A rare Benedictine

the adventure of Brother Cadfael The Cadfael Chronicles

by Edith Pargeter

English language

Published Jan. 2, 2014 by Head of Zeus.

ISBN:: 978-1-78408-050-1
OCLC Number:: 874932222

(5 reviews)

Set in the Year of Our Lord 1120, three tales of intrigue and treachery, featuring the chain of events that led one-time crusader Cadfael into the Benedictine Order.

15 editions

Library Orb reviewed A Rare Benedictine by Edith Pargeter (Brother Cadfael (16))

A Brief Collection

3 stars

This short package of stories is mostly forgettable, with much of it reading like b-plots from other novels. The notable exception is the story that tells how Cadfael left his soldiering life and joined the Benedictine order. This one definitely delivers the best and most complete tale of the collection, and the peak at young(ish) Cadfael is exciting, he's strangely distant as a younger man, and keeps his thoughts hidden even from the reader. I'm still unsure if it's clever characterization, or just weirdly flat. Still, a fun little read.

ManyRoads reviewed A Rare Benedictine by Edith Pargeter (Brother Cadfael (16))

Review of 'A Rare Benedictine' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

A very quick read. Three short stories covering Brother Cadfael's early days. These short tales were designed to provide insight into his renunciation of his pre-monastic life.