Customer Reviews (2)

Unfortunately, the final appearance of George Felse
I have thouroughly enjoyed reading Ms. Peters' George Felse series, and this is the last book in that series.In this book we are again treated to Ms. Peters' magic in creating characters. Her characters are colourful and multi-dimensional.Clearly the most notable character in this book is little Bossie Jarvis.Bossie, who is entirley too smart for his own good, creates a hoax that he feels will help rid their community of an unwanted member.But by doing this, he unleashes a storm of greed and murder.George finds that he has to keep a close eye on this imp of a boy in order to find his murderer.Goodbye George, and goddbye Ms. Peters (I have read all the Brother Cadfael mysteries already).You have given me hours of enjoyment.

The Last of Felse
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1978, RAINBOW'S END is the last novel in that series.

Peters typically works with contrived plots, and this novel is in some ways typical; RAINBOW repeatedly asks the reader to accept the implausible as plausible.Even so, Peters has a knack for making such plots entertaining, and this brightly written story of an unlikeable antiques dealer who plunges from a church tower is lightly written and quite entertaining.

Felse makes his final appearance having been promoted to head of the Midshire C.I.D. and there are numerous brightly-written characters, most notably Barbara Rainbow and Willie-the-Twig, to round out the novel.It's all good fun.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Among Peters' Better Inspector Felse Novels
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1961, DEATH AND THE JOYFUL WOMAN is the second novel in that series.Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.

In this particular novel, Inspector Felse is called to the scene of an unlikely homicide: Alfred Armiger, wealthy businessman and owner of the newly opened pub The Jolly Barmaid, has been found clubbed to death with a bottle of champagne.At a guess, the most likely suspect would seem to be Armiger's son Leslie; the two have had a very public falling out.But Leslie Armiger is hardly the only suspect; there is also the young and slightly eccentric heiress Kitty Norton, whose beauty ensnares Felse's young son Dominic.And Dominic may be willing to run any risk to protect her from prison.

JOYFUL WOMAN is among the most critically lauded of Peters' Inspector Felse novels, and with some reason.The characters are particularly well drawn, the plot is quite tight, and it reads at a quick pace.True enough, Peters will never compete with such masters of the genre as Christie, Sayers, or Marsh--and a sharp reader will likely spot the killer in the last third of the novel.Still, JOYFUL WOMAN is a pleasant read and good introduction to Peters' style of "cosy" mystery.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Repetitive from the first in the series.
Ellis Peters is a very good author, so I don't understand why she would have used the same trick in each of the first two books in the George Felse series.Also, I thought that this series was a George Felse series, but both of the first two books have his young son Dominic as the key character and the one who actually solves the case in each instance. This book also exposes poor Dominic to an adolescent crush that seems to take over the plot of the story.Needless to say, I was very disappointed with this book.I do hope that subsequent books in the series have different plots and a little less of a certain adolescent boy.In this book a rich business magnate is found brutally murdered in his brand new ballroom in his brand new hotel.The police seem to be at sixes and sevens throughout the book, and it appears that this murder is just "too complicated" for them to solve, but it was easily figured out by Dominic.Disappointed (and that's the first time ever that I've said this about Ellis Peters).

"Death and the Joyful Woman":Rediscovering the Felses
Is vulgarity grounds for murder?Alfred Armiger had antagonized many with his greed and crass acquisitiveness.So when the ruthless beer baron is discovered dead, his head beaten in by a magnum of champagne, there is no shortage of suspects.But all of Comerford is shocked with Detective George Felse arrests Kitty Norris, the daughter of a rival beer baron, the last person to see Armiger alive, and the main beneficiary of his will!But Kitty, charming and popular, has an unexpected advocate in Felse's young son, Dominic, who secretly adores her.Passionately convinced of Kitty's innocence, Dominic sets out to find the true culprit, a hazardous undertaking that might well cost him his life!

Best known for the Brother Cadfael mysteries, Ellis Peters actually wrote the Felse series first, but until recent years, these appealing books have been out of print in the United States."Death and the Joyful Woman," which received an Edgar Award, deserves a warm welcome from American readers.Peters has told not only an engaging mystery but a sensitive coming-of-age story as well.Characters and relationships are sharply delineated--Dominic is a highly likable teen sleuth and his interactions with his parents, especially his father, are both amusing and touching. And a subplot concerning a struggling young couple and an unusual painting--the Joyful Woman of the title--proves just as involving as the main storyline.Readers of "Fallen into the Pit," Peters' first Felse mystery, may notice that the method Dominic uses to flush out the murderer is similar to the one he employs here, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent novel.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Love in the cloisters
Following a weddding feast where a young man has been entertaining the guests with songs and tumbling, the unconscious body of the host, a parsimonious goldsmith, is found, near his empty treasure chest. A hue and cry is called, blaming the minstrel and an angry, drunken crowd pursues him to the Abbey of Shrewsbury, where he claims sanctuary. The Abbot is forced by custom to grant him food and shelter for 40 days, but urges Cadfael to investigate the claims made against the minstrel. The household of the goldsmith is not a very happy one with the ageing daughter of the house forced into the role of unpaid and unappreciated servant, without the chance of making a life of her own, and with the grandmother as mean as her son, carping and acid tongued. An extremely nosy neighbour of the goldsmith has determined who was responsible fot the theft and seeks to profit by this knowledge, but is murdered before he can tell anyone his suspicions. Cadfael, as usual, patiently sifts through all the tiny clues which would probably escape the attention of anyone else, and fights hard to clear the minstrel's name. It's another Brother Cadfael triumph of love and justice over the evil doers.

Very fun read!
If you are a person that just wants to enjoy a fun book and likes historical mystery's, this book is for you.Similar to "The Name of the Rose" in context, but much easier to understand! (although "The Name of the Rose" is great also)I would recommend this book to anyone.Reads very quick and characters are understandable.Have fun!

A finely honed tale of mediaeval intrigue
Barely four weeks past Easter of the Year of Our Lord 1140, with Shrewsbury and all its region secure within the King's peace, the conventual peace of Matins within the great Abbey church of St Peter and St Paul is suddenly and most rudely shattered. Hunted and hounded by an angry mob into the comparative safety of sanctuary within the House of God, a terrified young man, accused of robbery and murder, and closely followed by his accusers and would-be executioners, disturbs the midnight office of the good monks of Shrewsbury. And so starts the seventh Chronicle of Brother Cadfael, in which the mediaeval sleuth finds himself with yet another wrong to right, by once more putting his mind to the solving of one of Shrewsbury's small mysteries.

In this particular case, the mystery is no greatly complex affair but it is, in any case, largely subsidiary to Ellis Peters' painting of a finely detailed picture of life in twelfth century England, and more especially here, within a moderately wealthy family household. There are some unexpected twists and developments along the way, though, and there is certainly nothing predictable about the way the story works itself out, although the ending is no particular surprise either.

In some respects, this is one of the best of the Cadfael books. Its opening pages contain some of Ellis Peters' finest writing, with her descriptions of the running to ground of young Liliwin and the reactions of Abbot Radulfus being quite hair-raising in their potency. The tale unfolds at a sure and steady pace thereafter, too, ensuring that it is always difficult to put the book down, right up until the final exciting, and rather tear-jerking, denouement.

Rich and rewarding
Ellis Peters, as always, creates a tense, yet delicately crafted, net of secrets and thoughts, and a solid and careful detangler of mystery in her beloved Brother Cadfael. I found the contrast of the pairs of the lovers inthe end not syruppy, as one reviewer noted, but a fascinating study in theribbons of pain and hate and even evil that can be woven through love. Thetwo pairs are contrasts as clear as shadow and light, yet the source is thesame - the flame of love is what creates the darkness of the shadows andthe fire-glory of the light. You wish you could untangle them, give backthe darkness to the night where it belongs, but in this book the heartturned awry cannot grow back, cannot untwist itself, and is thrown into theneverending dark. The reason I don't find it syruppy is that I think thatwhile the focus seems to be on the fate of the two stubborn, delicateyoungsters in love, Peters is really intent upon the other pair, the pairof lovers whose love brought them darkness instead of light.In any case,this book is like most of Peters' others - a finely texturized and woventapestry of history and people in all the colors of blood and earth andthat long-ago sky.

Great action in this one
The story line is full of surprises and excellent suspense.The ending isn't up to Peters' standards, though.Enjoyable reading none the less. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Best of Inspector Felse
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1951, FALLEN INTO THE PIT is first novel in that series--and easily the best.

Most of the Inspector Felse novels run approximately two hundred pages; FALLEN INTO THE PIT runs over three hundred.To a certain extent this is due to Peters' establishment of the main characters and locales--but in simple fact the novel is much more densely written than her other Felse novels, so much so that at times it has an almost poetic quality.

Set in England following World War II, the plot focuses on a young German prisoner of war named Helmut Schauffler, who has remained in England after his release.Unfortunately, Helmut is a nasty bit of goods: a bully who attacks only when reasonably certain that there will be no retribution.Needless to say, he makes enemies right and left--and no one is greatly surprized when he is found with his head crushed in and thrown into a country stream.

Peters' plots are typically contrived, and although handsomely written and more than usually entertaining this is no less true of FALLEN INTO THE PIT than it is of her other works; long-time mystery readers will likely spot the killer through the way the author draws out her plot and sets forth the characters.Even so, this remains a particularly fine title in the Felse series.Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

My First George Felse Mystery
I have read and loved all Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries, and for that reason I had been reluctant to start her equally well-known George Felse series.I am very glad that I did decide to begin this series.It's been awhile since I actually read a Brother Cadfael, and I had forgotten what a marvellous writer Ms. Peters was.Her characters in this series are just as well-rounded and realistic as the ones in the Cadfael series.The time and place are much different, but Ms. Peters' wonderful plotting and story-telling are the same.I truly believe that Ms. Peters is still in a class of her own when it comes to authorship.In this book the main sleuth is not George Felse himself, but his protege of a son - Dominic, who is 13 years old.Ms. Peters has written a coming of age mystery book here with her usual great skill. Dominic and his sidekick Pussy are two youngsters that readers will not soon forget.Also, George's wife Bunty is another wonderful character that I can't wait to read more about.They mystery too is ingenious and such a pleasure to uncover.Can't wait for more George Felse.

Deep, insightful, and brilliant
After reading almost all of Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries, I decided to give her other works a try, just to see if they could possibly compare.Well, to say I was surprised at what a fantastic novel this is can only be appreciated by those who have read and marveled at the brilliant Cadfael series.

Peters has created not only a very suspenseful and intriguing whodunnit, but a work of great depth, warmth, humor, and tragedy, full of complex character studies and profound insights into human nature, the effects of war, and how the murder of a man whom everyone hated anyway still rips apart the fabric of a small, close-knit community.And above it all emerges a playful, lighthearted banter between a precocious 13-year-old and his loving parents which is absolutely delightful to read.Somewhere around the middle of the book, after she has painted a vivid picture for us of the people, place, and times, young Dominic becomes central as the book's primary protagonist, and I cannot think of a more well-suited character to carry this novel.

As for the mystery itself, it was simply ingenious, better than many of the Cadfael mysteries, some of which are fairly easy to solve.This one had me on my toes until the very end, and threw some whopping surprises in along the way.

This is truly a work of genius, many-layered, lovingly crafted, and brilliantly well-told.Good luck finding another modern author who can come close to this level of accomplishment.Peters' work deserves much more acclaim than it has received.

Felse's first murder investigation
Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
- Psalms 7:14 - 15

In these days after WWII, England is no longer the place the young men left when they went away to fight. The mining industry has been nationalized, and even Comerford's old slapdash efforts at opening up its shallow coal deposits are about to be reopened, with a flood of new faces coming in to operate the new machinery. The men who went away, of course, aren't those who came back: Jim Tugg, the hired man at the Hollins farm, with daring exploits as a paratrooper; Chad Wedderburn, the pacifist classics master who spent years in guerilla fighting; even Charles Blunden, son of Selwyn Blunden of Harrow, fought all the way across North Africa and Sicily.

Expatriates from all over Europe are common enough, even ex-POWs who still slip and say 'Heil Hitler!' if they forget. (And get beaten up, maybe, by somebody whose brother died in a Stalag.) Helmut Schauffler, though, has been asking to be murdered by going far beyond that.

Gerd Hollins had lost her entire family in the concentration camps. Haunted by memories of horror that won't stay suppressed, she asked her husband to hire Helmut, because if she could learn to see one German as a human being, it would help her to let go of her nightmares. Unfortunately, Helmut is a creep - an actual Nazi who enjoys psychological torment (though he's not stupid enough to try it in front of her husband or hired man). When he's fired and takes a job at the quarry, he still harasses her in a slimy way, while causing discord everywhere else he goes.

Sergeant Felse isn't surprised when Helmut finally turns up floating in the brook, head bashed in, although he's less than thrilled that his 13-year-old son Dominic found the corpse. Despite George's best efforts, Dominic gets interested in the case, especially since his classics master is a suspect.

A great modern English mystery, best she's written.
This was one of the best mysteries I have ever read. I came upon it by accident, not even knowing if it were a mystery or not. It is a wonderful successor to the great writers of the original English mystery. GeorgeFelse ranks up there with Poirot and Holmes, but shows a bit more humanity.The other characters, also, show qualities that make you forget that you'rereading. The plot, I'm sure, will perplex you and will have you back formore Ellis Peters. I will say that after reading most of the Felsemysteries and a few Cadfael that Felse is better, but this one is the bestin the lot. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Music For Murder
Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1967, BLACK IS THE COLOR OF MY TRUE LOVE'S HEART is the sixth novel in that series.Like most of Peters' work, it is a lightly written, enjoyable read.

In this novel, Inspector Felse's son Dominic and his girlfriend Tossa are attending a weekend course on folk music at Follymead--but not all the interest involved is of a musical variety.Singing star Lucien Galt draws all eyes; ballad singer Liri Palmer makes it plain from the stage that she loathes him; and television host Dickie Meurice seems determined to fan the flames for the sake of his own ego.It is all in a day's work in the music business... until two men disappear from the college under very mysterious circumstances and Inspector Felse is called in to determine if foul play is afoot.

Peters will never compare to the great masters of the mystery genre, but she can be quite a lot of fun in her own right, and MY TRUE LOVE'S HEART is among the best of her Felse novels.The book has considerable atmosphere, the characters are memorable, and the plot is very tight indeed.Recommended for first timers and old fans alike.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The Virgin in the Ice
It's 1139 and winter in Worcester on the border between England and Wales.Two orphans in the charge of a Benedictine nun fleeing the internecine war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda have disappeared into a blizzard.Enter a mysterious stranger (gasp!) in search of them and Brother Cadfael temporarily abandons the cloister to take up again the sword of the crusader he once was to go in aid.A you-are-there setting, unexpected plot turns, and characters minimally drawn for maximum effect, Ellis Peters ends The Virgin in the Ice with the best sword fight since Captain Blood:"Now have ado with a man!"

This is my favorite of the Brother Cadfael series, but more, reading these novels is a twenty-lesson tutorial in writing superbly to formula.There is always murder most foul, young lovers in peril, repulsive villains, confounded authorities, and Cadfael triumphant, and it all works, every time.

Cold comforts
In the severe winter of 1139, the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud is still in progress with refugees fleeing from the sacked city of Worcester, and marauding bands of robbers taking advantage of the situation and preying on the weak. At Bromfield Abbey, 20 miles from the Shrewsbury Abbey home of Brother Cadfael, a visitng monk has been savagely beaten and left for dead. As his condition worsened, the Abbot sends for Cadfael with his greater knowledge of defence wounds and their treatment. Deputy Sherriff Hugh Beringar has also been informed that the two teenaged children of a nobleman are missing, en route to the safety of the Abbey, accompanied by a young nun. After listening to the feverish ravings of the sick monk, Cadfael searches for and finds the body of the nun, frozen in a pond. Hugh and his men hack the block of ice containing the body, free and upon the ice thawing, Cadfael finds that the nun has been savagely raped and smothered. The young missing travellers are found and, in his methodical fashion,Cadfael, with his knowledge of affairs of the heart and awareness of human failings, helps to unravel several mysteries which beset the teenagers, as well as unravellling a mystery of his own former life as a crusader. It's a simple read of an age in which violence is no stranger to everyday life, and where the powerful hold sway over the lives of the ordinary people.

The Hawk vs the Lion--a Secret kept even from Hugh!
SPOILER WARNING: Do not read this review unless you have read Pilgrim of Hate or Brother Cadfael's Penance!Unlike BrotherCadfael, who hugs his precious secret and private joy to his thankful breast, I can restrain my "pen" only with the greatest difficulty.I want to publish the newsabroad, but also have an obligation not to spoil the thrill of future discovery for readers who will follow.

All Ellis Peters' movels in this fabulous series offer excellent mysteries per se; indeed, many offer overlapping crimes by multiple malefactors. Yet to my medievally-inclined mind, the most satisfying are those novels which reveal more fascinating details or penetrating insight into the psyche and active past of our favorite monk-turned-sleuth.For Cadfael has been a soldier, sailor, sinner and Crusader--in his own unabashed words--in late 12th century Wales, England and the Holy Land. After 40 years of lusty living in the World, he willingly gave up arms forever, to take up the cowl and honor the cross.

But the cream of Peters' novels are those in which we meet the special characters do dear to Cadfael: his Saint, his best friend, Hugh, his lost amours and now...?What a joy for readers who have grown to love and respect this dedicated monk, as he gradually reveals his personal journey into a past not so dead after all! Peters makes a great case for mixed marriage in VIRGIN, as she does for the role of a faithful mistress in LEPER.Guilty men believe they see the ghosts of their victims here, as in BONES.The murderer thinks he can slip in an extra crime amid the general carnage, as in ONE CORPSE, but luckily for justice, Brother Cadfael does not permit these foul deeds to remain unnoticed on go unpunished.Vengeance may belong to the Lord, but Cadfaelhovers nearby to provide a helping hand when necessary. Don't keep your curiosity frozen in a shroud of ice along with the unnamed virgin; read this wonderful mystery and be enlightened--not to mention--superbly entertained!

Cadfael at his best
In Ellis Peters sixth Brother Cadfael chronicle a headstrong young woman, Ermina Hugonin, her younger brother, Yves and a nun flee Worcester and head towards Shrubbery as Maude's forces overpower Stephens in the 12th century.They never arrive, concerning Cadfael and the local Sheriff.After being called to Bromfield to nurse a fellow monk to health Cadfael begins to discover the mystery of their disappearance.

As is her usual style Ellis Peters makes quick work of capturing the readers interest and deftly furnishes the setting with appropriate details of twelfth century life. In this chronicle especially we learn of the dangers and uncertainties created by the great civil war between Maude and Stephen.

With each book I grow fonder of Brother Cadfael, the former warrior who has become a monk.Cadfael, because of his early life experienceshas a great understanding of human nature and is slow to condemn those who fail to achieve perfection.He is constantly nurturing and makes an effort to safeguard those younger and weaker than he. In The Virgin in the Ice, Cadfael truly excels and comes into his own.We see him as both an active participant in the events and one who is able to analyze and understand human nature and thus is able to unwind the mystery.

For anyone who is fond of Medieval Mystery the Brother Cadfael Chronicles shouldn't be missed and this is one of the better.

First-rate Mediaeval thriller and murder mystery
This sixth in the series of tales of Brother Cadfael is less obviously a whodunit and much more of a thriller or twelfth century adventure story. It is set in the English Marches, amidst the chaos ensuing from the sacking of Worcester by supporters of the Empress Maud against King Stephen in November 1139. The action takes place in Ludlow (mid-way between Cadfael's normal haunts of Shrewsbury, and the beleaguered city of Worcester) where our hero is ostensibly nursing back to health a Benedictine brother who has seemingly been waylaid by a band of outlaws, stripped and left for dead.

Whilst in Ludlow, Cadfael also finds himself embroiled in the hunt for a party of three young persons missing after the attacks on Worcester and known to be heading for Shrewsbury, at which destination they have failed to arrive. With a bitter freeze and the winter's first snows on hand, there are grave concerns for their safety and well-being. One of the three is subsequently found dead - obviously killed and dumped in a watery (now icy) grave on the very night that the good monk's patient was attacked.

Unlike many another Cadfael tale, this one moves along with a gripping sense of urgency and with a fair amount of tension and excitement building gradually as things proceed. It contains Ellis Peters' usual meticulous attention to both historical and narrative detail and constitutes as riveting - and entertaining - a story as you are likely to find. As always, Cadfael is aware of details overlooked by others and never once loses sight of the smaller issues that are wont to become subsumed into the larger, weightier ones. He (and the regular reader) is provided with an unlooked-for reward in this volume, too.

This book has to be one of the very best of the Cadfael Chronicles and is unreservedly recommended for lovers of the genre. Its story line stands somewhat apart from others in the series, making it fairly unimportant where it is read in the sequence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Another Solid Entry
Cadfael is out and about again, this time in the company of his favorite Brother, Mark, and the story is free, except incidentally, of the Maud/Stephen eternal wrangle for the crown. Summer of the Danes brings the oft mentioned Owain Gwynedd to the fore along with his ambitious, untrustworthy and terribly flawed younger brother Cadwaladr in an intricate tale involving the Danes, who seem to comport themselves rather well given all bad press they usually come in for. The mystery is minor, romance flourishes and, while Cadfael plays his part, he's not the story, alas. Neither is Mark who seems a bit odd in this one. On his way to a sainted greatness no doubt. While you may wonder, as I oft have done, why books of this series are called medieval novels of suspense, rest assured that Peter's ability to limn a character, evoke a time, and place you in the scene are rarely equaled. We must, therefore, with good grace, allow Cadfael to play second fiddle from time to time and tolerate her unrelenting devotion to romance. Small price to pay for a satisfying series.

Strained relations
This 18th chronicle of Brother Cadfael has less about him and more about history. In fact, he really only appears at the beginning and at the ending and doesn't have any hand at all in the solving of crimes. The story springs from the tempestuous relationship between Owain Gwynedd, Prince of Wales and Cadwaladr, his treacherous and headstrong younger brother. The brothers have had no peace between them for years as Cadwaladr is forever plotting to seize power for himself, being beaten at this game by his brother and then counting on the strong family ties that exist in all Welshmen, to be forgiven and taken back into the fold. This time, he has gone too far however, and has hired Danish mercenaries to attack Owain's troops. These Danes have been settled in Ireland for generations (a fact I did not know) and were just as much Irish as Danish and were Christian to boot! It was an interesting read for the historical contents alone, even if Cadfael scarcely appeared.

not quite as good as the rest of the series
The first 50 pages are mostly travelogue, and the next 50 pages are mostly set-up.The story doesn't really take off until around page 115.Once it gets going, it's good, but I found myself skimming huge paragraphs of bucolic description in the beginning.It's worth reading if you're working your way through the series, but if you're looking for an introduction to the Cadfael series, don't start with this book.

The Summer of the Danes
I found this a marvelous mystery, though, as in most of this author's mysteries, the mystery is not important. The important thing is the words, the well-developed characters, and the lack of stereotypical characters.
I have a question for the person who said that all Peter's heroes were tall, blond, and muscular. I would like to ask how many he has read, as it is actually rare that the heroes are blond. Take a look at Hugh Beringar, Torold Blund and Brother Cadfael himself for some examples! And in the Hermit of Eyton Forest, the protagonist is a child with many childish characteristics.
The books are very good in general, though there are one or two that are not up to par. This is not one of her best, however, so you might try A Morbid Taste for Bones or One Corpse Too Many, which are both very good. I recommend this series to anyone who likes medieval mysteries!

Peters' Cadfael takes on a Danish role!
It is not the summer of his discontent, washed by the sun of Yorke; however, it is the season for another Cadfael adventure and mystery!And Ellis Peters, in her usual intriguing way, presents us with her 18thBrother Cadfael episode in "The Summer of the Danes."

The year is1144--the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud still rageson--and Brother Cadfael is called upon to be an interpreter to the Welshvillage of Saint Asaph.Cadfael is Welsh born and he welcomes the journeyto his homeland as a pleasant break from his duties as a brother at theBenedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury.

Asit turns out--and naturally, as this is an Ellis Peters mystery!--a Danishfleet is sighted along the coast of Wales, a real menace, indeed.Then ayoung girl goes missing.Then a body is found.And Cadfael is off andrunning.

So is the reader!Having read all the Brother Cadfaelseries, I found this to be one of my favorites.Peters wastes no time indeveloping her story and does not hesitate to flavor her plot with plentyof Welsh history and lore. Will the Danes invade?Will the murderer bebrought to justice? Cadfael's expertise, once again, proves to be essentialin the resolution of the crimes.

Cadfael is the former crusader nowturned monk who, while not solving murder cases, works as the Abbey'sherbalist and is known throughout the area for his skills in medicine.The"Sunday Express" writes:"Cadfael...springs to life in her books, whichare novels with depth.He is a man of warmth, humanity and engagingnosiness."

Do not be misled by the British TV series of the Cadfaelstories.While on the surface they are quite adequate (Derek Jacobi is anideal Cadfael), the 50-minute recounting of any of Peters' books does notdo justice to the novel, which is a pity, for there are great gaps of(mis)understanding that simply cannot be supplied in such short time.Staywith the books!They are well-worth the read.Cadfael is a characterworth knowing!

Billyjhobbs@tyler.net ... Read more

Book Description
The body of a woman is unearthed in the freshly plowed fields that once belonged to a local potter — now a Benedictine monk. The woman is revealed to be his beautiful young wife, thought to have run away. Medieval Benedictine monk Brother Cadfael must determine if one of his own order is guilty of the crime. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

#17 an' still going strong?
The Pillars of the Earth
In the Brother Caedfael mysteries we get a very different
look at life in the 12th century from that given by Ken Follett.
In some ways I think Follett captured the feel of "life" better
in his failed historical novel than Ellis Peters does in his admittedly successful series?
We get a very different take on the local royalty and how they interacted with their peasants in a feudal setting.
In this novel someone dead and unsuspected is the plot twist

An intriguing read
This entry in the Brother Cadfael series presents a more complex tale of good, evil, and the grey area in between, than often is the case in this series. There is the usual happy ending in terms of the young couple united in the course of the story, but the resolution of the guilty party is surprising and somewhat unsettling.

Not over until, well, yes it is!
In this book events are set in motion promptly with an inter-abbey swap of plots, a brother who has found his calling late, and another good man gone thanks to King Stephen's rashness. [And still they love him! Shakespeare was on to something.] As the story unfolds a skeletonized body is found and the hunt is on to identify it. A second son [he who doth not inherit] leads a tortured existence. A bride to be is less than angelic. All good stuff. The story proceeds apace until the denouement and then you wonder. Did Peter's get tired? Bored? Busy? Well, plot ending aside, the characters are richly developed and that has to be enough!

Buried memories
In this 17th chronicle of the detective monk, Brother Cadfael is asked to help to identify the body of a woman who was discovered when the monks of the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul began to till a field which had just been donated to them. The field was previously occupied by Ruald, a local potter who abandoned his wife of many years to become a monk, claiming that he had a divine calling from God, and the fact that he was leaving his wife neither free nor widowed, was immaterial. Local rumour has it that Ruald's wife, Generys, ran off with a lover and, as she was a verybeautiful woman who certainly did not appreciate being dumped, even for God, this rumour was generally accepted. It's the year 1143 and the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud is still raging, with the armies of both sides doing great damage to the countryside and the people. When an Abbey in the fens was seized by renegade soldiers under Geoffrey de Mandeville, the monks were forced to flee to safety and one of them, a young man who was still a novice, comes to Shrewsbury. Sulien Blount is the younger son of a local noble family and begs admission to the Abbey to continue his novitiate. Sulien has a ring belonging to Generys and claims that he obtained it recently from a silversmith near the besieged Abby, which proves that she is still alive and so the body which was found cannot be hers. When the Sheriff, Hugh Beringar is commanded by the king to take a troop of soldiers to the fens to flush out the marauders, he takes the opportunity to visit the silversmith to find out the truth about Generys ring. Between them, Cadfael and Hugh discover the truth behind the body which was buried in unconsecrated ground...an unbelievably shocking thing in those times.

Extremely well written - a gentle & interesting story
I found this (unabridged audio) book at the library - knew nothing about the series or the author.What a pleasant surprise!Very well written, a meticulously crafted story that gently unfolds in a way that engages you from the start without any bumps or discrepancies, using a language and style that seem to come from the very times that it describes.Written with an obvious affection for the characters portrayed.And Stephen Thorne's narration is equally masterful.My recent joy at discovering that there are at least 17 other books in the series had my daughters rolling their eyes like crazy in the bookstore.Can't wait to read more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Non Fiction
Beresford Ellis has written an introduction to Druid society and culture.It is not overly long, and reasonably accessible, I think.It looks at clearing up the misconceptions (or Asterix caricatures :) :) ).For those interested in learning something about this group of people, this book is certainly worth a look.

food for thought
Ellis's writing style can be a bit frustrating for the pagan reader, but as a student of history I found this book most enjoyable. The author's theories about the similarities between Celtic and Indian culture are, if nothing else, intriguing. I feel that the material was presented in the manner intended: as a sampling of the evidence that will hopefully inspire others to do the research for themselves. As a Celtic reconstructionist pagan, I personally share his views on "new agers" claiming to follow a Celtic path. A triumphant book that delivers us from the New Age dregs of revisionist religion to at least a plausible level of ancient custom.

Enigmatic
Who were the Druids? This group, surrounded by legend and folklore for millenia, continues to fascinate moderns, perhaps because of the enigmatic character of their identity. Probably most of the popular images of Druids -- of being tree worshippers, of being itinerant poets and prophets, of being priests who practiced human sacrifice and built strange structures such as Stonehenge -- are generally misperceptions, perhaps even deliberate 'character assassination' attempts by the victorious political and religious authorities that moved into Druid areas. Indeed, the bulk of Classical information on the Druids comes from anti-Druid writings of the Romans.

`By the time the Celts themselves came to commit their knowledge to writing, they had become Christianised and, not surprisingly, the Druids continued to get "a bad Press". Their portrayal remains an extremely biased one.'

In this very readable book on The Druids, Peter Berresford Ellis presents an examination of the archaeological, etymological and historical evidence to give an account of the identity and importance of the Druids in early Celtic societies.

`The Druids emerge as the intellectual caste of ancient Celtic society. They were the doctors, the lawyers, the ambassadors, the advisors to kings. They also had a religious function.'

One historical fact that is often overlooked is that the early Celtic 'empire' was as expansive as the Roman Empire, stretching from Britain and Ireland in the northwest, through Gaul and central Europe north of the Alps, stretching as far as Turkey to the east, and also extending down into Iberia. The Celtic language group includes influences on all major European languages as well. However, the Celtic empire had no imperium, no central structure or organisation, but was rather a loose confederation, in which the Druids, as the intellectuals, helped to keep a cohesion of social life if not political and economic life.

The Druids operated largely without writing, following the tradition of many early peoples by using an oral tradition of learning and history. Thus the earliest appearances of the Druids come from Greek and Roman writings. The Druids were seen as a philosophising, priestly caste, also somewhat of a civil authority. Indeed, both Julius Caesar and Cicero mention the Druids in their writings, and one Druid ambassador even addressed the Roman Senate in search of an alliance against the barbarian Germanic tribes (Caesar, however, with intent to conquer Gaul, persuaded the Senate to support the Germans so as to facilitate the conquest of Gaul -- of course, shortly thereafter the Germans became the enemies of Rome, and would remain so for the most part for the rest of Roman history).

Ellis examines the Druids from many vantage points, looking at the writings about the Druids by both insiders (Celts) and outsiders. Ellis also examines the religion, rituals, and wisdom of the Druids, which includes subchapters on schools, books, philosophy, law, history, poetry, music, medical knowledge, art, astronomy and astrology, and mysticism.

Ellis argues in his final chapter that the Druids never truly disappeared. As a social class, rather than as a narrowly-defined group of wizards and priests, the Druids as an intelligensia remained under a new classification, but this social strata was slowly destroyed by the nations who conquered the Celts and made strides to assimilate or eliminate the Celtic peoples. Ellis traces the literary/historical chain of events that led to the identification of the Druids as a small subset of this intelligensia, mostly those dealing with religion and the arts, most commonly associated with secret rites or witchcraft, which is present in today's thinking about the Druids.

`Celtic and Druidic "truth" of every description -- from "arcane knowledge", "karmic destiny", "the true path", to "mystic awareness" -- are solicited in the commercial deluge of New Age philosophies. The Druids and the Celts were there when our seventeenth and eighteenth century ancestors sought "Romanticism" as a counter-balance to the "Age of Reason" and industrialisation. It is not surprising that they are still being reinvented at this time because, in our sad and sorry contemporary world, people still want a quick fix on spirituality.'

This is a fascinating and highly readable text on the history of the Druids, and the history of the way the Druids have been portrayed (and misrepresented).

Misses both the general reader and the historian
To defend his lack of academic documentation in the book, Peter Berresford Ellis claims he writes for the "general reader," not the historian.I'll leave it to the other reviewers to explain how Ellis's book disappoints historians, but as a general reader I feel qualified to say it disappoints me.Here's why:

1) The book's writing style is a lengthy listing of names and places with minimal transition or elaboration to string them together meaningfully.For a general reader, Ellis makes a fascinating subject tedious to follow.

2) Some of the arguments Ellis makes are weakly supported and, frankly, appear unobjective.In a tone that crosses to sarcasm, he attacks several sources as pro-Roman (i.e. untrustworthy) without explaining his evidence thoroughly.

A good introduction to the Druidic controversies
Peter Berresford Ellis is a popular historian, not an academic historian.The primary difference between popular and academic historians is that they write for different audiences.Ellis' work has been criticized for lacking the kind of detailed references that a peer-reviewed book or article would include.The reader must guess where the citations and allusions may be researched and accept the citations and translations as accurate.

Hence, you're not likely to find many historians recommending an Ellis book to their students.But students who have read Ellis will have a very clear idea of what materials to look for.And he does a very good job of challenging long-standing interpretations which have always been flimsy or weak at best.Unfortunately for him, the science of historical analysis requires accountability and Ellis refuses to be accountable.He takes his case to the popular audience and hopes to influence the broader imagination.

That's all well and good, but some of his research has been challenged and Ellis has had to make at least one major retraction in his career.He is a Celto-centric writer and people of Celtic heritage should be glad to know there is still a dedicated flag-waver around.But in the end, no matter how well he writes, no matter how thorough his research, Ellis must be regarded only as a popular historian.In that respect, he is one of the finest popular historians I've had the pleasure to read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A Harried Damsel, a Hunted Defender, and Hansen's Disease
A beautiful orphan heiress (Iveta) with a large dowry and mercenary guardians is about to be forced into a marriage of convenience with a rich but loathsome toad (Huon de Domville).When Huon's young, handsome retainer (Joscelyn Lucy) expresses his love for Iveta and his opposition to the marriage, he is fired, Huon is murdered, and the hunt is on for Joss.He could easily escape, but he will not leave until he can rescue Iveta from her guardians.

Joss takes refuge in a leper colony and is aided by an ancient, eight-fingered leper called Lazarus and a young boy whose mother is dying of leprosy. Can Joss escape the hangman's noose? Can the Iveta escape her guardians?Can the two star-crossed lovers be reunited?Who is this mysterious Lazarus?

Only one man in the whole of England can unravel this mystery, and he happens to be living in the nearby Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul.He is, of course, the Abbey's herbalist, Brother Cadfael, a former Crusader and pirate.

My introduction to the medievel whodunit
This was my first foray into the Brother Cadfael series, having recently retrieved several of them from the neighbors giveaway bin.I think I am already hooked!It's too bad this series is not more widely available in the US (or perhaps I don't inhabit the right bookselling establishments).

This is standard mystery fare for the most part, but with several unique twists.First and foremost is the 12th century England setting.This is quite educational in and of itself, especially for Yanks ill-versed in English history or for anyone who thinks that nothing happened durring the Middle Ages.The details certainly give you a sense of historical accuracy, although I am not not a qualified judge of such things.I was also interested to find out that one can explore the remains of the locale in present day Shrewsbury.

Brother Cadfael himself is a unique character.Although I believe the clergyman-cum-detective has been done before (actually he is a monk but not a priest), his work is complicated by the fact that he is never officially authorized (in this book anyway) by the sheriff to investigate the crime, nor is he paid for his work.Most of his investigations are surreptitious and voluntary, performed to satisfy his curiousity and desire for justice.

This particular book, in addition to the mystery, gives us a striking love story, involving an arranged marriage and forbidden love.While the outcome of the love story is never really in doubt, it does give you a rooting interest while you observe the investigative evidence unfold.There is also a fascinating look at the world of leprosy, one which has probably not changed much in many countries and which has only changed in the developed world in the last 100 years.To top things off there is a surprise twist involving Muslim-Christian relations, which is remarkably apropos for today's world despite having been written 20 years ago about something that took place a milleniumn ago.

One word of caution: as a consequence of the attempt at historical accuracy, there are many vocabulary words and turns-of-phrase that are obscure in modern English (especially American English), which tends to slow the reading down some.For those who want to broaden their vocabulary a dictionary would be useful, although the general gist of the story is usually evident from the context.In any case, don't be put off, it's worth the effort!

Sound the clapper!
In this fifth chronicle of Brother Cadfael of the abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul of Shrewsbury, a young, reluctant heiress is brought to the abbey for a marriage, forced on her by her greedy guardians, to a much older, gross mannered man, Huon de Domville. The prospective bride loves a young squire of her own age, but all of her protests are swept away in the name of joining together, two considerable estates. On the eve of the wedding, de Domville dismisses his servants and rides out alone for one last visit to his mistress, before the marriage takes place, but is found murdered in the woods, with clues firmly pointing to the young squire, Joscelin Lucy. Lucy had been overheard in the local inn by many people the evening before, making threatening remarks about de Domville while getting fall down drunk. Joscelin is arrested but manages to elude his captors, hiding in the nearby leper colony, which is supervised by Cadfael's protege, Brother Mark. The abbot enlists the aid of Cadfael in sorting out the mess, but when the murdered body of the girl's guardian is also discoverd, only Cadfael looks in the right direction to clear up the mysteries. As ever, in these fascinating books, Cadfael emerges as a man ahead of his time, as a clear thinking problem solver who cuts through prejudice and superstition, to bring everything to a satisfactory conclusion.

deception, the meaning of identity, and questions...
Ellis Peters' "The Leper of St. Giles" starts off as, and continues to be, more of a pure love story than any of its predecessors. Since it is a Cadfael story, murder and mystery do indeed rear their ugly heads. Once more, Cadfael is called (with the support of his nifty new abbot) to do more than mix herbs.

Cadfael's former apprentice Brother Mark has left the nest as the story begins. One of the great joys in this book is to see the continued growth of Mark as a minister. In fact it is Mark, more so than Cadfael, who finds himself in the center of the action in "The Leper of Saint Giles."

This is a story that has a lot to do with the meaning of identity and the impact of deception. The basic plot revolves around a lowly squire who loves a wealthy heiress. The problem is, the heiress' wretched relations are intent on marrying her off for financial gain. From this rather nasty situation springs murder and false accusation. It is the job of Cadfael and Mark to make things right.

The more I read of Ellis Peters, the more I admire her work. She had a unique literary voice. So much wisdom is imparted in each story. This is doubly true in "The Leper of St. Giles." The reader is left questioning the actions of Cadfael and pondering the meaning of Justice.

While I am left with many questions and I missed Cadfael's old buddy Hugh, I found this book to be one of the more satisfying Cadfael stories. I highly recommend "The Leper of St. Giles."

Medieval mystery and romance
The Leper of Saint Giles the fifth book in Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series, exemplifies everything which is laudable in her series. Peters' shines in creating characters who we love, andexcels in the ability to set the stage in the medieval world. Balancing mystery with romance is never an easy matter andEllis Peters has created an entire series where this is her forte.In addition this series does not cling to the traditional sense of justice found in many other mysteries.

Brother Cadfael is at his best.He is both a spiritual being and a worldly one.He is as comfortable in the church as he is talking with a knights mistress.Cadfael has an innate ability to sense what is good in true in a person and works actively to support those with just causes.In the instance of this novel it is a young squire, Joss and a wealthy heiress Iveta. Iveta is a pawn of her aunt and uncle who plan to marry her to an aging knight and divide her land between them. Joss loves Iveta and plans on finding away to protect her.when a murder halts the marriage, Joss is the first suspect.

The setting is once again the Benedictine Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury, but this time it also includes the leper colony of Saint Giles.the reader is introduced to some of the horrors and indignities which the lepers lived through.Brother Mark works among them and recognizes the dignity of the human spirit.

I suggest this book as reading for those who love medieval mysteries. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Holy shenanigans!
In this penultimate chronicle of Brothet Cadfael, herbalist, monk and resident sleuth of the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul, the waters of the local river are rising to dangerous levels, forcing the evacuation of their precious relics and treasures to higher ground, including the silver coffin containing the bones of Cadfael's special saint, St. Winifred of Wales. Following the sacking of the Abbey's sister house in the fens by the evil Geoffrey de Mandeville, Herluin, the sub prior of that house, accompanied by a novice monk, Tutilio, is sheltered at the Abbey while on a quest to raise funds to enable their own Abbey to be rebuilt. During the upheaval of rescuing the relics from the flood waters, the coffin of St.Winifred disappears and consequently is deemed to have been loaded on to a cart with donated building timber and a large quantity of silver and jewellery. The drivers of the cart stumble back to the Abbey, claiming to have been set upon and robbed by a band of marauders. The coffin is found intact and taken to the nearby manor of the Earl of Leicester who stakes a claim to retain the relics, is joined in another claim by Sub Prior Herluin and naturally enough by the Shrewsbury Abbey in a three way tussle for possession of poor little St.Winifred's bones. The side characters in this story are well drawn and very interesting, making the thought that the next book is the last in the series and so I'm prolonging the pleasure by reading a non connected book in between !

Is the theft St. Winifred's will?
Ideally, read all the preceding books in the series, in order, before reading this one. At a minimum, first read #1 (_A Morbid Taste for Bones_, the story of how St. Winifred's reliquary came to the abbey) to avoid spoiling the end of that book, and _The Potter's Field_, which introduced the Blounts of Longner. If you're interested in an audio edition, check that you're getting the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne.

In the summer of 1144, Geoffrey de Mandeville - after more than a year of running the Fens as his own private robber kingdom - was shot almost by accident during a siege, and died from the infected wound. His lengthy death gave him no chance to receive absolution - only the Pope could have absolved one guilty of the seizure of the abbey of Ramsey - but Geoffrey's followers did what they could for him, restoring the despoiled abbey to its scattered monks. Thus the abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul receives two guests of their own order from Ramsey - grim subprior Herluin and his appealing assistant Tutilo - asking leave to preach. Ramsey needs money, materials, and labour to undo the damage left by Geoffrey's marauders.

Herluin guided their footsteps to Shrewsbury not only to request assistance, but to recall Sulien Blount of Longner, sometime novice of Ramsey, who was sent home to reconsider his vocation. (See _The Potter's Field_ for details.) Cadfael, therefore, accompanies Herluin and his young companion Tutilo to Longner to speak with Sulien - and appeal for the Blounts' generosity toward Ramsey. While Herluin pursues his errand, Cadfael introduces Tutilo to Sulien's dying mother, the formidable Donata, who is more than happy to welcome a bard, even if he's now a novice monk. (Their friendship, brief as it is, is touching.) Young Tutilo is what would now be called a renaissance man, and would be wasted as a monk - if he ever gets that far after meeting the Irish girl Daalny, slave to the Provencal troubadour staying at the abbey guesthouse. Daalny's voice is such as to attract any musician - part of the troubadour's stock in trade. Nevertheless, Tutilo seems passionate enough on Ramsey's behalf.

Unfortunately, someone appears to have been a little *too* enthusiastic for Ramsey's sake - while preparing for a flood, someone stole St. Winifred's relics, and the chief suspects are the brothers of Ramsey. How, after all, could anyone steal the reliquary if the saint didn't *want* to go elsewhere? To further complicate the ensuing dispute over the saint's wishes, the reliquary comes into the hands of Earl Robert "Bossu" Beaumont, a brilliant man with a sly sense of humor who decides to further complicate matters by pointing out that the saint came to rest in *his* care and seems content to stay there. (Robert - who was a real person, incidentally - here makes his debut in the series as a very impressive figure; the crooked back that gave him his nickname doesn't hinder him at all.) Only Brother Cadfael and his confidant Hugh Beringar know just how complicated this situation really is - before a man on the fringes of the quarrel is murdered on a dark night. But was he killed for himself - or because he was mistaken for one of the disputants?

Very nicely ties up some loose ends from _The Potter's Field_, while raking up the old problem of the reliquary very creatively. Robert Bossu alone would be worth the price of admission. :)

A Medieval Mystery
Ellis Peters creates a realistic atmosphere of medieval England, circa 1144 AD.What makes this otherwise run of the mill murder mystery with paper thin characterizations worthwhile is Ms. Peters' juxtaposition of religion and civil law to solve the crimes.The story involves the theft of the remains of the Welsh Saint Winifred during a flood and the seemingly related subsequent murder of young Brother Anselm.Law officer Hugh Beringar is very careful not to tread on the religious customs and priorities involved in "the holy theft" of this beloved saint. Hugh leaves it to the brotherhood to mete out the punishment for this type of felony. Otherwise, Brother Cadfael and the other denizens of the abbey at Shrewsbury work hand in hand with the civil authorities to bring the culprits to justice.

Adding to the story element of mystery and mysticism are some of the rituals utilized by the churchmen to help them in solving the crimes.A particularly engaging episode concerns their random selection of passages from the New Testament to guide them in their quest.Ms. Peters also makes colorful reference to blackthorn leaves in Brother Cadfael's efforts to resolve the mystery.

Cadfael steals the show!
It goes without saying that stealing is one of the sins in life--and with her usual characteristic zeal, author Ellis Peters adds murder to that list!

In "The Holy Thief," the 19th chronicle of Brother Cadfael, Peters continues her top-flight form of the medieval whodunnit and, asusual, her protagonist, the good Benedictine monk, rides to the rescue andsolution.

The year is 1144--and still King Stephen and Empress Maudare struggling in an interminable civil war, with no solution in sight. However, that historical fact is mere backdrop--as it usually is--to a morelocal concern.A renowned earl (Essex) is killed by an arrow, but notbefore he tries to make amends with Heaven by restoring some of theproperties he had earlier "gained."This includes the abbey of Ramsey, arun-down site badly in need of more worldly help.The abbey sends envoysout, and one such envoy arrives in Shrewsbury, at the abbey of Saint Peterand Saint Paul, Cadfael's domain.The envoy includes Brother Herluin andhis young novice Tutilo, who possesses a great singing voice along withother musical skills.In Shrewsbury is also, as the plot would have it, abeautiful slave girl (also a singer) named Daalny.

Suffice it tosay, Peters lays a solid romantic setting.But the rains come, so much sothat much of the abbey's possessions, including the holy relics, must bemoved to safety.But not so safely after all, as a theft is discovered. And this soon leads to--you have it--a murder.

And Cadfael takesover.Using not only his brilliance, but his skills as the abbey'sherbalist, Cadfael wastes no time in carefully solving the crime.Ofcourse, as in all the Cadfael adventures, the murder is solved.Thesolution rarely comes easily for this ex-crusader, nor should it.Petersdoes not rush into her novels, which are characterized by logic and soundresearch.

Peters' very successful series has been adapted to TV,and while the episodes are generally very good, the televised portrayal ofboth Cadfael and the story line leaves quite a bit to be desired, as goodas they are.The books are the better choice. I have never beendisappointed and "The Holy Thief" is noexception.

Let this book steal a few moments of your time!
Excellent plot with Peters's engaging style and way with characters provides a great read. There's more than the usual sample of humor as the state of St. Winifred's bones is the centerpiece to the story. ... Read more

Book Description
The Celts were one of the great founding civilizations of Europe and the first North European people to emerge into recorded history, producing a vibrant labyrinth of mythological tales and sagas that have influenced the literary traditions of Europe and the world. The first A-Z reference of its kind, Dictionary of Celtic Mythology is fascinating and accessible guide to the gods and goddesses, the heroes and heroines, the magical weapons, fabulous beasts, and otherworld entities that populate the myths of this rich European culture. Like A Dictionary of Irish Mythology before it, this is a who's who and what's what of the epic Celtic sagas and tales. Predated only by Greek and Latin by virtue of the fact that the Celtic languages were not written until the early Christian era, Celtic mythology is a development from a far earlier oral tradition containing voices from the dawn of European civilization. The peoples of these Celtic cultures survive today on the western seaboard of Europe--the Irish, Manx, and Scots, who make up the Goidelic- (or Gaelic) speaking branch of Celts, and the Welsh, Cornish, and Brentons, who represent the Brythonic-speaking branch. And it is in these languages that their vibrant and fascinating mythology has been recorded and appreciated throughout the world. In his introduction, Ellis discusses the roles of these six cultures, the evolution (or demise) of the languages, and the relationship between the legends, especially the Irish and Welsh, the two major Celtic cultures. From Celtic legends have come not only the stories of Cuchulainn and Fionn MacCumhail, of Deidre of the Sorrows and the capricious Grainne, but the stories of the now world-famous Arthur, and the romantic tragedy of Tristan and Iseult.An easy-to-read handbook, The Dictionary of Celtic Mythology presents a fascinating window to centuries of rich oral and written tradtion from the mists of Europe's origins. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Resource
I have found this to be a very useful little book.Entries include not only ones of legendary interest, but of Celtic interest in general-entries for ancient Celtic kingdoms (e.g. Galatia) and cultural or spiritual attributes (e.g. Fasting).It is one of those concise, at-a-glance, pull-it-out-of-your-pocket type books that can come in handy when reading Irish folktales, or even if you are just bored and feel like flipping through a book.It focuses primarily on the mythology of Eire and Cymry, but also gives Scottish, Pictish, Cornish, Manx, Breton, Gaulish, Celt-Iberian, and Galatian topics some attention, including a brief list of major Gaulish gods and major Celtic holidays, and a substantial biblography.Again, a very useful book, highly recommended for anyone finding Celtic folklore, or the Celts in general interesting.

Not Recommended
Like many of P.B. Ellis' books, this volume is not as accurate as it seems. The linguistic information, in particular, is unreliable. For a few more dollars, you can have the much more reliable and more comprehensive _Dictionary of Celtic Mythology_ edited by James Mac Killop. It's worth the extra investment, no matter how strict your budget.

Highly recommended
This is a very useful reference book for anyone studying Celtic mythology. It is comprehensive and its readability is enhanced by the clear and uncluttered design. Entries vary from names ("Manannan Mac Lir")to topics ("Ard Ri"), and provide succinct yet clear descriptionsand histories. However, it is clear that choices have been made where spacewas limited or excessive material would detract from the readability. Thisis most notable in cases where the book says, "There are no fewer thanseven persons of this name in Celtic mythology. However, the most notableis ...".Yet despite this minor shortcoming, this is one of the booksI reach for first when I need to look up the details of some obscure Irishhero or monster.

All in all, this is an excellent book for getting abasic idea before embarking on a more detailed investigation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Monk's Hood - Third Chronicle of Brother Cadfael
I love these books! Especially good for herb lovers.

Great Development in an Interesting Story
Now that I've finished Monk's Hood, I have found a new appreciation for Ellis Peters' work.After one death too many, I was expecting a rather static setting that would seem to change, but in truth, it would really change from book to book.I am definitely the product of watching too many American sitcoms and am glad my expectation was not met.

The story begins with Father Abbot Heribert leaving Shrewsbury to a council being held to reassess the leadership of the Church in England.He believes is going to be replaced so he leaves any legal matters unsigned so the new Abbot could determine the course of things once appointed.In the meantime, the Bonel household was going to cede its holdings to the abbey in exchange for a quiet retirement.The contract was left unsigned by the Abbot and shortly after Gervase Bonel, the head of the household, was murdered by way of poison, a medicine called Monk's Hook made by Cadfael himself.

The book is filled with a wonderful assortment of characters.None of which are good or bad.They have their own strengths, aspirations and failings.Once of things I enjoy about the Cadfael stories is he passes very little judgment against others (Brother Jerome and Prior Robert being exceptions).We have a new assistant - Brother Mark, his former fiancé - Richaldis, the return of Hugh Beringer, not to mention a number others.Even the murderer in the end is a many Cadfael felt sympathy for and helps.Yes, there is a sense of right and wrong in these books, but the means to right are often rather unorthodox and thus enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to anyone continuing to read the stories of Cadfael.They would appeal to a mystery reader and perhaps a fantasy reader as well.Definitely someone who likes historical fiction.I know I am well hooked into the series now.

Wasn't this a tasty dish?
Brother Cadfael is both pleased and displeased when his old love, Richildis, arrives at the Abbey with her husband, to take up residence as a permanent lodger. In return for permanent food, shelter and all things comfortable, Richildis's husband, Gervase Bonel, proposes to deed the ownership of his manor to the Abbey, a fact which does not sit well with his stepson, Edwin, to whom was promised ownership of the manor. In old age, Gervase had grown cantankerous and had taken a spiteful pleasure in goading Edwin into a rage about reneging on his promise of passing on the ownership of the manor to him. After eating a highly spiced and sauced dish of partridge, Gervase dies, and suspicion immediately falls on Edwin. The dish was poisoned with monkshood, an oil made of which, was brewed by Cadfael to use as a liniment for the old and arthritic monks. As usual in a Cadfael story, there are several characters who have equal reason and opportunity to have committed the murder, so it's up to Cadfael to sort out the mystery. It's another fascinating story, set in the 12th century, with a wealth of detail about mediaeval life and with Brother Cadfael sorting out the clues.

Derek Jacobi returns heard but not seen as BROTHER CADFAEL in more than just an interesting plot-twister!

I have always believed that the BBC made the finest adaptations for radio and television, and indeed the BROTHER CADFAEL series is no exception; Bert Coules (who most recently adapted Sherlock Holmes for BBC radio) and the fine actor Philip Madoc brought Cadfael to life in three adaptations which are well worth listening to if you can: MONKS HOOD, THE VIRGIN IN THE ICE and DEAD MAN'S RANSOM. However, Sir Derek Jacobi was an excellent Cadfael for television ... even if some of the teleplays didn't quite follow the plot of the original novels. Acorn Audio did something quite extraordinary when they turned the audio tracks of the four teleplays of the first Cadfael TV series into an audio series, adding a narrator to fill in the gaps and adding some slight commentary on the action which could not be seen on an audiotape; in doing so, they tightened up the narrative to keep the stories moving at a good clip so that the listener would not lose interest, and Stephen Flynn's narration is well-read and well-written. This story brings Brother Cadfael's pre-cloistered past back to haunt him while he struggles to both solve a murder and protect the son of his former love and has enough twists and turns in the plot to keep the viewer (or listener in this case!) rivetted, and I have to say in this recording's favor that the telepay follows the book very closely, more so than many of those in the TV series. I am sorry that Acorn Audio hasn't adapted the rest of the televised Cadfael stories into this format, and the only grievance I have is that the cast of characters is not read out at the end of each story (all we get to know is that Sir Derek Jacobi plays Brother Cadfael, when there are some fine actors in each of the stories). This is something entirely new, coming somewhere in between actual radio drama and books-on-tape, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Brother Cadfael series. The listener will not lose anything by not seeing the action on a TV screen, and the acting you will HEAR combined with the narration will definitely provide an ejoyable listening experience.

Masterful Medieval Mystery.................
This is the first Brother Cadfael mystery that I have read.In the past I have enjoyed the Brother Cadfael Mysteries on PBS and that is what prompted me to read one for myself.

The language is difficult to understand at times, (I suggest keeping a dictionary handy)but the mystery is a masterful "who done it".In this story the husband of a former love of Cadfaels suddenly dies and it is discovered that the victim was poisoned by the deadly Monk's Hood.The same tincture that Brother Cadfael himself has prepared for medicinal purposes.There is a large cast of characters that may have purpose and reason to murder Gervase Bonel but when the authorities believe the murderer to be his young stepson Brother Cadfael takes matters into his own hands to prove the youth innocent.

This is not a light read.Stick with it.You will enjoy it. ... Read more