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An Excellent Mystery (novel)
Encyclopedia
Plot introduction
August 1141, and two monks arrive at Shrewsbury with news of the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Maud. The Abbey of Hyde Mead at Winchester has been burned to the ground. From the moment he meets them Cadfael recognises a bond between the two refugees that goes beyond their common vows. As the elder brother's health fails Cadfael must unravel a secret so grave that it could destroy a life, a future and even the holy order itself.Explanation of the novel's title
The title comes from the solemnisation of matrimony in the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
: "Oh God, Who hast consecrated this state of matrimony to such an excellent mystery, look mercifully on these Thy servants." The meaning of the title is not made clear until this passage is quoted at the very end of the book.
Plot summary
August 1141. Half of southern England is cut off from the abbey by the civil war between King Stephen and Empress Maud. The Abbey of Hyde Mead has been laid waste and monks have been scattered across the country. Brother Humilis and the mute Brother Fidelis are welcomed by the Abbey of Shrewsbury as refugees. Humilis, who Cadfael deduces has served as a soldier in the middle-east, tells the Abbot that he was born near Shrewsbury and wishes to see the old estates of his father. Cadfael recalls a nobleman called Godfrid Marescot, who joined the crusades sixteen years ago, taking men from his manor, and gained a reputation for great valour. He deduces that Humilis is Godfrid returned. Hugh Beringar notes that the man is clearly ill and likely not long for this world. Fidelis's inability to speak has caused him to become isolated from the other brothers.One day Cadfael finds Humilis gravely ill and discovers that he has an unhealed wound from the Crusades, which has rendered him incapable of fathering children. While tending the ailing man, Cadfael learns that Fidelis joined the monastery when Humilis had just graduated from being a novice. Fidelis brought with him a written explanation of his desire to serve God and a small amount of money. Brother Urien, who recently joined the monastery after a disastrous marriage, makes a sexual advance towards the young novice Rhun, but is rejected. Scorned, Brother Urien leaves nursing a grudge. Not long after this, Rhun takes his vows as a monk. Nicholas Harnage arrives on leave from the Queen's army at Andover, where they have burnt the town, intending to ask Brother Humilis for permission to propose marriage to Humphrey Cruce's daughter, Julian, who was betrothed to Humilis by arranged marriage before Humilis became a monk. Humilis gladly gives his consent to Nicholas who then leaves the monastery to make his proposal of marriage.
Julian's brother, Reginald, tells Nicholas that Julian chose to become a nun less than three months after her engagement to Humilis was broken and currently resides at the convent at Wherwell, the very place that the Queen's army was besieging before Nicholas was granted leave. Disappointed, Nicholas returns to Shrewsbury Abbey. In the following days a wool merchant brings word to Hugh Beringar that the Empress's forces have burned Wherwell Abbey. Hugh informs Cadfael who takes the news to Nicholas, who leaves quickly to ensure Julian's safety. Soon after this Brother Urien makes an advance towards Brother Fidelis. Fidelis rejects him.
At Wherwell, Nicholas searches for Julian among the surviving nuns but is unable to find her. He continues his search as far as Romsey, where the Prioress informs him that Julian Cruce has never entered, nor asked to enter, the nunnery at Wherwell. Reeling from this news, Nicholas returns to Winchester, where he finds a battle underway. The Empress's forces have broken out of the siege and are being pursued by King's army.
Returning to Shrewsbury, Nicholas recounts his findings to Brother Humilis. The disappearance of Julian is the more mysterious since she was escorted to Wherwell by four trustworthy servants who returned home safely afterwards. Nicholas again visits the manor and learns that three of the men who escorted Julian to Wherwell are still on the manor grounds and well trusted. The men are summoned and questioned and they reveal that on last leg of the journey only one servant, Adam Heriet, who was very fond of Julian and has since left the service of the family, accompanied Julian. Nicholas and Reginald discuss the fate of Julian and the possible guilt of Heriet. Reginald vows there will be restitution for whatever ill has befallen Julian. A list of the valuables Julian took with her into the cloister is made.
At the Abbey Nicholas and Reginald find Hugh and Cadfael discussing the civil war, in which the King is held prisoner by the Empress Maud and ransom offered by the Queen. Nicholas and Reginald ask Hugh to assist them as Sheriff. Hugh agrees to pursue Heriet, the last man to have seen Julian. Hugh finds Heriet at his brother in law's home and questions him. Heriet claims to have travelled with Julian to within a mile of the convent, but let her travel the last mile on her own at her own request. He denies having any knowledge of her in the three years since.
Hugh returns to Shrewsbury with Heriet, who asks repeatedly and urgently for news of Julian. At the Abbey he learns that Brother Humilis is very ill and has been taken to the infirmary where Brother Cadfael is tending him. Hugh tells Humilis what he has learned and Heriet recounts his story. Cadfael notes that the time taken by Heriet to complete his task was much longer than his story accounts for. Heriet claims to have used the spare time to explore the city of Winchester. Hugh finally asks Heriet whether he robbed and killed Julian. He denies it and allows himself to be taken into custody by the sheriff's men.
Alone with Cadfael and Hugh, Brother Humilis asks about the valuables that disappeared with Julian. Hugh describes them. Brother Urien overhears part of their conversation and thinks that one of the items Hugh described, the cross on a necklace, may be in the possession of Brother Fidelis who wears something on a chain around his neck. He deduces that Fidelis was responsible for robbing the lady Julian. Brother Urien believes that Fidelis stays with Brother Humilis out of love but thinks he can use this information to bargain for Fidelis's affections.
Brother Fidelis rejects Brother Urien's attempts to blackmail him into having sex. Angered Urien then attempts to have his way by force. In so doing he learns Fidelis's true secret. Startled by the knowledge, Orion gives Fidelis three days to reconsider and come to Urien willingly, threatening to tell all if Fidelis does not do so.
That night, while Fidelis sleeps on the cot near Brother Humilis's bed, Humilis wakes and discovers that Fidelis wears a very old heirloom-type ring on the chain around his neck, thus learning the truth about his faithful companion.
The next day Fidelis is sent to mass by Brother Humilis, in reality a ploy so Humilis and Cadfael can talk alone. Humilis asks Cadfael to protect Brother Fidelis after Humilis dies. Cadfael has guessed at Brother Fidelis's secret. Humilis fears that his death will place Fidelis in grave danger. He asks that he and Fidelis visit again the manor where he, Humilis, was born. Cadfael has misgivings since Humilis's health is dangerously poor, but they resolve to make the journey by river. Before undertaking the journey Cadfael visits Hugh at his home to ensure the safety and good treatment of Heriet and enlists the assistance of Hugh's wife Aline for his future plans. Cadfael then recruits Madog the boatman for the journey to Godfrid's manor.
Nicholas visits the Bishop of Winchester to seek some trace of the valuables that disappeared with the lady Julian. The Bishop knows nothing but lends his authority to help Nicholas question the churches, abbeys and merchantmen of the city. A merchant and his wife remember Adam Heriet well and describe him clearly as having sold them Julian's jewellery. Heriet claimed at the time that he was acting as a servant under orders and that the lady who owned the jewellery was dead. The wife of the jeweller received Julian's distinctive ring as a birthday gift and loans it to Nicholas to use to confront Adam Heriet.
As Nicholas makes his way back to Shrewsbury, Cadfael, Humilis and Fidelis meet Madog the boatman to begin their journey to the manor Humilis grew up on. At the end of the journey Humilis speaks to Fidelis, reassuring him that he, Humilis, is comfortable with the knowledge of his own death and assuring the young monk of Humilis's gratitude and love. Then, since a storm threatens, the group sets out for their return to Shrewsbury.
The storm breaks and lightning strikes a tree on the riverbank, causing all on the boat to fall into the water. Nicholas reaches Shrewsbury as the storm breaks. He seeks out Hugh Beringar and tells his news from Winchester.
Meanwhile Madog has arrived back in Shrewsbury. He tells Cadfael of Humilis death in the river and, clearly now knowing Brother Fidelis's secret himself, asks Cadfael how he plans to deal with the disaster. Cadfael tells him that if anything has to be said, it should be that Fidelis died in the river with Humilis.
Hugh and Nicholas are questioning Adam Heriet with the evidence of the ring. They formally accuse Heriet of the lady Julian's murder. Heriet denies everything, when the news of Madog's boat accident interrupts the interrogation. Hugh and Nicholas leave to verify the news of the accident and offer what assistance they can. In the streets of Shrewsbury they find Brother Humilis's body being carried through the streets by the townspeople.
At the abbey Madog recounts the accident to the monks, who sorrowfully accept all he says. Hugh Beringar notes Cadfael is absent from the scene. Returning home, Hugh is approached by his wife who has news of Cadfael's scheme and takes Hugh into her and Cadfael's confidence regarding Brother Fidelis's secret.
Brother Humilis is buried in Shrewsbury Abbey the next day. Sister Magdalene, an old friend of Cadfael's, arrives with a letter addressed to the Lord Sheriff, Hugh Beringar. Hugh reads the letter publicly, which is from the Lady Julian who says she is now staying at the nunnery at Polesworth. The letter hints that she lived at Sopwith Priory without taking holy vows, and asks that escort be sent to fetch her home. Reginald is joyous at the news that his sister is alive and deeply repentant of having wronged Adam Heriet, an honest man.
Alone, Brother Rhun visits the river and finds Brother Urien mourning the death of Brother Fidelis. Urien speaks of making confession and facing retribution for what he did, but Rhun convinces him to keep Fidelis's secret between the two of them. Privately, Rhun has deduced that Fidelis was in fact Julian Cruce.
Days later, Nicholas Harnage waits for the arrival of the lady Julian. They meet and Nicholas recognises her as Fidelis, as do Rhun and Urien, though they tell no one. Understanding the depth of her commitment to Brother Humilis, Nicholas decides to postpone his romantic pursuit of her until she has had time to mourn. Julian asks him to visit her at her brother's manor in due time.
Cadfael reflects on how scandalous it would have been had the truth come out. Hugh reflects on Heriet's motives and actions, and Cadfael recalls his journey to Sister Magdalene's priory with Fidelis/Julian. Sister Magdalene notes that the letter she wrote was nothing but the literal truth and praises the wisdom of Julian's decision to pretend muteness, as one who cannot speak cannot lie.
The novel concludes by quoting from the solemnization of matrimony, taken from the Book of Common Prayer.
Characters in "An Excellent Mystery"
Brother Cadfael: A former crusader schooled in medicine by Muslim and Syrian physicians, now a Benedictine monk in Shrewsbury Abbey.Hugh Beringer: Lord Sheriff of Shropshire, loyal servant to King Stephen
Brother Humilis: Once Godfrid Marescot, a noble crusader who suffered crippling wounds during the holy wars, formerly betrothed to the lady Julian but now a monk. The mentor of Brother Fidelis.
Brother Fidelis: In truth the lady Julian, who has resolved to tend her betrothed as a wife would, regardless of having been freed from their arranged marriage. In her guise as a mute monk, Fidelis is the care-giver and constant companion of Brother Humilis.
Brother Rhun: Recently taken into the monastery as a teenager following a miraculous healing, Rhun takes to the life with great ease.
Brother Urien: A man in his twenties and new to the order, following a disastrous marriage to a woman who betrayed him. Deeply frustrated by his vow of chastity, he is driven to pursue both Rhun and Fidelis.
Nicholas Harnage: Once a squire of Godfrid Marescot before the crusader took holy orders and now a soldier in the Queen's army, fighting on the side of King Stephen. Nicholas once met the lady Julian when bearing the news that his master was no longer going to marry her and fell in love with her.
Major themes
- Marriage is the major theme of An Excellent Mystery as reflected in the title, which is taken from a prayer used at wedding services. Although the marriage of Godfrid and Julian could not be consummated because of his wounds and her disguise, she had "his company, the care of him, the secrets of his body, as intimate as ever was marriage - his love, far beyond the common claims of marriage."
- To a lesser extent, homosexuality is also a theme in the novel, although the subject is not explicitly depicted.
- This novel is unique among the Brother Cadfael series in that no one is killed - although it is implied through most of the novel that Julian has been murdered.
Allusions/references to other works
The novel's title comes from the Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
and the specific prayer, the solemnisation of matrimony, is quoted directly at the novel's conclusion.
Literary significance & criticism
CBS Interactive Business Solutions reprints a review of An Excellent Mystery written by Linda Bridges, originally published in "National Review" 5 December 1986. The review is on the whole favourable, praising Ellis Peters' use of strong yet feminine characters and the character of Cadfael as an original detective, however the review closes with the recommendation that the book be read as part of the Cadfael series.Amazon.co.uk quotes the following line: 'A pleasing and unusual mixture of suspense and historical fiction.' Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
A more recent review can be found at "That's All She Read With Nan Hawthorne" "I don't think I have ever read a sweeter love story. You will just have to read it to see what I mean. It is, indeed, an excellent mystery."
Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
The events in An Excellent Mystery take place in 1141 during the civil war between King StephenStephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
and Empress Maud. The burning of Winchester and Wherwell, the siege of Winchester and the Empress Maud's retreat from the town are important to the plot of the novel.
The story takes place in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The real towns Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
and Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
are used as locations for most of the story's action.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Although there have been BBC Radio adaptations and TV adaptations of many of the Cadfael stories, An Excellent Mystery has not been featured amongst them.Release details
- 1985, UK, Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-39313-9 / 978-0-333-39313-0, June 1985, Hardback
- 1986, US, William Morrow & Co, ISBN 0-688-06250-4 / 978-0-688-06250-7, June 1986, Hardback
- 1986, UK, Time Warner Paperbacks, ISBN 0-7515-0221-9 / 978-0-7515-0221-3, June 1986, Paperback
- 1987, US, Fawcett, ISBN 0-449-21224-6 / 978-0-449-21224-0, June 1987, Paperback
- 1987, UK, Ulverscoft Large Print Books, ISBN 0-7089-1660-0 / 978-0-7089-1660-5, July 1987, Hardback
- 1991, UK, Time Warner Paperbacks, ISBN 0-7088-2867-1 / 978-0-7088-2867-0, March 1991, Paperback
- 1993, UK, Chivers Audio Books, ISBN 0-7451-4184-6 / 978-0-7451-4184-8, August 1991, Audio Cassette
- 1994, UK, Time Warner Paperbacks, ISBN 0-7515-1111-0 / 978-0-7515-1111-6, May 1994, Paperback
- 1997, US, Mysterious Press, ISBN 0-446-40532-9 / 978-0-446-40532-4, October 1997, Paperback
- 2000, US, Thorndike Press, ISBN 0-7862-2269-7 / 978-0-7862-2269-8, March 2000, Paperback
- 2000, UK, Chivers Large Print, ISBN 0-7540-1366-9 / 978-0-7540-1366-2, April 2000, Hardback
- 2000, USA, The Audio Partners, ISBN 1-57270-140-4 / 9781572701403, April 2000, Audio Cassette
- 2000, UK, Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books, ISBN 1-84032-312-4 / 9781840323122, October 2000, Audio Cassette
- 2001, UK, Chivers Large Print, ISBN 0-7540-2273-0 / 978-0-7540-2273-2, January 2001, Paperback
- 2001, USA, Blackstone Audiobooks, ISBN 0-7861-9780-3 / 978-0-7861-9780-4, February 2001, Audio CD
- 2001, USA, Blackstone Audiobooks, ISBN 0-7861-1940-3 / 978-0-7861-1940-0, February 2001, Audio Cassette
- 2005, USA, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 1-84456-123-2 / 9781844561230, December 2005, Audio CD