A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1)

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David Charlton
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Edith He participated in the Crusades, and he was captain of a ship. He is the herbalist at the Shrewsbury Monastery.
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Jane Probably not, since his primary motivation was power and prestige. He seems to be willing to go to extensive lengths to prove how holy and dedicated h…moreProbably not, since his primary motivation was power and prestige. He seems to be willing to go to extensive lengths to prove how holy and dedicated he is, which is why he throws himself to the floor, experiences intense faints, and even fakes a long contortion state in front of Cadfael (probably because he was nervous about being discovered / suspected. It's also possible that Columbanus was just fanatically devoted to St. Winifred and convinced himself that he was really seeing visions, but the book implies that he was faking all along to demonstrate why he would be a perfect candidate to move up in the ranks of the church.(less)
Laurence He's from the Welsh boarder area in Cheshire, called 'Maelor'. He's on the run from Ranulf de Gernon, the Earl of Chester. So our "outlander" is a Sax…moreHe's from the Welsh boarder area in Cheshire, called 'Maelor'. He's on the run from Ranulf de Gernon, the Earl of Chester. So our "outlander" is a Saxon hiding in what was the foreign country of Wales, on the run from a French born and no doubt French speaking Norman, Earl of Chester.(less)
Richard Quite nicely, in my opinion. Brother Cadfael's secular activities as a sleuth trying to solve the mystery of who killed the murder victim are very int…moreQuite nicely, in my opinion. Brother Cadfael's secular activities as a sleuth trying to solve the mystery of who killed the murder victim are very intertwined with his religious side. His religious vocation comes across as very real, and at one point his activities lead him to consider the nature of miracles.
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