Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) had the right idea when she came up with the Brother Cadfael character. She chose to base this series on a twelfth century Benedictine monk who had a “past life.” This past life enabled him to have empathy for people…. both of noble lineage and the very poor. Peters included many actual historical events throughout the series
Brother Cadfael had been a crusader in his “previous life” so he had experienced the agony of killing, and he had also experienced romantic liaisons. Sir Derek Jacobi was able to, in my opinion, become Brother Cadfael. Jacobi seems to be an actor who, when he takes on a roll, makes it very difficult for any other actor to ever attempt that roll in the future…. Jacobi is simply that good at every character he portrays.
Brother Cadfael is a monk who is in charge of the abbey’s gardens…. which meant that he is knowledgeable in herbs, and their medicinal purposes. Also, he is knowledgeable about the very same herbs poisonous effects. Cadfael is truly a medieval monk of all trades…. herbalist, healer/doctor, embalmer/mortician, forensic pathologist, detective/sleuth, confessor, and true protector/champion for victims’ rights.
The location is so incredibly believable as twelfth century Britain, that it is interesting to note that the producers filmed the series in Hungary, because they wanted the setting to be as true to medieval Britain as possible. Hungary happened to fill the bill better than any place they could find in England. Thank goodness they did……. because the ITV productions’ locations are wonderful. (ITV is one of the BBC’s competitors.)
While Ellis Peters wrote twenty books, the British Cadfael: the Complete Collection series only includes thirteen of the possible twenty titles. What a shame! They are truly excellent productions. My husband and I enjoyed seeing them when they originally aired a little over a decade ago, but we have since added all thirteen of the shows to our library of “must see TV” for our children, who enjoy the shows as much as we do.
Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael Mystery Series is a terrific series. Peters is actually one of my favorite authors. Here is a list of all twenty of the Brother Cadfael novels by Ellis Peters.
If you would like to see more TV and Movies suggestions, click here.
*****I wrote this review way back in 2006, but we still think it’s a terrific series. If you are a member of Netflix, they have the DVDs. Also, your library might just carry the DVDs. It truly is an exceptional British television mystery series. April 2014
Gary says
I wrote myself a note about a test Brother Cadfael used once in one of the series called "the test of Scripture." Do you recall which book or film that it might be in so I could look it up once again. Thanks. > Gary
L says
The Holy Thief – a monk comes to Shrewsbury from another abbey that’s been burned to the ground by Maud’s forces because one of the young trainees has had a vision that St. Winifred wants to go back to this other abbey. So this monk comes to Shrewsbury to claim St. Winifred’s bones (relics) to raise funds to rebuild his abbey. Then a local nobleman makes a claim on St. Winifred. Of course this puts the monks at Shrewsbury into a tizzy. They “test Scripture” to see where St. Winifred’s remains will be kept.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks for the Brother Cadfael info, L.
cozy mystery list says
Gary,
I am sorry to say that I don’t remember the movie/book. I asked my husband, but no luck there. We are planning to watch the movies again, and I am currently making my way through the books on tape, so I will make sure to annotate the information if I see/hear it again.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gary….
Well, I told you that I would think about this…
My husband and I just finished watching “Holy Thief” (one of the Brother Cadfael movies with Derek Jacobi) and halfway (+/-) through the DVD, Brother Cadfael explains to Hugh Beringar about the “Trial by the Bible” (Absortes Bíblica)… wherein disputes are settled by randomly opening the bible and each person in the dispute pointing to a passage (while being blindfolded) in order to determine who is the person in the right.
Suzanne says
I’m a librarian and a small rural branch in Louisiana. For October I’m creating a display of “Cozy Mysteries” and this website has been a fantastic resource! I also wanted to say that I LOVE Cadfael, the TV Show and books. Ellis Peters isn’t celebrated enough and I’m sad to say that my library only has about 4 of her books (and they haven’t been checked out much). It’s one of my goals to get more people into her so she’ll be front and center of the display. Also, for those of you who want to watch the show, netflix (www.netflix.com) has all the episodes for rent via their online service.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Suzanne,
I’m glad the site has helped with your display… and I truly hope that you can turn more people on to Ellis Peters. It’s a shame that her works are such well-kept secrets!
Jill says
Brother Cadfael is a wonderful character–both in Peters’ novels and the ITV series. Jacobi was a perfect Cadfael–just as he was a perfect Claudius. The man is a genius. The locations in the series are extraordinary. However, in an interview I saw long ago, with Jacobi, he speculated that the high cost of production (due to the locations) may well have contributed to the end of the TV series. I still hope that they can complete it (and even develop additional scripts) with Jacobi in the title role. Sure would like to see him hook up with Olivier de Bretagne again! (I’ll leave it at that for those of you who haven’t yet seen/read the stories.) The only drawback to the series was the constant change in actors portraying Hugh Beringar. The other secondary characters (and the actors portraying) them are wonderful! The warm and loving Father Abbot Radulfus, the stern Prior Robert, the irksome Brother Jerome, and the lovable Brother Oswin are all rich characters who contribute enormously to the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
That’s right… At last count there were three Hughs…
Juan A says
It will be a great pleasure to see the brother Cadfael series starting with the first one, I am sure it got better and better, I only saw a couple of episodes and was delighted with the characters, please bring the series back.
Nina says
For those to whom the historical setting of the Cadfael series is more of a mystery than the plots, you might find another historical novel very helpful.
“When Christ and His Angels Slept” by Sharon Kay Penmann deals with the same period as the Cadfael books. Penmann has brought this complicated, confusing time to light and life. Her story is told from the viewpoints of both the Empress Maud and her cousin King Stephen. The author is compassionate to both rulers, while illustrating the devastating destruction the war between them wrought upon the people of England.
I read this after reading the Cadfael series, and then went back and re-read all of the Peters books again. Lo, the history finally made sense!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Nina, for the suggestion about Penman‘s Henry & Eleanor Trilogy.
Veronica says
Hi Gary,
This is a bit late (! – 3 years) but I just stumbled across this question. I believe the reference was to “sortes” and it occurs in The Holy Thief.
You’re probably not still out there, but what the heck…
Julia says
I loved the Brother Cadfael books and the movies are a wonderful adaptation of them; Derek Jacobi is a wonderful actor. I only wish they would make some of Peters’ other mysteries into movies as well – Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Heart has long been a favorite of mine.
Joan says
Were there any Cadfael films not released on DVD? I seem to remember a version where Cadfael leaves to rescue his son.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
SPOILER ALERT FOR CADFAEL SHOWS:::
Joan, I can’t remember which of the Cadfael films it was in, but I believe his son simply comes to the village, and Cadfael figures out he is his son. I don’t believe he tells him, though…
Julia says
That’s “The Vigin in the Ice,” Danna. It’s a very good book, and an excellent television adaptation.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Julia. I should have looked that up, but apparently I was too doggone lazy!
Margaret Anne says
Thank you for re-sharing this blog post! I finished watching the first season of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries last week, and I have been looking for another series to watch. I discovered that Brother Cadfael episodes (at least the first season) can be streamed for free for Amazon Prime members. So far I have watched the first two episodes and they are excellent! I have always liked Sir Derek Jacobi’s work and this has proved no exception. I look forward to watching more episodes in the coming days.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Margaret Anne, Isn’t Derek Jacobi’s Cadfael great! I love the whole series.
Lirios says
Yeah, I got the box set, it’s Great!
She also writes as Edith Pargeter, I am currently reading the Heaven Tree Trilogy, and I believe there was one on “The Brothers of Gwynedd.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Pargeter
Those Sharon Kay Penman’s weren’t bad, either. Felt So Sorry for those Welsh Princes.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lirios, I didn’t add her Edith Pargeter books to the Cozy Mystery site since I don’t think they are predominantly mysteries. However, I haven’t read any of them, so I don’t know for sure.
Meg says
I loved this series. I stumbled onto it and watched them all.
Very fun.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Meg, I certainly agree!