A Light on the Road to Woodstock

Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #0.1

by Ellis Peters, Glyn Houston (Narrator)

One of three 'prequel' short stories in the Cadfael series, released together in book form as A Rare Benedictine. In this first story, Cadfael is in his forties and newly returned to England, his soldiering days waning. It is during this adventure that Cadfael meets the Prior of The Abbey of St Peter and St Paul in Shrewsbury and makes his decision to join the Benedictines.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Crime, Short Stories, British Literature

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

A pseudonym used by Edith Pargeter.

Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands.

During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.

Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Light on the Road to Woodstock is a prequel to Brother Cadfael. It finds the warrior Cadfael in the service of a lord whose land lies near to Shrewsbury. In this tale, we learn why Cadfael is willing to lay down his sword and take up the habit of a brother in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Here, we have Cadfael in his fifties rather than in his sixties and the civil war that is the backdrop to the rest of the series is almost decade away.

This story has all of the descriptive grace of both people and nature that Peters is known for. What it lacks is mystery and dramatic tension. For those of us who love Peters’ ability to provide a sense of time and place, this is not a deal-breaker.

[Martina Sartor · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019
Ah, quanto ho amato la serie di fratello Cadfael!
Rimettendo a posto le mie librerie (lavoro immane, fra l'altro), mi sono passati fra le mani tutti i libri di Ellis Peters ed è stato come provare una fortissima nostalgia di casa. Fra l'altro mi sto accorgendo che più invecchio, più i miei gusti letterari tornano "alle origini": ai libri e ai generi che più amo da sempre. Ho provato qualche variazione di genere, ma alla fine torno sempre ai primi amori.
Quindi, in barba agli innumerevoli libri ancora da leggere che mi aspettano, ho seguito l'impulso e deciso di riprendere in mano questa serie.
"Una luce sulla strada per Woodstock" è una sorta di prequel a tutta la serie, anche se scritto molto dopo. Si compone di tre racconti e il primo vede protagonista Cadfael, appena tornato dalle crociate e non ancora monaco dell'abbazia di Shrewsbury. Ci viene quindi raccontato come e perché si è fatto monaco. L'abilità della Peters è quella di riuscire a tracciare personaggi e situazioni con poche pennellate essenziali, facendo entrare subito il lettore nell'atmosfera e nei luoghi del tempo.
A chi volesse accostarsi a questa serie consiglio di leggere i libri in ordine cronologico, partendo proprio da questo, perché, oltre ai singoli casi gialli che Cadfael affronta in ogni episodio, da un libro all'altro si dipana anche l'interessante storia inglese del periodo.
EDIT 2024: Confermo tutto quanto. La lettura di un saggio sulla Peters mi ha invogliato a riprendere in mano la serie, che non mi delude mai.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
Returning from the Crusades to a country he hardly recognises, Brother Cadfael finds intrigue and deception almost as soon as he lands in the court of his master Roger Mauduit.

[Diabolika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre racconti brevi che introducono il personaggio di Fratello Cadfael, sufficientemente interessanti da stimolarmi ad iniziare la serie.

O forse, il libro giusto al momento giusto? In questo periodo ho tanta voglia di medioevo...

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brother Cadfael - A Light On The Road To Woodstock - BBC Radio Audiobook - cheops
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Adapted from the books by Ellis Peters and read by Nigel Anthony.

A Brother Cadfael story - set in Autumn of 1120 - in which he returns from the Crusades to find treachery and intrigue in the quiet corridors of England...

This story forms the first part of 'A RARE BENEDICTINE' - three tales which chronicle the events that led Brother Cadfael into the Benedictine Order.

‘Brother Cadfael sprang to life suddenly and unexpectedly when he was already approaching sixty, mature, experienced, fully armed and seventeen years tonsures.’

So wrote Ellis Peters in her introduction to A RARE BENEDICTINE – three vintage tales of intrigue and treachery, featuring the monastic sleuth who has become a cult figure of crime fiction. The story of Cadfael’s entry into the monastery at Shrewsbury has been known hitherto only to a few readers; now his myriad fans can discover the chain of events that let him into the Benedictine Order.

Two episodes of approximately thirty minutes each - summaries witheld to avoid spoiling the plot.

Produced by Joanne Reardon.

About the Reader:
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Nigel Anthony, (born December 23, 1941) is a British theatre and television actor, who has also worked in radio, with audiobooks and in television advertising. He is married to the actress Kate Binchy and is an accomplished jazz drummer and historian.

His notable theatre work includes The Taming of the Shrew, Happy End, and Twelfth Night for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

[Gaetano Laureanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una insolita ambientazione nel medioevo inglese caratterizza questa serie di romanzi gialli che vedono come protagonista Fratello Cadfael.

Questo libro, con tre brevi racconti, contiene l’episodio della vocazione di Cadfael che, di ritorno dalle crociate, lo condurrà nell’abbazia benedettina di Shrewsbury. Per questo, pur non essendo il primo della serie, può introdurre la lettura dei successivi romanzi.

Storie semplici con dame, cavalieri, criminali e complotti che mi stimolano la prosecuzione delle letture, naturalmente in ordine cronologico. ;-)

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read other books in the Cadfael series it was enjoyable to read this and find out how he joined the monastery at Shrewsbury. I love this series and for me Cadfael will always be synonymous with Derek Jacobi who played him in the TV series I watched many years ago (and can now rewatch due to the repeats on satellite TV).

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre racconti scritti per spiegare la decisione di Cadfael di diventare frate benedettino una volta rientrato dalle Crociate e per raccontare i primissimi casi in cui Cadfael si trova a indagare.
Una luce sulla strada per Woodstock: Questo è il racconto in cui Cadfael è solo un soldato ancora relativamente giovane e forte di ritorno dalle Crociate.
Il suo senso di giustizia, però, fa sì che Cadfael decida di non essere più leale al suo signore - che ha tentato di truffare l'abbazia di Shrewsbury - e di chiedere di diventare un frate per gli ultimi anni della sua vita presso quella stessa abbazia. Il titolo richiama il momento della conversione di San Paolo, ma Cadfael era comunque un fervente credente, visto che è appena rientrato dalla Terrasanta. *** e 1/2

Il prezzo della luce: Qui Cadfael è già frate erborista e ha a che fare con il furto di due candelabri pregiatissimi donati alla chiesa dell'abbazia par l'altare della Madonna (non dimentichiamo che ancora le ossa di Santa Winifred non sono state portate a Shrewsbury). Cadfael capirà tutto ma, a parte aiutare chi è dalla parte della ragione, resterà nell'ombra, assicurandosi che tutto è bene ciò che finisce bene. ***

Testimone oculare: Questa volta si tratta dell'aggressione di mastro William Rede, avvenuta quando l'uomo ha appena riscosso in città e nei sobborghi il canone annuo d'affitto per l'abbazia. I sospetti cadono subito sul figlio, un giovane assai vivace, che si dedica al gioco d'azzardo, perdendo grosse somme e facendo disperare il padre. Ma il giovane Eddi Rede, dimostra di nutrire un forte affetto per il padre, che mai glielo avrebbe fatto aggredire per saldare i suoi debiti. ** e 1/2

[Vaishnavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read just the prequel, I guess I am in no position to judge. The style reminds me of Robin hood. I should say the book found me at the wrong period of my life. I found it a bit slow and no where near great. And I doubt it could have kept me engaged as a child.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a boy the last time I visited with Brother Cadfael. It was grand to visit the simpler Middle Ages and see him again. Good plot. Strong characters. Well written!

[Asheley T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first novella in the A Rare Benedictine collection which tells the story of Cadfael before the events of his first book. The year is 1120 and he has just come back from fighting alongside King Henry I. Cadfael’s brother-in-arms Roger is scheduled to defend himself in a lawsuit against the Benedictine Abbey at Shrewsbury over a dispute involving the ownership of land. Over the course of helping Roger with this case, Cadfael has to make a decision on what he wants to do with himself now that he is not an active soldier anymore. He has a brief encounter with the Prior of Shrewsbury which sets the course for the rest of his life

The language Ellis Peters writes with takes some getting used to, but it is nice to have the opportunity to get to know Cadfael before he begins his sleuthing. I love reading books set in this period of time. This story mentions Henry I’s fighting to defend his claim to Normandy and it also touches on the death of Henry’s son and heir William in the sinking of the White Ship.

[Amalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Light on the Road to Woodstock by Ellis Peters is a prequel novella to the Brother Cadfael Mysteries . It explains how Cadfael became a monk and what his life was like before joining the Abbey of Shrewsbury.

In the story, Cadfael is still a young soldier returning from the Crusades, wandering through England in search of meaning after the war. On the road to Woodstock, he becomes involved in a dangerous situation. Through this experience, he witnesses different aspects of human nature, such as courage and compassion. In the end, he realises that he no longer wants the life of a soldier and chooses a life of service, reflection, and healing.

The story itself deserves around 3 stars. However, because it presents Brother Cadfael’s origin—his transformation from a soldier and crusader to a Benedictine monk—in an interesting way, it deserves 4 stars.

So, I am going to give it 3½ stars.

[Les75 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimo volume dedicato alle avventure di frate Cadfael, e una certa stanchezza si è impadronita di tutto. Vengono proposte 3 mini avventure, abbastanza sciape e inconsistenti, in cui la sensazione che l'autrice abbia ormai raschiato il fondo del barile è piuttosto vivida. Peccato: una chiusura di collana che si (e ci) poteva evitare.

[Pers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

A Light on the Road to Woodstock is Book #0.1 in the Chronicles of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters...

Full Review Still to Come.

[Vanlilith · Rating 3 out of 5]

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[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could read Brother Cadfael for the first time again

[Francesco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Delle tre storie l'unica decente è l'ultima, che verte su un furto delle rendite dell'abbazia. La prima sembra interrompersi sul più bello, la seconda è smielata e insulsa

[Zuzana · Rating 3 out of 5]

See A Rare Benedictine.

[Maria Chiara Maestri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre piccole chicche perfette per un viaggio in treno