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Chronicles of Brother Cadfael
The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael
Introduced by Ellis Peters, an elegantly bound, richly illustrated reference guide to the world of Peters's very popular medieval sleuth, Brother Cadfael, covers all of the characters, settings, and trivia of the mystery series.
412 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 1991
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186 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 25, 2025
Robin Whiteman's 1991 The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is basically an A to Z reference guide regarding all things Cadfael and as appearing in and pertaining to Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael Mysteries, with an introduction by Ellis Peters, an A to Z dictionary, four appendixes and also an appreciated and nicely detailed select bibliography (but just for books, not for online resources, since in 1991, since when The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael was published, online resources were still rather the exception and not generally the rule for bibliographical materials).
But to be honest, while in my opinion, The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael and of course also author (as well as compiler) Whiteman deserve very high praise for the all-encompassing, for comprehensive and well researched textual details being featured, for the enlightening but also nicely readable and never overly complicated information regarding people, places and the historical contexts of and surrounding the Brother Cadfael books, yes, I personally speaking have certainly very much enjoyed The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael but have also tended to find Robin Whiteman's set-up in and for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael somewhat frustrating or perhaps potentially so. For indeed, if a reader comes to the The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael having read ALL (or most) of the Brother Cadfael novels, Whiteman's A to Z format will generally work well enough, but that for readers who have not yet read all of the novels (and in particular if they have only read very few), in my opinion, the A to Z format Whiteman uses could easily become a bit confusing, and that I for one would consider a novel by novel approach and format for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael much more user and reader friendly and that Robin Whiteman not doing this is at least for me and in my humble opinion somewhat of an annoying shortcoming (although I do seem to be amongst the minority regarding this, that most reviewers of The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael do not have any issues with how Whiteman has featured his Brother Cadfael information).
Now as a companion book, The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is generally very very good, but that The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is definitely not a standalone, that readers who have not read Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries will likely not have much use for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael, and yes, that I do definitely stand firm very much finding how Whiteman has set up and organised his information in an A to Z dictionary and not novel by novel (see above) distracting, potentially confusing and just not all that friendly for research purposes (with this as well as that size and circumference wise The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is not very portable, is quite unwieldy making my rating for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael three stars and just to say that I am also more than a wee bit disappointed, that especially concerning Robin Whiteman's textual organisation, I for one am not all that pleased).
But to be honest, while in my opinion, The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael and of course also author (as well as compiler) Whiteman deserve very high praise for the all-encompassing, for comprehensive and well researched textual details being featured, for the enlightening but also nicely readable and never overly complicated information regarding people, places and the historical contexts of and surrounding the Brother Cadfael books, yes, I personally speaking have certainly very much enjoyed The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael but have also tended to find Robin Whiteman's set-up in and for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael somewhat frustrating or perhaps potentially so. For indeed, if a reader comes to the The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael having read ALL (or most) of the Brother Cadfael novels, Whiteman's A to Z format will generally work well enough, but that for readers who have not yet read all of the novels (and in particular if they have only read very few), in my opinion, the A to Z format Whiteman uses could easily become a bit confusing, and that I for one would consider a novel by novel approach and format for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael much more user and reader friendly and that Robin Whiteman not doing this is at least for me and in my humble opinion somewhat of an annoying shortcoming (although I do seem to be amongst the minority regarding this, that most reviewers of The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael do not have any issues with how Whiteman has featured his Brother Cadfael information).
Now as a companion book, The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is generally very very good, but that The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is definitely not a standalone, that readers who have not read Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries will likely not have much use for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael, and yes, that I do definitely stand firm very much finding how Whiteman has set up and organised his information in an A to Z dictionary and not novel by novel (see above) distracting, potentially confusing and just not all that friendly for research purposes (with this as well as that size and circumference wise The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael is not very portable, is quite unwieldy making my rating for The Cadfael Companion: The World of Brother Cadfael three stars and just to say that I am also more than a wee bit disappointed, that especially concerning Robin Whiteman's textual organisation, I for one am not all that pleased).
September 15, 2016
Okay this is an impressive encyclopaedia however first of all I will have to admit that I have been dipping in and out of this book for some YEARS ! That said after the infamous restructuring and reorganising of my books I thought I should close off a few of these titles that have been linger for far too long.
The TV series (yes I will put my hand up to that I got in to the world of Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael thanks to the amazing Derek Jacobi) captivated my attention and drove me to explore the books. Now I will admit I am a compulsive collector and I have the entire series in my collection but I have never really read them in their proper order. You see even though they follow a fictional friar they are based in a historically accurate world and with key events marked.
So along with reading the books as they should be I felt it was time to finishing exploring this book. So what is it, well its a huge impressively researched reference book on all things Cadfael - for a fan it is perfect to dip in and out of but to the casual reader its hard going and a little disorientating since without the books (or the TV series) you miss a lot of what it is trying to impart.
So only really venture in to this book if you are really determined and as in my case have several years to gradually work your way through it. But you have to acknowledge the sheer volume of work that must have gone in to it.
The TV series (yes I will put my hand up to that I got in to the world of Ellis Peters Brother Cadfael thanks to the amazing Derek Jacobi) captivated my attention and drove me to explore the books. Now I will admit I am a compulsive collector and I have the entire series in my collection but I have never really read them in their proper order. You see even though they follow a fictional friar they are based in a historically accurate world and with key events marked.
So along with reading the books as they should be I felt it was time to finishing exploring this book. So what is it, well its a huge impressively researched reference book on all things Cadfael - for a fan it is perfect to dip in and out of but to the casual reader its hard going and a little disorientating since without the books (or the TV series) you miss a lot of what it is trying to impart.
So only really venture in to this book if you are really determined and as in my case have several years to gradually work your way through it. But you have to acknowledge the sheer volume of work that must have gone in to it.
September 30, 2013
This is an absolute “must have” for those who have enjoyed the books and/or have followed the TV series.
The Cadfael books portray a twelfth century monk and herbalist who was also the “Sherlock Holmes” of his day. There must be about 20 books which describe his exploits within a framework of historical fact and fiction, with a fascinating blend of people and places recurring throughout the tales.
The 400 pages of the Cadfael Companion is an exceptional guide to about 1000 characters and places, plants and herbs. There is a glossary of medieval terms and maps of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and the Welsh border around which his life was centred. Throughout there are marvellous illustrations which add so much to the text.
The books take on a new life with the Companion beside you. The historical framework within which Cadfael worked can be so much more deeply appreciated with just a few references while you read.
The Cadfael books portray a twelfth century monk and herbalist who was also the “Sherlock Holmes” of his day. There must be about 20 books which describe his exploits within a framework of historical fact and fiction, with a fascinating blend of people and places recurring throughout the tales.
The 400 pages of the Cadfael Companion is an exceptional guide to about 1000 characters and places, plants and herbs. There is a glossary of medieval terms and maps of Shrewsbury, Shropshire and the Welsh border around which his life was centred. Throughout there are marvellous illustrations which add so much to the text.
The books take on a new life with the Companion beside you. The historical framework within which Cadfael worked can be so much more deeply appreciated with just a few references while you read.
Did Not Finish
October 23, 2024Skimmed it.
Not what I was expecting (or hoping for). Not a bad reference book if you're looking for encyclopedic references of the Cadfael Chronicles A-Z. However, I was looking for more of a coffee-table book filled with tid-bits and factoids and glossy, lush colored photos.
Will not rate because it's good for what it is - just not what I was looking for.
Not what I was expecting (or hoping for). Not a bad reference book if you're looking for encyclopedic references of the Cadfael Chronicles A-Z. However, I was looking for more of a coffee-table book filled with tid-bits and factoids and glossy, lush colored photos.
Will not rate because it's good for what it is - just not what I was looking for.
June 25, 2016
Choice of fonts makes it difficult to enjoy. Difficult to figure out what the letters are. Was also hoping for pronunciation guides.
November 13, 2017
The book has some wonderful drawings but does not contain the historical knowledge and archaic speech that I was looking for. It is excellent for referencing particular characters in the individual stories but that is about it.
March 15, 2018
This is not a book to read cover to cover. It is an excellent reference book for all fans of the Brother Cadfael series.
November 10, 2020
I loved using this as a reference as I (re-)read the whole series. It was, indeed, an excellent Companion!
July 15, 2017
I've read and enjoyed only one of the Cadfael books, so I got this compendium mostly because it's such a pretty book. Hopefully I'll appreciate it even more as I find and read more of the series!
January 4, 2012
An awesome, and very thorough, companion and guide to this lovely series.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews