Reading the Detectives discussion
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One Corpse Too Many
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One Corpse Too Many by Ellis Peters
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Looking forward to it! I started a Louise Penny book yesterday and will turn to Cadfael once I finish.
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I finished this today, and really did enjoy it. I agree Cadfael is a very likable character, without pushing too much religion.
The Cadfael series is great, and this is one of the best. Be sure to notice Hugh Beringar because he is a character to be reckoned with.
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https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK...
Thanks for that link, Judy! I didn't know that much about Mathilda's reign and it will be helpful.
Yes, thanks for the info, Judy! This will be a reread for me when I get to it - may not be for awhile, I have a few Christmas favorite rereads on the go, and just started a George Bellairs mystery (set at Christmas 1940!), and finally got the latest Bryant & May from my library hold (Bryant & May: The Lonely Hour: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery). I may have to watch this one! Never a chore, I love Sir Derek as my beloved Cadfael!
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Stephen and Matilda's Civil War: Cousins of Anarchy
The Anarchy was the first civil war in post-Conquest England, enduring throughout the reign of King Stephen between 1135 and 1154. It ultimately brought about the end of the Norman dynasty and the birth of the mighty Plantagenet kings. When Henry I died having lost his only legitimate son in a shipwreck, he had caused all of his barons to swear to recognize his daughter Matilda, widow of the Holy Roman Emperor, as his heir and remarried her to Geoffrey, Count of Anjou. When she was slow to move to England on her father’s death, Henry’s favorite nephew Stephen of Blois rushed to have himself crowned, much as Henry himself had done on the death of his brother William Rufus.
Supported by his brother Henry, Bishop of Winchester, Stephen made a promising start, but Matilda would not give up her birthright and tried to hold the English barons to their oaths. The result was more than a decade of civil war that saw England split apart. Empress Matilda is often remembered as aloof and high-handed, Stephen as ineffective and indecisive. By following both sides of the dispute and seeking to understand their actions and motivations, Matthew Lewis aims to reach a more rounded understanding of this crucial period of English history and asks to what extent there really was anarchy.
Thank you, I would definitely be interested- asa Cadfael fan since way back, this part of English history was always raging the background. I startedWhen Christ and His Saints Slept, but wasn’t really drawn in; I mean to return to it in the new year - one of those books I really want to get back to! I should probably tackle them first thing...
That sounds like a good New Year's strategy, Susan! Get the virtuous pursuits out of the way early, so that when/if your resolves slip later on, you'll still have a sense of accomplishment. ;-)
You’re on to me!🤪
I'm about two-thirds of the way through and enjoying it, though bothered by a few dated elements, especially what in my college Chaucer class we called the "luscious wench" issue (long story, but in brief the problem was not with Chaucer but with the professor and his demeanor toward the female students)--in this instance, the author's tendency to reflect a patronizing and reductive attitude toward female characters even while purportedly admiring them.The structure of the story is a bit unusual. It's as if the romantic subplot rose up and overtook the mystery; I've been sad about how poor Master Faintree has dropped off the page. But since the romantic subplot (view spoiler) and a third of the book yet remains, hopefully we'll get back to it. The presence of one odd item in the bundle makes me believe it will.
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Turns out I was closer to the end than I thought--the text ended at 78% and the rest was an excerpt from the next book in the series. Moving on over to the spoilers thread.
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Although I like Ellis Peters' writing style and enjoy the character of Cadfael, I have found this book a bit slow and I do agree that the romance element seems to have overtaken the mystery.
It's been a long, long time since I read this, and I don't remember very many details. For some reason, it always seemed to me as though all the running backstory of the series was set in motion in this book, not in "A Morbid Taste For Bones" -- as though this book was when Ellis Peters actually decided to make Cadfael into a series. That's just a personal impression, though: your mileage may vary.
Your notion tracks pretty well with my memory of the series, Christopher. The first book especially seems unusual because most of it takes place away from the monastery. This is the first one where we really see Cadfael in his context.
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I finally read this, and loved the story, but also found the mystery a bit flat. Will post more in the spoiler thread.
Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
When Christ and His Saints Slept (other topics)Stephen and Matilda's Civil War: Cousins of Anarchy (other topics)
The Lonely Hour (other topics)
In the summer of 1138, war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud takes brother Cadfael from the quiet world of his garden to the bloody battlefield. Not far from the safety of the Abbey walls, Shrewsbury Castle falls, leaving its ninety-four defenders loyal to the empress to hang as traitors. With a heavy heart, Brother Cadfael agrees to bury the dead, only to make a grisly discovery: ninety-five bodies lie in a row, and the extra corpse tells Cadfael that the killer is both clever and ruthless.
Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.