A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

by Ellis Peters
A Morbid Taste for Bones: The First Chronicle of Brother Cadfael cover
Good Books rating 3.9
Technical:
  • ID: 195
  • Added: 2025-09-04
  • Updated: 2025-09-04
  • ISBN: 9780446400152
  • Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
  • Published: 1994-01-01
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
Google Groups - soc.history.medieval · Dan Goodman · 2025-09-04
thoughtful 3.50

The review discusses the historical plausibility of Cadfael’s detective methods and the social dynamics portrayed in the series, noting some anachronisms and idealizations. It acknowledges the existence of real historical locations and figures, but questions some modern elements in character behavior and clothing.

Dan Goodman raises interesting points about the historical accuracy of Brother Cadfael’s investigative approach, questioning whether his empirical and deductive reasoning fits medieval norms or is more modern. The review also considers the social relationships depicted, such as egalitarian interactions between monks and abbots or men and women, and whether these are realistic for the period or somewhat idealized. The review acknowledges the series’ grounding in real historical places like Shrewsbury and Ramsey Abbeys and notes the accuracy of some names and events. However, there is some criticism of the clothing and certain portrayals that don’t completely align with the mid-12th century setting. Overall, the review balances appreciation for the historical context with thoughtful critique of some liberties taken.

Quick quotes

    Would Brother Cadfael's empirical, deductive thinking patterns in his detective work be medieval or modern?

    My main problem with Cadfael is the clothing. Most of it is way out for the mid 12th century.

    Shrewsbury and Ramsey were both abbeys operational during that period.

Warped Factor · 2021-08-01
engaging 4.00

The review appreciates the strong performance of Derek Jacobi as Brother Cadfael and acknowledges the series’ engaging storytelling despite some historical inaccuracies and production inconsistencies. It notes the show's incomplete adaptation of the novels and occasional liberties with characters and plots.

This review focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of the Cadfael TV series adaptation of Ellis Peters' novels. Derek Jacobi’s portrayal of Cadfael is highly praised for its subtlety and depth, with his performance often captivating viewers and elevating the series. However, the reviewer also mentions that the historical accuracy can be ‘interestingly interpretative,’ sometimes leading to frustration for knowledgeable viewers about period details like armor. The review also touches on the incomplete coverage of the entire book series in the show and the variability in production quality, such as changes in key characters like the Sheriff of Shrewsbury, which affected the series’ continuity and audience engagement. Despite these issues, the storytelling and Jacobi’s performance make the series memorable and enjoyable.

Quick quotes

    Derek Jacobi is spellbinding as Brother Cadfael.

    Some of the historical accuracy is… to put it mildly… interestingly interpretative.

    The show never became a ‘complete canon’ rendering of one of the most interesting and different crime novel series of its day.

aelarsen.wordpress.com · 2020-02-04
credible 4.20

The Cadfael series is praised for its historical accuracy and well-researched setting, though some liberties are taken with character names and plot details for adaptation purposes. The portrayal of Cadfael’s character and the monastery is credible, but the pronunciation of Cadfael's name is noted as inaccurately done in the series.

This review highlights how Ellis Peters' Cadfael novels are generally well-researched and maintain a good level of historical accuracy, capturing the atmosphere of the medieval period effectively. The reviewer appreciates the plausibility of Cadfael’s backstory and the faithful representation of the monastery setting, though they note that some adaptations, especially in the TV series, take creative liberties with plot and character details such as the pronunciation of Cadfael’s name. The series is recognized as influential in popularizing the historical murder mystery genre despite these minor inaccuracies. They point out that while the TV adaptations sometimes tweak endings or characters for dramatic effect, the core historical context remains solid. The reviewer also discusses the inconsistency in Welsh accents and pronunciation in the show, which they find regrettable but understandable given the English production context. Overall, the tone is appreciative of the blend of history and fiction that makes the series engaging and credible.

Quick quotes

    The Cadfael Chronicles are generally quite well-researched and Pargeter was at pains to make them as historically accurate as possible.

    Although Cadfael is fictional, his life story is basically possible from an historical standpoint, if perhaps a bit unlikely.

    Cadfael’s name ought, according to Welsh pronunciation, to be pronounced ‘KAD-vel’, with the F being sounded like a V... throughout the series his name is pronounced ‘KAD-file’.

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