[Belgarion]

Although, many may debate whether Cadfael belongs to the Crime section or the Historical Fantasy Section, I will nonetheless say this:

"If there has to be one series that everyone has to read in their lifetime, it is undoubtly the Eliis Peters's 20 book series of Cadfael!"

I know I have brought him up a couple of times in the past months, but Cadfael make any other character in any book wooden.

My question to the Americans is this:

Do the USA print Cadfael books? If not, it is USA greatest deprivation since the alcohol embargo of the 1920's.

I am still mourning of the sudden death of the great Ellis Peters. She was the best out there.

I am just simply passing the word out:


:) :) :) Cadfael Rules :) :) :)

[SusF]

Yep, the Cadfael books are here in the US. I read the first 13 or so but they started to be too much the same and I quit reading 'em.

Susan

[Cadfael]

I hate the guy... total rubbish!!
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:D :D :D :D :D :D :D

As you can gather from my user name... I am just joking.

I know the books are also available in Australia.

I have a pet thoery, which I have expressed before....

*groans from around the forum*

... that medieaval murder mysteries appeal to fantasy readers (=< sweeping generalisation) because of the fuedal setting. It is like a fantasy book without the magic and mythical beast. I know quite a few members who like the Cadfael books.

Belgarion... don't you think the casting of Derek Jacobi as Cadfael was inspired? He was made for the role IMHO.

[Belgarion]

Derek Jacobi was awesome, Yes it was spooky, because he is exactly how I would picture Brother Cadfael.

It a shame that they didn't do 20 episodes. I beleive they only did 5-6 TV episodes?

I am goinf to visit Shrewsbury to see how many of the landmarks are as according to the books.

I sure there must be a shrine of Brother Cadfael at the Abbey!!

You must do the same, Cadfael (Administrator)!

:cool: :cool: :cool:

Let all pray and go for Matins! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[wolfshead]

At least 12 episodes as far as we know...maybe even a few more.... we are slowly collecting all the videos.

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

Cadfael rulls!:D

[Mithfânion]

What's the premise of this series? And what is Cadfael like, what can he do that makes him a great character?

[Cadfael]

The books are set in the 12th century England, during the reign of King Stephen... and his war with his cousin, the Empress Maude is used as a backdrop to many of the tales.

Brother Cadfael is a benedictine monk at the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul in Shrewsbury. In his past he was a crusader and traveled to the Holy Land, but he grew tired of it all, and retired to the Abby, where he tends the herb garden. He is very often called upon to solve murders.

The books are incredibly researched, and historicaly accurate. All the places mentioned in the books do, or did exist.

In order of publication, the Cadfael novels are...

A Morbid Taste for Bones
One Corpse Too Many
Monk's Hood
St. Peter's Fair
The Leper of St. Giles
The Virgin in the Ice
The Sanctuary Sparrow
The Devil's Novice
Dead Man's Ransom
The Pilgrim of Hate
An Excellent Mystery
The Raven in the Foregate
The Rose Rent
The Hermit of Eyton Forest
The Confession of Brother Haluin
The Heretic's Apprentice
A Rare Benedectine
The Potter's Field
The Summer of the Danes
The Holy Thief
Brother Cadfael's Penance

Sadly... Ellis Peters (real name Edith Pargeter) died in 1995.

Cadfael is the lead character in a series of books by Ellis Peters. He is a Welshman, now in his 60s, and a Brother in the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul, in Shrewsbury, England. The time is the 1100s, while Stephen and Maud are contending for the throne of England. Cadfael is now a brother, but he has been in the world- he spent 15 (or so) years in the Mideast, first as a Crusader, then as captain of a fishing boat. While there, he began to learn about gardening and herbs, he loved several women and even fathered a son, although he did not know it at the time. Finally, the quiet, the peace of the monastery called to him, and he came home to England and took vows. When the series begins, he has been a brother for about 15 years. His adventures are all centered in life in the Monastery, which is the center of his life, but they also show that he has not turned away completely from the world. There are now 20 novels and a book of short stories written about Cadfael.