Cadfael

Even though it first was broadcast in 1994, this series is still one of my favourites.  I’ve watched the programmes many times and still enjoy them.

I had read a couple of Ellis Peters’ (Edith Pargeter) medieval detective stories before I saw the masterful TV dramatisations and I wasn’t disappointed with the results.

The character of Cadfael was brilliantly portrayed by Derek Jacobi in this series. The Welsh herbalist monk living in an English abbey during the first half of the 12^th century was an unusual one. He came late to monastic life having spent half his life as a Crusader where he became a skillful observer of human nature and learned a range of skills while a prisoner of the Muslims. Cadfael has a worldly knowledge which sets him apart from his fellow monks, it makes him more understanding of people both rich and poor and their problems, this gets him into trouble with his superiors.

The background of the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud is there throughout the series and the crimes Cadfael “investigates” are often a result of this terrible time. Shrewsbury Abbey provides a place of refuge and calm to refugees, spies and conspirators alike.

The programmes never showed any violence as the crimes had already been committed when Cadfael became involved. However violence there was, in abundance.

All the stories showed both the frailty and the strength of human nature. The screenplay of Ellis Peters’ stories was wonderful even if the screenplays were not always faithful to the books. 


I particularly loved Cadfael’s musings and comments such as:

"Under the certainty of heaven all that we can be sure of is tomorrow.  When yesterday is already ours, what more can we ask?" 

Of all the programmes, the one I remember most vividly is The Virgin in the Ice. The scenery and weather were bleak and matched the tale of treachery and violence. It told of the murder of a nun who was found by Cadfael in ice.  This story told us more about Cadfael’s previous life in The Holy Land. It also introduced Olivier de Bretagne, a Syrian-born squire, the son of a woman Cadfael had known in the Holy Land. He was Cadfael’s son.  Interestingly this is Derek Jacobi’s favourite too, as he said “Cadfaels’ past merges with his present”.

Here’s a clip from that episode

Wonderful! One of life's true delights.

If you want to find out more about the books and the TV series, here are a few places to check out:


Steve Conrad's website

ITV Drama

Wiki

If you want to see where the books are set you can find the Cadfael Car Trails on Shropshire Tourism 

Interestingly the TV series was filmed in Hungary, not Shropshire!