Leper at St. Giles

When leprosy of the spirit is raging around, only a compassionate heart will cure us... With the coming autumn L. P. 1139, the town of Shrewsbury on the border of England and Wales hosts a famous wedding. The reigning Lord Huon de Domville is to marry the meek Lady Yvette de Massard - and it's a strange marriage. Neither Cadfael, on his way to St. It does not escape Jilja's notice that the groom is already a bit withered, while the bride is barely grown up, but with a fat inheritance from the most wealthy crusader. When Huon is found murdered in the woods on the morning of the wedding, his squire, who had an ulterior motive for thinking of Iveta and discouraging her from marrying, becomes the main suspect. He is captured, but manages to escape, and the investigation reaches a dead end. It's a good thing that Cadfael arranges the clues in such a way as to exonerate the young man and make the rash sheriff and the big man's retinue understand. It is obvious from the face of the dead lord in the glade that the wound was inflicted by a hand with a ring, and it is also worth asking why he has blue flowers woven into his cap. And what's more: has anyone noticed that the hospital has added an inmate and that a lazar with unprecedented authority stands out among the sick? Cadfael solves the fifth case in which the pain was caused by dull greed. And it is up to him to take into account that he too once faced his fate in the armour of a crusader. "The grey brain cells under this tonsure have accumulated a sum of medieval knowledge, and they know well how to pass it on." - The Observer "Further evidence of the author's sheer pleasure in creating: introduces vivid characters and a brilliantly spun plot, so even Cadfael sweats. It makes ancient times speak as if they were really happening before our eyes." - Kirkus Reviews "A wonderful companion. Even if it's freezing cold outside the window, this immoralizing monk and world traveler guarantees comfort, for his word warms like a burning fireplace." - from reviews of the film adaptation (1994) "A beautiful tale of love, friendship, the misfortune of lepers and purity of heart, where good triumphs over evil. The author's talent in describing events, nature, human behaviour (...) is admirable." - from reader reviews on databazeknih.cz Cadfael looked thoughtfully after the tall upright figure. It would seem so, that these men and women, old and young, walking in the anonymity of their dark robes and hoods, and the most disfigured of them even with a veil over their faces, secretly and alone for the rest of his life, they have left. That they don't have male or female names, skin colour, own, or even home, where they come from, they're all living spirits, known only to their Creator. But no, it's not. Each of them is unique in some way, by walking, with a voice, character, with a thousand subtle characteristics, that permeate their disguises. For this man, in spite of his silence, has something magnificent about him, and a strangely impressive dignity in his silence and danger. - excerpt from the text