Margaret Frazer
Encyclopedia
Margaret Frazer is the pen name of an historical novel
ist known for more than twenty mystery novels and a variety of short stories. The pen name was originally used by Gail Frazer and Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld in their collaboration on The Novice's Tale, the first of the Sister Frevisse books featuring the Benedictine
nun
Dame Frevisse. Their collaboration came to an end with The Murderer's Tale, the sixth book in the series. Starting with the Edgar Award
-nominated The Prioress' Tale, the Margaret Frazer pen name has been used exclusively by Gail Frazer. Frazer also writes the Player Joliffe mysteries, starring the medieval actor
Joliffe.
Frevisse is a nun at the small, fictional, 15th-century Oxfordshire
convent of St. Frideswide’s, with its ten (more or less) nuns; the neighboring village of Prior Byfield belongs partly to the priory and partly to Lord Lovell (an historical figure). Six of the novels are set entirely at the priory and/or village; in others Frevisse leaves the convent, either to accompany another nun on some family or convent business or on business of her own. Many of the novels have the quality of "English village" murder mysteries, in which we see at close hand the everyday material life (and the intellectual and spiritual life) of various classes of people and observe the tensions within and between them; but here, the "everyday" is of the 15th century, carefully researched. Some of the later novels are primarily historical novels, in which Frevisse serves as an observer of the well-documented events and characters which brought on the Wars of the Roses
, though there is always a murder for her to solve.
Dame Frevisse is vaguely related to Geoffrey Chaucer
, the famed author of the Canterbury Tales. Titles of the Frevisse novels follow the format of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, e.g., The Novice’s Tale, The Prioress’s Tale. There is no relation between Frazer’s title characters and Chaucer’s, even when they have the same role in life (e.g. Chaucer’s Prioress is a dainty, sentimental woman while Frazer’s is an ambitious, domineering one). However, there is the same implication that we are offered a variety of points of view. Each book begins with a chapter or passage focusing on the title character; this is followed by a change to Frevisse’s perspective, which dominates the novel, though we return from time to time to the point of view of the title character. The role of the title character varies from book to book: murderer, victim, a person in power or a victim of others’ power. Seven of the title characters so far have been women.
The novels of the series are set from 1431 to 1452 (so far), during the reign of Henry VI of England
; they overlap William Shakespeare
's Henry VI, part 1
and part 2
. They proceed in chronological sequence, and the heroine ages from a thirtyish nun in 1431 through the next twenty years. In the early novels, Frevisse’s uncle (by marriage) Thomas Chaucer
, son of the poet, provides a contact point with historical events as he brings news of the world to St. Frideswide’s; at his funeral (The Bishop’s Tale), Frevisse establishes a relationship with her cousin Alice Chaucer
, who is, in her third marriage, united to William de la Pole
, count/marquis/duke (as the novels progress) of Suffolk, one of the most ambitious men around the king. In the same novel, Frevisse also impresses Bishop Beaufort, one of the most powerful men in the country. Out of these relationships come various missions in which Frevisse must assist Alice, Beaufort, or both in protecting various interests at the royal court.
Frazer's second set of mysteries, also set in 15th-century England, feature "Joliffe the Player." Joliffe is a spin-off character from the Dame Frevisse series, appearing first in The Servant's Tale and crossing paths with Frevisse again in The Prioress's Tale, The Bastard's Tale, and The Traitor's Tale. The Joliffe series is, so far, set in the mid-1430s; thus these novels sometimes feel like "prequels" to his appearances in Dame Frevisse novels set in a later decade. The first four Joliffe novels present the life of an acting troupe traveling through the English countryside; but we also see Joliffe becoming involved as a spy in the political intrigues leading up to the Wars of the Roses
, and A Play of Treachery takes him away from the players to France.
Margaret Frazer is a Herodotus award winner, two-time Minnesota Book Award nominee, and two-time Edgar award
finalist.
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
ist known for more than twenty mystery novels and a variety of short stories. The pen name was originally used by Gail Frazer and Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld in their collaboration on The Novice's Tale, the first of the Sister Frevisse books featuring the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
Dame Frevisse. Their collaboration came to an end with The Murderer's Tale, the sixth book in the series. Starting with the Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
-nominated The Prioress' Tale, the Margaret Frazer pen name has been used exclusively by Gail Frazer. Frazer also writes the Player Joliffe mysteries, starring the medieval actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Joliffe.
Overview
The first six Dame Frevisse mysteries were written as a collaborative effort between Mary Monica Pulver Kuhfeld and Gail Frazer. The rest of the series has been written by Gail Frazer alone.Frevisse is a nun at the small, fictional, 15th-century Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
convent of St. Frideswide’s, with its ten (more or less) nuns; the neighboring village of Prior Byfield belongs partly to the priory and partly to Lord Lovell (an historical figure). Six of the novels are set entirely at the priory and/or village; in others Frevisse leaves the convent, either to accompany another nun on some family or convent business or on business of her own. Many of the novels have the quality of "English village" murder mysteries, in which we see at close hand the everyday material life (and the intellectual and spiritual life) of various classes of people and observe the tensions within and between them; but here, the "everyday" is of the 15th century, carefully researched. Some of the later novels are primarily historical novels, in which Frevisse serves as an observer of the well-documented events and characters which brought on the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
, though there is always a murder for her to solve.
Dame Frevisse is vaguely related to Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer , known as the Father of English literature, is widely considered the greatest English poet of the Middle Ages and was the first poet to have been buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey...
, the famed author of the Canterbury Tales. Titles of the Frevisse novels follow the format of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, e.g., The Novice’s Tale, The Prioress’s Tale. There is no relation between Frazer’s title characters and Chaucer’s, even when they have the same role in life (e.g. Chaucer’s Prioress is a dainty, sentimental woman while Frazer’s is an ambitious, domineering one). However, there is the same implication that we are offered a variety of points of view. Each book begins with a chapter or passage focusing on the title character; this is followed by a change to Frevisse’s perspective, which dominates the novel, though we return from time to time to the point of view of the title character. The role of the title character varies from book to book: murderer, victim, a person in power or a victim of others’ power. Seven of the title characters so far have been women.
The novels of the series are set from 1431 to 1452 (so far), during the reign of Henry VI of England
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
; they overlap William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Henry VI, part 1
Henry VI, part 1
Henry VI, Part 1 or The First Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare, and possibly Thomas Nashe, believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
and part 2
Henry VI, part 2
Henry VI, Part 2 or The Second Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
. They proceed in chronological sequence, and the heroine ages from a thirtyish nun in 1431 through the next twenty years. In the early novels, Frevisse’s uncle (by marriage) Thomas Chaucer
Thomas Chaucer
Thomas Chaucer was the Speaker of the English House of Commons and son of Geoffrey Chaucer and Philippa Roet.-Life:...
, son of the poet, provides a contact point with historical events as he brings news of the world to St. Frideswide’s; at his funeral (The Bishop’s Tale), Frevisse establishes a relationship with her cousin Alice Chaucer
Alice de la Pole
Alice de la Pole, Duchess of Suffolk was an English Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.Alice was born Alice Chaucer, daughter to Thomas Chaucer and Matilda Burghersh. Her grandfather was the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. When she was 11 she married Sir John Philip. The couple lived briefly at...
, who is, in her third marriage, united to William de la Pole
William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk
William de la Pole, 1st Duke of Suffolk, KG , nicknamed Jack Napes , was an important English soldier and commander in the Hundred Years' War, and later Lord Chamberlain of England.He also appears prominently in William Shakespeare's Henry VI, part 1 and Henry VI, part 2 and other...
, count/marquis/duke (as the novels progress) of Suffolk, one of the most ambitious men around the king. In the same novel, Frevisse also impresses Bishop Beaufort, one of the most powerful men in the country. Out of these relationships come various missions in which Frevisse must assist Alice, Beaufort, or both in protecting various interests at the royal court.
Frazer's second set of mysteries, also set in 15th-century England, feature "Joliffe the Player." Joliffe is a spin-off character from the Dame Frevisse series, appearing first in The Servant's Tale and crossing paths with Frevisse again in The Prioress's Tale, The Bastard's Tale, and The Traitor's Tale. The Joliffe series is, so far, set in the mid-1430s; thus these novels sometimes feel like "prequels" to his appearances in Dame Frevisse novels set in a later decade. The first four Joliffe novels present the life of an acting troupe traveling through the English countryside; but we also see Joliffe becoming involved as a spy in the political intrigues leading up to the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
, and A Play of Treachery takes him away from the players to France.
Margaret Frazer is a Herodotus award winner, two-time Minnesota Book Award nominee, and two-time Edgar award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
finalist.
Dame Frevisse Series
- The Novice's Tale (1992)
- The Servant's Tale (1993) (received an Edgar award nomination)
- The Outlaw's Tale (1994)
- The Bishop's Tale (1994) (received a Minnesota Book Award nomination)
- The Boy's Tale (1995)
- The Murderer's Tale (1996)
- The Prioress' Tale (1997) (received an Edgar award nomination)
- The Maiden's Tale (1998)
- The Reeve's Tale (1999) (received a Minnesota Book Award nomination)
- The Squire's Tale (2000)
- The Clerk's Tale (2002)
- The Bastard's Tale (2003)
- The Hunter's Tale (2004)
- The Widow's Tale (2005)
- The Sempster's Tale (2006)
- The Traitor's Tale (2007)
- The Apostate's Tale (2008)
Joliffe series
- A Play of Isaac (2004)
- A Play of Dux Moraud (2005)
- A Play of Knaves (2006)
- A Play of Lords (2007)
- A Play of Treachery (2009)
- A Play of Piety (2010)