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Description edit
The eighth novel in the author's hugely popular Brother Cadfael series puts the medieval monk on the trail of a priest-killer responsible for the disappearance of a priestly emissary for King Stephen. Reprint. K.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters edit
- Brother Cadfael: a Welsh Benedictine monk in his sixties who's member of the Shrewsbury Abbey, in western England, in the first half of the 12th century. A former crusader who enters the monastic life in his middle age; his experience makes him a skilled observed of human nature and gives him an array of talents and skills including a deep understanding of herbal medicine. Energetic and inquisitive by nature, he has an innate, although modern, sense of justice and fair-play.
- Meriet Aspley: a 19 yea old rnew postulant for the Abbey. A younger son of noble blood, he seems eager to embrace his vows but events call into doubt the genuineness of his Calling
- Peter Clemence: A monk in the household of Bishop Henry of Blois who was sent on a diplomatic mission to Earl Ranulf of Chester and his half-brother, William of Roumare. However, he never arrived at his destination; raising questions about his fate. Son of a cousin of Meriot Aspley's mother.
- Hugh Beringar: Deputy sheriff of Shrewsbury and a long term ally of Brother Cadefeal. Married to Aline, their son Giles is Cadfeal's godson. serves under Gilbert Prescote, King Stephen's man.
- Abbot Radulfus: Abbot of The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury. An astute leader, appreciates Brother Cadfael's experience
- Prior Robert Pennant: Patrician, dignified brother who serves under the Abbot
- Brother Jerome: Subservient 40 year old clerk, shadow, informant and ears for Prior Robert
- Brother Paul: master of the boys and novices. Middle-aged, conscientious and caring.
- Leofric Aspley of Aspley: Stern widower and father of two sons, one tall, golden able, the second, dark, compact, and rebellious. A hard, unforgiving man.
- Fremuth: Elderly, thickset steward for the Aspley manor
- Henry of Blois: Monk of Cluny, abbot of Glastonbury, Bishop of Winchester, papal legate, King Stephen's younger brother - proof positive of the possibility of a rise to power under the cowl
- Earl Ranulf of Chester: independent-minded demi-king married to a daughter of the Earl of Gloucester (the Empress Maud's half-brother)
- William of Roumare: Earl Ranulf of Chester's half-brother and has large holdings in Licolbshire
- Eluard of Winchester: learned canon working under Bishop Henry of Blois questioning the whereabouts of the Bishop's missing cleric sent north to
- Isouda Fortet: Young nut brown heiress of manor bordering Aspley. Leofric Aspley of Aspley is her guardian, manages her lands and she lives with them. Three years younger than Meriet.
- Nigel Aspley: Oldest son of Leofric Aspley of Aspley, apple of his eye, engaged to Roswitha Linde. Fond of his younger brother, Meriet.
- Roswitha Linde: Beautiful fiacée of Nigel Aspley, tall, slender, red-gold hair.
- Janyn Linde: Roswitha Linde's twin. A happy, smiling young man.
- Brother Mark: looks after the inmates at the hospice of St. Giles, a lazar-house for lepers
Setting & Locations edit
Fall 1140, Shrewsbury in Medieval England during the tumultuous years of 'The Anarchy' or 'The Nineteen-Year Winter' ( (1135–1154); a period of civil war and unsettled government as two rival claimants to the throne (Stephen of Blois, a grandson of William the Conqueror and his cousin, the Empress Matilda {or Maud} the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England) waged a bitter war for succession. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle describes it as a time during which "Christ and his saints slept."
- Roswitha
- Þrst
- Shrewsbury
- Winchester
- Long Forest
- England
- Whitchurch
- The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury: A benedictine abbey that is home to Brother Cadfeal
- Alkington: Hamlet north of Shrewsbury and the Peat moss bogs south of Whitchurch and the road to Chester.
- The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul: Benedictine abbey in Shrewsbury
- St. Giles: A hospice south of town for lepers, the ill and indigent supported by The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.
First Sentence edit
IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR OF Our Lord,1140, two lords of Shropshire manors, one north of the town of Shrewsbury, the other south, sent envoys to the abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day, desiring the entry of younger sons of their houses to the Order.
Table of Contents edit
Chapters One - Thirteen
Series & Lists edit
This is book 8 of 21 in Brother Cadfael. (standard series)
Preceded by The Sanctuary Sparrow, and followed by Dead Man's Ransom.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Ellis Peters (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Macmillan
Country: UK
Publication Date: 1983
ISBN: 0333351703
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Macmillan
Country: UK
Publication Date: 1983
ISBN: 0333351703
Page Count: 192
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
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Movie Connections edit
- Cadfael: The Devil's Novice (1996) (IMDb): The second episode of the second season.
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