Ellis Peters (1913–1995)
Author of A Morbid Taste for Bones
About the Author
Ellis Peters is the pseudonym for Edith Pargeter, who was born in Horsehay, Shropshire. She was a chemist's assistant from 1933 to 1940 and participated during World War II in the Women's Royal Navy Service. The name "Ellis Peters" was adopted by Edith Pargeter to clearly mark a division between show more her mystery stories and her other work. Her brother was Ellis and Petra was a friend from Czechoslovakia, thus the name. She came to writing mysteries, she says, "after half a lifetime of novel-writing." Her detective fiction features well-rounded, knowledgeable characters with whom the reader can empathize. Her most famous literary creation is the medieval monk Brother Cadfael. The blend of history and the formula of the detective story gives Peters's works their popular appeal. As detective hero, Brother Cadfael remains faithful to the requirements of the formula, yet the historical milieu in which he operates is both fully realized and well textured. Peters received the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award in 1963 and the Crime Writers Association's Silver Dagger Award in 1981. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Image credit: Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter), 1913-1995
Series
Works by Ellis Peters
The Heaven Tree Trilogy Omnibus: The Heaven Tree, the Green Branch, the Scarlet Seed (1960) 467 copies
The Brother Cadfael Mysteries: Monk's Hood / The Leper of St. Giles / The Sanctuary Sparrow / One Corpse Too Many (1979) 144 copies
The Dominic Felse Omnibus (The Piper on The Mountain, Mourning Raga, Death to the Landlords) (1991) 50 copies
Brother Cadfael Omnibus: Dead Man's Ransom | The Pilgrim of Hate | An Excellent Mystery (1999) 32 copies
The George Felse Omnibus: Fallen Into the Pit; Death and the Joyful Woman; A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs (1994) 28 copies
The Detective Omnibus (City of Gold and Shadows / Flight of a Witch / Funeral of Figaro) (1992) 28 copies
Brother Cadfael Omnibus: The Rose Rent | The Hermit of Eyton Forest | The Raven in the Foregate (2001) 25 copies
The Brother Cadfael Mysteries: A Morbid Taste for Bones / The Raven in the Foregate / The Rose Rent (1999) 23 copies
The Devil's Novice / The Disappearance of the Saturnalia Silver / Blind Justice / He Came with the Rain (2000) 6 copies
Brother Cadfael: Monk's Hook, the Leper of St. Giles, the Sanctuary Sparrow, One Corpse Too Many [enhanced audiotrack] (1999) 4 copies
By This Strange Fire 4 copies
Let Nothing You Dismay! 2 copies
The Duchess and the Doll 1 copy
Don Juan 1 copy
Monk's Hood [abridged] 1 copy
Dekle v zrcalu 1 copy
HORTENSIUS, FRIEND OF NERO. 1 copy
Brother Cadfael novels / 1 copy
Figaros död 1 copy
Associated Works
Thou Shalt Not Kill: Father Brown, Father Dowling and Other Ecclesiastical Sleuths (1992) — Contributor — 47 copies
Bodies from the Library 5: Forgotten Stories of Mystery and Suspense from the Golden Age of Detection (2022) — Contributor — 28 copies
Once Upon a Crime: Historical Mysteries From Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (1994) — Contributor — 27 copies
Historical Whodunits — Preface — 3 copies
The Confession of Brother Haluin | Murder on Tour: A Rock'n'Roll Mystery | A Wicked Slice (1989) — Contributor — 2 copies
The Hermit of Eyton Forest | Poetic Justice | So Soon Done For — Contributor — 2 copies
Mystery! Cadfael: The Complete Series 3-4 — Original books — 1 copy
Mystery and Suspense — Contributor — 1 copy
Mystery! Cadfael: The Complete Series 1-2 — Original books — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Pargeter, Edith Mary
- Other names
- Redfern, John
Carr, Jolyon
Benedict, Peter
Peters, Ellis
Pargeter, Edith - Birthdate
- 1913-09-28
- Date of death
- 1995-10-14
- Burial location
- cremated, ashes scattered
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Horsehay, Shropshire, England, UK
- Place of death
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Horsehay, Shropshire, England, UK
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, UK - Education
- Dawley Church of England School
Coalbrookdale High School for Girls - Occupations
- author
chemist's assistant
Women's Royal Naval Service (WWII)
historical novelist
translator - Awards and honors
- British Empire Medal (1944)
Cartier Diamond Dagger (1993)
Order of the British Empire (Officer ∙ 1994)
Czechoslovak Society for International Relations, Gold Medal and ribbon (1968) - Short biography
- Edith Mary Pargeter, BEM (September 28, 1913 in Horsehay, Shropshire, England –October 14, 1995) was a prolific author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both historical and modern. Born in the village of Horsehay (Shropshire, England), she had Welsh ancestry, and many of her short stories and books (both fictional and non-fictional) were set in Wales and its borderlands, and/or have Welsh protagonists.
During World War II, she worked in an administrative role in the Women's Royal Naval Service, and received the British Empire Medal - BEM.
Pargeter wrote under a number of pseudonyms; it was under the name Ellis Peters that she wrote the highly popular series of Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries, many of which were made into films for television.
Members
Reviews
Summary: Two deaths and the abduction of a widow seem tied to a white rose bush from which the annual rent of a Foregate property is paid in the form of one white rose.
It is coming up on the anniversary of the celebration of the placing of St. Winifred’s reliquary on the abbey altar. The same day also marks the payment of an unusual rent. Judith Perle, heir of a prosperous weaving establishment lost both her husband and unborn child within three weeks. In her grief, she deeded their home in the Foregate to the abbey with the provision of a rent of one white rose from a bush on the property, paid on St. Winifred’s day. It involved about half her estate. The business, however, prospers under her cousin Miles’ management, so much so that she thinks of entering the convent, unhappy with the suitors who have sought her hand (and fortune).
Brother Eluric, a monk given over to the abbey as a child, is designated to deliver the rent. But in doing so in previous years, he found himself attracted to her and he pleads to be released from the obligation to keep his soul pure, and he is. Niall, the householder, a widower with a young daughter, is designated to take his place, a task he is delighted to accept, as he is also attracted to the widow. He is a bronzesmith and his feelings are further fostered when Judith brings him a girdle to be repaired–a buckle had torn away.
Niall’s daughter lived with his sister but he visited regularly. One night, shortly before the rose rent is due, he finds the bush has been mangled but not destroyed. There is a body at its base, Brother Eluric, dead of a knife wound. A bootprint is found nearby, that Cadfael takes a mold of. Later, as he discusses the death with Judith. Cadfael discloses Eluric’s attraction. Judith determines the next day to end the whole rose rent thing, giving the house fully to the abbey. She speaks of this to a servant, who share it in the kitchen, where this is overheard by a number.
The next morning she sets out for the abbey and is seen crossing the bridge but never arrrives at the abbey or returns home. It is concluded that she has been abducted, particularly after a boat is recovered and a buckle from the girdle Niall repaired is found. The town is turned out to search for her, including Bertred, on of her workers. He goes out that night on a secret errand and finds where Judith is being held. A mishap is heard by a neighboring watchman who sets the dogs on him. He escapes by jumping into the river, stunned when he hits his head. Then, as he comes to, a dark figure strikes another blow, and shoves him into deeper water, where Cadfael finds his body the next day. And he discover that the boots match the bootprint he found by Brother Eluric.
Was Bertred Eluric’s killer? And who killed Bertred? And is Judith’s abduction connected, and how will it all come right? Cadfael is not alone in the resolution of it all. Our old friend Sister Magdalen will play a role as does Niall, and Judith herself, with Cadfael himself uncovering the key clue pointing to the murderer. What’s most interesting in this story is we find ourselves pressed to keep in focus the murders as the story of Judith’s abduction unfolds, with all the possible implications this has.… (more)
It is coming up on the anniversary of the celebration of the placing of St. Winifred’s reliquary on the abbey altar. The same day also marks the payment of an unusual rent. Judith Perle, heir of a prosperous weaving establishment lost both her husband and unborn child within three weeks. In her grief, she deeded their home in the Foregate to the abbey with the provision of a rent of one white rose from a bush on the property, paid on St. Winifred’s day. It involved about half her estate. The business, however, prospers under her cousin Miles’ management, so much so that she thinks of entering the convent, unhappy with the suitors who have sought her hand (and fortune).
Brother Eluric, a monk given over to the abbey as a child, is designated to deliver the rent. But in doing so in previous years, he found himself attracted to her and he pleads to be released from the obligation to keep his soul pure, and he is. Niall, the householder, a widower with a young daughter, is designated to take his place, a task he is delighted to accept, as he is also attracted to the widow. He is a bronzesmith and his feelings are further fostered when Judith brings him a girdle to be repaired–a buckle had torn away.
Niall’s daughter lived with his sister but he visited regularly. One night, shortly before the rose rent is due, he finds the bush has been mangled but not destroyed. There is a body at its base, Brother Eluric, dead of a knife wound. A bootprint is found nearby, that Cadfael takes a mold of. Later, as he discusses the death with Judith. Cadfael discloses Eluric’s attraction. Judith determines the next day to end the whole rose rent thing, giving the house fully to the abbey. She speaks of this to a servant, who share it in the kitchen, where this is overheard by a number.
The next morning she sets out for the abbey and is seen crossing the bridge but never arrrives at the abbey or returns home. It is concluded that she has been abducted, particularly after a boat is recovered and a buckle from the girdle Niall repaired is found. The town is turned out to search for her, including Bertred, on of her workers. He goes out that night on a secret errand and finds where Judith is being held. A mishap is heard by a neighboring watchman who sets the dogs on him. He escapes by jumping into the river, stunned when he hits his head. Then, as he comes to, a dark figure strikes another blow, and shoves him into deeper water, where Cadfael finds his body the next day. And he discover that the boots match the bootprint he found by Brother Eluric.
Was Bertred Eluric’s killer? And who killed Bertred? And is Judith’s abduction connected, and how will it all come right? Cadfael is not alone in the resolution of it all. Our old friend Sister Magdalen will play a role as does Niall, and Judith herself, with Cadfael himself uncovering the key clue pointing to the murderer. What’s most interesting in this story is we find ourselves pressed to keep in focus the murders as the story of Judith’s abduction unfolds, with all the possible implications this has.… (more)
In the style of the first book in the series, this one features an equally intriguing mystery. The investigation is more satisfactory this time, although it depends on some clues falling into Brother Cadfael's hands too conveniently. Also too convenient is how well his plans work, as they could easily had ended in disaster if the suspect had reacted differently.
The characters and the setting are interesting, although perhaps some of the plot is a bit conventional, again with the young innocent lovers helped by the sympathetic Cadfael. At least Ellis Peters again introduced twists when I was thinking that the mystery might turn out to be too straightforward and obvious. All in all a quick and entertaining read for mystery fans who want to try a historical setting.… (more)
The characters and the setting are interesting, although perhaps some of the plot is a bit conventional, again with the young innocent lovers helped by the sympathetic Cadfael. At least Ellis Peters again introduced twists when I was thinking that the mystery might turn out to be too straightforward and obvious. All in all a quick and entertaining read for mystery fans who want to try a historical setting.… (more)
An entertaining read, with very good setting and characterization (although the way of thinking of some of the character was not very medieval). On the other hand, the mystery was somewhat lackluster. Few ingenious deductions in this one.
Lists
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1970s (1)
Edgar Award (1)
Female Author (1)
Garden-fiction (1)
Monastic life (1)
Women in War (1)
Next in Series (1)
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Detective Stories (12)
British Mystery (14)
Historical Fiction (21)
al.vick-series (2)
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Statistics
- Works
- 162
- Also by
- 65
- Members
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- Popularity
- #290
- Rating
- 3.8
- Reviews
- 969
- ISBNs
- 1,730
- Languages
- 23
- Favorited
- 167
If you've never read a Cadfael novel, while you don't have to read them all in order, it's best to read the first two first so that certain things about certain characters are not spoilers. This is the third.… (more)