The Summer of the Danes

The Summer of the Danes (1991) Ellis Peters (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #18)

Set in Wales in 1144

It is a blessed thing, on the whole, to live in slightly dull times, especially after disorder, siege and bitter contention.

Have you ever seen the sea?”

“No. How could I? Until I joined the bishop’s household I had never been out of the shire, not even ten miles from where I was born.” He was straining his eyes ahead as he rode now, with longing and delight, thirsty for all that he had never seen. “The sea must be a great wonder,” he said on a hushed breath.

“Brothers have been the ruin of Welsh princedoms through all ages,” Cadfael observed ruefully. “Welsh princes should have only one son apiece. The father builds up a sound principality and a strong rule, and after his death his three or four or five sons, in and out of wedlock, all demand by right equal shares, and the law says they should have them. Then one picks off another, to enlarge his portion, and it would take more than law to stop the killing.

I am a reminder of a marriage the bishop says was unlawful and sacrilegious. In his eyes I never should have been born!

…

For centuries now priests had lived as decent married men and raised families like their parishioners. Even in England, in the more remote country places, there were plenty of humble married priests, and certainly no one thought the worse of them.

Characters: Brother Cadfael (Cadfael ap Meilyr ap Dafydd), Abbot Radulfus, Deacon Mark, Brother Winfrid, Brother Oswin, Brother Dafydd, Anarawd ap Gruffydd, Bishop Gilbert, Bishop Meurig, Bledri ap Rhys, Cadwaladr, Canon Meirion, Canon Morgant, Cuhelyn ab Einion, Gwion, Heledd, Hugh Beringar, Hywel ab Owain, Ieuan ab Ifor, Leif, Otir, Owain Gwynedd, Rhun ab Owain, Turcaill son of Turcaill

Publisher: MysteriousPress

Rating: 8.5/10

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