- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Penguin; Film Tie-in Ed edition (2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140269916
- ISBN-13: 978-0140269918
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,870,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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First Sentence
It was a death that began it all and another death that led us on. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
It was a death that began it all and another death that led us on. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With impeccable research, and without a single inappropriate archaism or self-conscious "mediaevalism" Unsworth, with great subtlety, catches the spirit of the times. The images of death and corruption (both of body and soul) mirror the social, moral and spiritual collapse of mid-14th century England: the Black Death has literally halved the population, land has gone out of cultivation, labour is scarce, prices have risen, people are starving. The feudal system is disintegrating, hastened by the social and economic consequences of the Hundred Years' War. The colourful pageantry of the Christmas jousting masks the debasement of the chivalric code into greed, selfishness and brutality; the purity of the monastic ideal has been replaced by materialism and venality. No wonder there is an upsurge of millenarian sects prophesying the Last Days. The transition of drama from religious to secular is already in process, and Martin takes his players in a visionary and shocking leap forward, fusing the old Mystery Plays with the newer Morality Plays, and for the first time using real events and real people in his True Play of Thomas Wells. The process of detection and the build-up of tension are brilliantly handled; the language, techniques and traditions of mediaeval drama fascinatingly described. Though we can see where the story is leading, the denouement has enough surprises to be satisfying. Though you could read it just as a mediaeval whodunit, you would be missing a great deal. Don't be deceived by its 188 pages. This is a deep and many-layered book - increasingly rewarding with every reading.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Perfect: plainly written, not too long and absolutely fascinating. Buy and read this book now.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The characters are brilliant and colorful. The time is one of famine and havoc during the 14th century, when a young preist fleeing from his sub-deaconship comes upon a group of travelling players. Nicholas Barber is his name and he tells his story of becoming a player. The death of one player is what prompts Nicholas to join and another could lead to his own. The troupe is on their way to Durham, England where they are promised as a gift from their partron lord. During their travels they come upon a town where they can bury their friend and replenish their purse but when they arrive they learn of another death. The murder of a young boy and the swift conviction of a young women. When the group decides to perform the play of the murder they are in for a wild ride. They do not know the whole truth but are determined to seek it out. "Morality Play" is a captivating drama that relates to many prime topics of the day despite the setting in the middle ages. It is worth the short time it takes to read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fabulous and fascinating
From the very first line, one is drawn into the story, the dark confession of a monk, played out as an intriguing drama by the travelling players within the book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by messageinthemoon
Short but sweet
I loved this book and found it to be one of those rare novels that compels you to sit on the benches of your underground stop and finish the chapter before continuing the commute. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Peter Sandham
Engaging and imaginative historical fiction
I found this book very engaging, imaginative and very thought provoking. As well as a well written who-dunnit, the book provided a well researched window into medieval life and the... Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. J. Whittock
May I Call It Brilliant?
"Morality Play", 1996, by Barry Unsworth, a prize-winning British novelist who specializes in what, I would say, might loosely be classified as literary historical mysteries, tells... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Stephanie DePue
Morality Play - Barry Unsworth
An intriguing whodunnit, set in 12th century England. Not the same as Cadfael, as this concerns a monk, who has fallen from grace and who attaches himself to a group of travelling... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lesley Wells
Didn't want it to finish
A priest joins a band of players travelling to Durham for a Christmas booking, who while staying in a town en route decide to do something new - a play written by themselves about... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2009 by E. Potter
Authentic
Immediatley creates a convincing atmosphere and deft narrative.
I wasn't completely convinced by the ending
I wasn't completely convinced by the ending
Published on 24 July 2009 by A. Mackintosh
Enjoyable but could have been better
First Sentence: It was a death that began is all and another death that led us on.
Young priest Nicholas Barbar has run away from his safe but boring position at... Read more
Young priest Nicholas Barbar has run away from his safe but boring position at... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2009 by L. J. Roberts
Disappointing and oddly unengaging
I was rather disappointed by this. The author takes great care to describe the details of the lives and performances of the Medieval players, but for me the story never really... Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by John Hopper
A good read - not great
I found the concept behind this book more exciting than the execution, unfortunately.
While the writing is above reproach, the book suffers due to the lack of length. Read more
Published on 31 July 2005 by "carmst1980"
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