This is the first Cadfael story in the book series.
As with many stories that we get involved with, the characters and their relationships with others in the environment are as important as the mystery.
Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) strikes a balance between the characters, history, and mystery. Sprinkled throughout are faith and a chance that they (the monks) may be correct in the explanation of saints and how the world works.
The external environment is the ongoing 11th-century civil war between English King Stephen and his sister Empress Maude. We also have references to the different societies as they travel to Wales. These become more relevant as the series progresses.
The inward struggle between faith and power is depicted as an individual monk is persuaded or wants to be persuaded to go on a mission to retrieve a neglected dead saint "St. Winifred." She resides in Wales, and it happens that Brother Cadfael has a Welsh background, so he is put in charge of supporting the mission.
When you see this movie, you will immediately see the differences between it and the book. One main point is the fact that the monk was cured before the trip. The best difference is revealed in the detection and solution to the mystery.
As with many stories that we get involved with, the characters and their relationships with others in the environment are as important as the mystery.
Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) strikes a balance between the characters, history, and mystery. Sprinkled throughout are faith and a chance that they (the monks) may be correct in the explanation of saints and how the world works.
The external environment is the ongoing 11th-century civil war between English King Stephen and his sister Empress Maude. We also have references to the different societies as they travel to Wales. These become more relevant as the series progresses.
The inward struggle between faith and power is depicted as an individual monk is persuaded or wants to be persuaded to go on a mission to retrieve a neglected dead saint "St. Winifred." She resides in Wales, and it happens that Brother Cadfael has a Welsh background, so he is put in charge of supporting the mission.
When you see this movie, you will immediately see the differences between it and the book. One main point is the fact that the monk was cured before the trip. The best difference is revealed in the detection and solution to the mystery.