145. This was during the Anarchy, a time when England was in a civil war. King Stephen and Empress Matilda (also called Empress Maud) were fighting for the crown. Many real historical events are part of the books.
For example, the first book, A Morbid Taste for Bones, tells a fictional story about Saint Winifred's bones being moved to Shrewsbury Abbey. One Corpse Too Many is inspired by King Stephen's attack on Shrewsbury Castle in 1138. In The Virgin in the Ice, characters flee into the countryside after Worcester is burned. An Excellent Mystery sees monks from a burned abbey come to Shrewsbury.
In Dead Man's Ransom, fictional characters are involved with Welshmen at the Battle of Lincoln. Even real people like Owain Gwynedd, a Welsh prince, appear in the stories. Empress Matilda's short stay in London is a starting point for a character in The Pilgrim of Hate.
Some books focus on daily life in medieval England, not just big historical events. The Heretic's Apprentice shows the importance of pilgrimage. The Rose Rent explores the wool and cloth trades. Monk's Hood looks at Welsh inheritance laws. Saint Peter's Fair and The Sanctuary Sparrow show merchant trades. The annual fair helped raise money for the Abbey. Using a church for safety from the law is also shown in The Sanctuary Sparrow. Cadfael's herbalist skills often connect him with people outside the monastery. This helps him solve crimes.
Real historical figures in the series include:
- King Stephen
- Empress Matilda
- Robert of Gloucester
- Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex
- Owain Gwynedd
- Bishop Henry of Blois
- Abbots of Shrewsbury Abbey
Main Ideas in the Books
Cadfael and Love Stories
Many Cadfael books feature a pair of young lovers. These couples often face problems keeping them apart. Brother Cadfael always tries his best to help them. He works hard to solve the mystery and bring the lovers together. He is usually very successful in helping them find happiness.
The lovers in the books face many challenges. Sometimes it seems impossible for them to be together. However, Cadfael often finds a way to help them. Usually, the characters fall in love with people from their own social class. For example, a noble boy falls for a noble girl. But there are a few exceptions where people from different classes fall in love.
Nobles in the Stories
Most noble characters in the series are shown as fair and just. They treat their people well, within the rules of the time. Here is how one nobleman is described:
He was a big man, dressed simply. He didn't need fancy clothes to show he was in charge. People came to him happily and spoke boldly. His anger could be strong, but it was always fair.
However, some nobles in the books are unfair or cruel. But they are not many. If a lord was too cruel, peasants could escape to a town. After living there for a year and a day, they would become free. Cadfael sometimes helps people escape bad lords. Sometimes, these cruel landowners even become the murder victims. Then, readers want to know who did it, but they might not feel sad for the victim.
The Civil War's Impact
The civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud is always happening in the background. It was a very chaotic time. Even without newspapers, people in Shrewsbury knew what was happening. Shrewsbury was a busy trading town, so visitors brought news from all over.
In One Corpse Too Many, Shrewsbury itself becomes a battlefield. The king orders many soldiers to be killed. This brutal event is the background for the murder mystery. After this, Shrewsbury becomes a calmer place. But refugees, spies, and plotters often arrive. This sets up the stories for many books. Characters sometimes go to battlefields to fight or help. Sad stories come from other places like Worcester or Lincoln. Shrewsbury is also near the border of Wales. Wales had its own problems, which sometimes connected to England's war.
Even with war around, Cadfael often finds peace in his garden. He thinks about the changing seasons. The war is mostly seen as a concern for the nobles. Some nobles are very loyal to one side. They treat their enemies with respect, following a code of honor. Others are only interested in making money or gaining power.
The common people, like townspeople and peasants, mostly wanted the fighting to end. They didn't care much who won. They just wanted peace. Workers on a manor could be called to fight if needed. The people of Shrewsbury wanted to fix their city after the fighting. They were happy to live under fair leaders. They just wanted to be able to trade and do business peacefully.
The series ends with the war still going on, but it's a stalemate. Nobles started making their own peace deals. The fighting mostly ended three years after the last book. This was when Robert of Gloucester died. Empress Maud then went back to Normandy. A new time began for England when King Stephen died in 1154. He had signed a treaty with his successor, Henry FitzEmpress.
Books vs. TV Show
Thirteen of the Cadfael books were made into a TV series. Derek Jacobi starred as Cadfael. The TV episodes were not always shown in the same order as the books were written. Most episodes followed the books closely. Changes were made to have fewer speaking roles, shorter episodes, or to avoid expensive special effects. In the books, Cadfael speaks Welsh. He often translates for Welsh characters who don't speak English.
One episode, The Pilgrim of Hate, is very different from the book. Only a few characters share names, but their actions are not the same. In The Holy Thief, a character who is good in the book becomes a villain. In A Morbid Taste For Bones, the ending is changed to give Cadfael more to do. In Monk's Hood, Hugh Beringar has a bigger role. He even gets hurt trying to help Cadfael.
The character of Hugh Beringar is also quite different in the TV series. In the show, Hugh is the sheriff. He is friendly with Cadfael but keeps a professional distance. In the books, Hugh and Cadfael are best friends, even though Hugh is much younger. They think alike about what is fair and just.
Hugh and Aline Siward are first seen in One Corpse Too Many. Hugh appears in almost all the books. Aline appears in several books, helping women. In the books, Hugh and Aline get married and have a son named Giles. Cadfael is Giles's godfather. Cadfael shares his deepest secrets only with Hugh.
Other Adaptations
On Stage
A play based on The Virgin in the Ice was performed. Gareth Thomas played Cadfael in this stage show.
On the Radio
BBC Radio 4 made radio versions of several Cadfael novels. Three different actors played Cadfael.
Ray Smith played Cadfael in:
- A Morbid Taste for Bones (1980)
Glyn Houston played Cadfael in:
- One Corpse Too Many (1989)
Philip Madoc played Cadfael in shows written and produced by Bert Coules:
- Monk's Hood (1991)
- The Virgin in the Ice (1992)
- Dead Man's Ransom (1995)
On Television
A TV series was made in Britain by Central for ITV. Each episode was 75 minutes long. It was filmed in Hungary. Sir Derek Jacobi starred as Cadfael. All thirteen episodes are available on DVD.
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