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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
A murder; medieval setting includes period-appropriate violence; non-graphic
Language
Barely any
Mild, archaic language appropriate to the medieval setting
Sexual Content
Barely any
A brief romantic subplot involving the arranged marriage
Substance Use
Barely any
Mead and ale in period context; Cadfael uses herbal remedies
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Mild mystery tension; themes of social prejudice against lepers
What this book is about
On the eve of a grand wedding at Shrewsbury Abbey, a body is found in the leper colony of Saint Giles. Brother Cadfael investigates a murder tangled up with an arranged marriage, old enemies, and the prejudices visited on those suffering from leprosy in 12th-century England. The novel is notable for its compassionate portrayal of the marginalized and its richly drawn medieval social world.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Depictions of period attitudes toward leprosy and social marginalization
Reader Verification
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