Sun 12 Aug 2018
Reviewed by Barry Gardner: ELLIS PETERS – Brother Cadfael’s Penance.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[4] Comments
ELLIS PETERS – Brother Cadfael’s Penance. Brother Cadfael #20. Mysterious Press, hardcover, 1994; paperback, 1996.
Does this series need any introduction? If not the first, it’s certainly the best known of the the histo-mysteries, and its fans are legion.
King Stephen and Queen Maud (as each would have it for themselves but not the other) are still quarreling bloodily over who is to rule England in 1146 AD. As a byproduct of one of the frequent pieces of treachery involved in the conflict, a young man in Maud’s service is handed over to the enemy, and no one seems to know who has him, or to what end.
Longtime readers of the series will recognize him immediately; others will have to wait for the text to explain why Brother Cadfael feels compelled to go in search for him, along with his friend Sheriff Hugh Berenger. The first step is to attend a gathering at Coventry to bring the two factions to peace, but peace isn’t what Brother Cadfael finds there.
Given my predilection for historical mysteries, British fiction, and the Middle Ages, it’s no surprise that I liked this a great deal. Cadfael is an enduring and endearing character, and Peters writes a brand of cadenced prose that goes down very easily. The historical background is authentic and worked seamlessly into the text; indeed is an integral part of it.
I don’t find anything to dislike in the Cadfael books. As with any series there are similarities from book to book, but somehow Peters to mu eye has avoided any hint of staleness in the 20 books so far. Fine stuff.
August 12th, 2018 at 7:10 pm
I agree about this series, and in addition to this it is beautifully written by someone who had written notable historical fiction set in the same general era under her own name (Edith Pargeter).
I prefer the lighter Felse books, especially those featuring Dominic and his sister, but recognize Cadfael as one of the great detective creations, and a rounded believable man of his time, like Chandler’s Marlowe a man of his world but good enough for any world.
August 12th, 2018 at 10:17 pm
I’ve read one of the Cadfael books and enjoyed it, but perhaps my tastes run too low, since I’ve never read another. The fault is all mine.
August 12th, 2018 at 10:42 pm
For all the history Peters is a good storyteller. Check out a few episodes of the Cadfael series with Derek Jacobi to get an idea of the qualities of the books as entertainment.
August 13th, 2018 at 12:09 pm
I really like this series, and it’s about time I began a reread of it. I can’t point out a favorite, except for The Virgin in the Ice.