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The Heretic's Apprentice (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #16)

Ellis Peters

Start date: November 15, 2023

Finish date: December 6, 2023

Discussion: Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Apr 04, 2008 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, tbr-with-gr-groups, reread

I usually enjoy revisiting Cadfael’s world, for the author’s lovely writing about the natural world in his herb garden and the English countryside surrounding his abbey in Shrewsbury, and for the peace, order and comfort of the liturgical calendar followed by everyone, from bishops to the lowliest shepherd.

This book was jarring for me, with the control exerted by the 12th century Church over what was then deemed heretical thought. In this case, a young man is actually imprisoned at the abbey to I usually enjoy revisiting Cadfael’s world, for the author’s lovely writing about the natural world in his herb garden and the English countryside surrounding his abbey in Shrewsbury, and for the peace, order and comfort of the liturgical calendar followed by everyone, from bishops to the lowliest shepherd.

This book was jarring for me, with the control exerted by the 12th century Church over what was then deemed heretical thought. In this case, a young man is actually imprisoned at the abbey to await judgement by the bishop for voicing such radical notions as babies don’t come into the world tainted by original sin, and if they died unbaptized they would not be damned.

The story opens on a lovely early summer day (beautifully evoked by Peters as always) as preparations are underway for the feast of St. Winifred, the patron of the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. A young man arrives with a casket; he had left 7 years earlier with his master to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Compostela, and the master died on the way home. The young man has brought him back with his last request that he be laid to rest in abbey grounds, as he had been a generous benefactor and leading local resident.

A question arises about past statements the man had made that could be deemed heretical. A clergyman stranded at the abbey by an injured horse is on a diplomatic mission for King Stephen; he’s a big noise in a bishop’s household and adamant about the need to snuff out all heresy. (Honestly, I get mixed up with the different characters popping up in this series having to do with the Stephen vs Maud civil war). Anyway, he puts his oar in about this burial request, which I found appalling, as the young man was only trying to honorably carry out his master’s last wish! Well, the burial is done, but then the young man puts his foot in his mouth afterwards, voicing “heresy” to jealous people in the master’s household. They snitch to the abbot, and the young man is actually jailed until the presiding bishop for Shrewsbury can come sort it. Meanwhile, there’s a murder and Cadfael has to get involved.

This one was a bit hard going for me, unusual for this series - but I kept seeing shades of Torquemada and the Inquisition with all the fearful visiting clergyman’s questioning and rigid beliefs. He confesses to Abbot Radulfus in private that he had seen terrible damage done in Europe by heretics, and England must be zealous against such thoughts.

All I could think was the Reformation couldn’t come soon enough, and remember all the blood spilled through the centuries because of religion. Maybe it’s because it’s still happening in the Middle East right now, but I was not in the mood for this! I usually love this series and find it restful, but not this time. I look forward to rereading the next book. ...more

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Oct 31, 2023 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: ellis-peters

I did like this story, but maybe not as much as some that went before. Most of the characters were well defined, and their actions were in character. Most of the past books were the acceptance of the way the monks and local community lived, but this did raise the question of religion, which is always a sore point.

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May 01, 2009 Robin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery

Some aspects of this book I really loved are the description of vellum making, and using vellum to make books back in the 12th century. I feel a sense of continuous history in this story, in that I am reading an author writing about book lovers in another time and place. Ooo -- goosebumps!

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