The cloistered walls of Shrewsbury Abbey have always protected Brother Cadfael from the raging Civil War. But when fighting escalates between Empress Maud and King Stephen, the war takes a deadly step closer to him. Taken prisoner in the battle for Maud's land is Olivier de Bretagne, Brother Cadfael's own son- born as a result of a brief encouter thirty years earlier. Now Brother Cadfael resolves to plead for his son's release at a peace conference scheduled to take place in Coventry; but there is no sign of Olivier there. After much soul searching, Cadfael makes the difficult decision to break his monastic vows, leaving Coventry without permission- because he knows he must do everything in his power to find his son.
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A more attractive and presupposing detective it would be hard to find. (SUNDAY TIMES )
As usual, Ellis Peters writes with quietly compelling expertise and an eye for character. (WOMAN'S JOURNAL )
As usual, Ellis Peters writes with quietly compelling expertise and an eye for character. (WOMAN'S JOURNAL )
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In his twentieth chronicle Brother Cadfael is involved in an investigation of a uniquely personal nature, for as he observes, 'Before I was a Brother I was a father.
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THE EARL of Leicester's courier came riding over the bridge that spanned the Severn, and into the town of Shrewsbury, somewhat past noon on a day at the beginning of November, with three months' news in his saddle-roll. Read the first page
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THE EARL of Leicester's courier came riding over the bridge that spanned the Severn, and into the town of Shrewsbury, somewhat past noon on a day at the beginning of November, with three months' news in his saddle-roll. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
We all have to pay for our sins, and as all mortal beings seem to have a few of our own, it should come as no surprise that Brother Cadfael feels he must pay penance for his, as well. And in this 20th (and final) chronicle of Brother Cadfael, Ellis Peters takes us a giant step forward in her characterization of the good Benedictine monk, a man once a member of the Crusades and now wrestling against sin behind the cloth.
In "Brother Cadfael's Penance," Peters permits Cadfael to come face to face with another aspect of his life--a time before his monastic vows. It is 1145 and the great civil war rages on between King Stephen and Empress Maud. However, there is hope. A meeting between the two factions is scheduled for Coventry and Brother Cadfael secures permission from the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Shrewsbury to attend. Known widely for his skills in diplomacy, as well as crime solving abilities, Cadfael, however, wishes to attend for a very personal reason. He is seeking news of a young knight, Olivier de Bretagne. Olivier is Cadfael's son, from his days fighting in the Holy Land as a crusader. His holy vows aside, he feels he must do all within his power to save his son.
Peters, as always, presents Cadfael as more than human--she gives us a man for all seasons, as it were. In addition, she presents the good brother in a realistic but incredibly humane manner. He is a man whom we can love, respect, yes, even
cherish. Peters' ability to draw out these characteristics is perhaps what makes the series so fascinating. Hers is a series not to be missed. One probably should read them in the order they were written; or at least, read earlier ones before this one, as the poignancy of the meeting between father and son is so much more dramatized when the reader has the background to appreciate such a climactic episode. I cannot imagine a reader being disappointed!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I am a great Cadfael fan and this book is one of my absolute favorites. What I like most about this book is that it is (as well as "Dead Man's Ransom") about true frienship. It's about loyalty to a friend although each friend is on completely different sides and has been deeply hurt by the other because of chosing a different path. The difficult choice Brother Cadfael has to make and which may change his life, when he decides to look for his son without his abbot's conscent because he will not put his love to God above his love for his son, is also a very touching and interesting aspect. Altogether this book combines all the things I like about the Cadfael chronicles and I really regret that it is the very last one of them.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I am a great Cadfael fan and this book is one of my absolute favorites. What I like most about this book is that it is (as well as "Dead Man's Ransom") about true frienship. It's about loyalty to a friend although each friend is on completely different sides and has been deeply hurt by the other because of chosing a different path. The difficult choice Brother Cadfael has to make and which may change his life, when he dedides to look for his son without his abbot's conscent because he will not put his love to God above his love for his son, is also a very touching and interesting aspect. Altogether this book combines all the things I like about the Cadfael chronicles, and I really regret that it is the very last one of them.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The end
Always difficult to come towards the end of a saga. This book doesn't disappoint, and ties up loose ends very satisfactorily.
Published 1 month ago by Carole Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fine collection
My mother loves reading books by this author. The stories never fail to please her.She will read them again and again.
Published 2 months ago by Jonathan Green
5.0 out of 5 stars
review of cadfael
A Middle Ages detective story with a monk as lthe detectlive.
an excellent book, good plot,good story and well written. Read more
an excellent book, good plot,good story and well written. Read more
Published 3 months ago by paul
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fitting End To This Fantastic Series
After years of following the ubiquitous Brother Cadfael through his life in and around the Abbey of St Peter and St Paul, Shrewsbury, in the turbulent times of the English Anarchy... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Crux Roesia
2.0 out of 5 stars
If I had not seen the tv series....
this would not have been a book I enjoyed reading. It was my first try at reading a Cadfael book, and it will probably be my last. Read more
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by J. van der Vaart
4.0 out of 5 stars
The best of the series
I've read lots of the Cadfael series and somehow always ended up disappointed until this final volume. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2008 by Humpty Dumpty
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cadfael hangs up his sandals.
The twentieth and final Cadfael mystery only disappoints when you put the book down and realise that's it, no more, amen. Read more
Published on 14 May 2001
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another treasure
I have read every one of these wonderful books, and have delighted in the storylines, the history of the times and the fully developed characters. Read more
Published on 17 April 1998
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