In addition to the many novels by Ellis Peters (a.k.a. Edith Pargeter) about her monk detective, there is this single short-story collection. These stories were all written after the series of novels had been under way for some time, so a reader does not need to read this "prequel" before reading the novels; indeed, first readers of the series would have been unable to do so! However, nothing of great consequence in later developments is given away, and two of the stories precede the novels completely, so the three stories in this collection can serve as a sort of introduction to the Cadfael novels if one chooses to read it first.
No, It's Not About A Rock Festival
The book's subtitle, The Advent of Brother Cadfael, is only partly applicable; the first story, "A Light on the Road to Woodstock," is the only one that concerns his pre-monastic existence. However, it is a pivotal tale: Cadfael, a wandering Welsh soldier with a good heart, senses a need for change in his life after a full but wearying career in the Crusades. While pondering what that should be, he happens to rescue an English monk who is in peril from Cadfael's own master. Not surprisingly (to us), by the story's end, this world-weary warrior decides that the peace of the cloister is just the sort of change in life he's looking for.
Even Prayer Has A Price
Flash forward 15 years to the second story in this collection, "The Price of Light," which takes place at the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul at Shrewsbury, where Brother Cadfael is by now well settled as the abbey's herbalist and apothecary. In this tale, some especially memorable and vivid characters visit the abbey, including the brutish aging lord Hamo FitzHamon; his lovely and charming young wife; and the lady's demure yet striking villein servant girl. Their respective roles, stations, and relationships paint a blunt yet eloquent picture of feudal life. (Actually, all of the Brother Cadfael mysteries feature great characterizations and historical poignance; but in my opinion, this one excels at it even above most of the rest, especially for a short story.) The plot concerns the disappearance of some beautifully wrought silver candlesticks, part of a "gift" to the abbey by FitzHamon (in exchange for prayers on his behalf) -- from the very altar, yet! But the only witness to their disappearance, half-blind Brother Jordan, seems too lost in unfathomable ecstasy to say what happened to them; and as Brother Cadfael learns, there is some question of whether the silver candlesticks really were stolen after being placed on the altar -- or perhaps long before.
Keep Your Eyes Open
The final piece, "Eye Witness," is perhaps the weakest of the three, but it is a fine tale nonetheless, about a violent theft of the abbey's annual rents, with Brother Cadfael alternating his time between healing the man injured in the robbery and discerning the perpetrator of it. He has a slew of potential suspects in the crime from which to choose -- from townsmen to travelers, and even among the brethren themselves! Can the threat of identification by a witness get the miscreant to reveal himself?
A Few Words About Continuity
Since "A Light on the Road to Woodstock" takes place before Cadfael is cloistered, it is easily placed as being chronologically set well before all the other novels and stories. "The Price of Light" takes place several years later, but still a couple of years before the first novel, A Morbid Taste For Bones. The third story is much more vague as to chronological placement, but an offhand reference in "Eye Witness" places it as being set at some point after Monk's Hood, the third novel in the series, if you want to wait until after that point to read it; however, it is an extremely minor reference, so if you read this story before reading any of the novels, it should not cause any major confusion (and it definitely won't give away any mystery plot developments).
I heartily recommend and endorse this book and all of the other Brother Cadfael mysteries. Read ye them with great rejoicing and merriment!
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