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This study considers the transformation of plays into novels (something less investigated than the inverse process), and the relationship between historical drama, historical fiction, and the corresponding events in history. Shakespeare’s Second Tetralogy and three late-twentieth-century novels serve as examples. Their differences include narrative method: Pargeter’s third-person novel is wholly, Giardina’s first-person novel largely, in the realist tradition, and both concentrate on Prince Hal, the later King Henry V. Nye’s novel, the central object of study here, is the fictitious autobiography of a figure whose place in history is at best marginal (accepting Nye’s identification Falstaff/ Fastolf), throwing an unusual light on the period. Moreover, it is a parodistical, fantastical, densely intertextual metanovel. Pargeter guides sympathies towards Hotspur, Giardina towards Hal, Nye determinedly towards Falstaff. The representational possibilities of fiction (as opposed to drama) are exploited by all three, though again their methods vary.

\"Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual...

Towards the end of the Cadfael series the murders become comically incidental to the deeper themes of medieval society. The 15th chronicle, The Confession of Brother Haluin, has an astoundingly delicate and haunting plot. Decades ago a young man, Haluin, sought sanctuary at Cadfael's monastery after he fell in love with and impregnated a young woman he grew up alongside. The young woman, aided by her mother, took herbs to procure an abortion - but she and the baby died (or did they?) Haluin has been tormented by this all his life and, one generation on, wishes to return to the girl's home to seek forgiveness from her still-grieving mother (or is she?) On their pilgrimage of absolution Cadfael and Haluin meet a young boy, in love with a girl (strangely familiar) whom he has grown up with, too close a relation to marry. She is betrothed to another, but escapes to a nunnery, one of whose nuns is . . . I won't give it away.

Surrounded by this history of intrigue, it is not surprising that Edith Pargeter, using the nom de plume Ellis Peters, set her Brother Cadfael mysteries against the actual turbulent 12th-century history of this area. Shrewsbury Abbey, and indeed all of the historical landmarks Edith wove into the pages of her Cadfael mysteries, really did exist. The Quest is located across the busy A512 road from the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, locally referred to as Shrewsbury Abbey. A car park is across from the church and beside the Quest. Like many medieval towns, the old part of Shrewsbury is a nightmare to drive, but a joy to walk, with curious courtyards, maze-like streets and twisting alleys. As you exit there is a cozy re-creation of Edith Pargeter's study, the walls lined with her novels and numerous awards. Across the street in the Abbey Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, whose original building dates back to 1083, is a beautiful stained glass window in memory of Pargeter. It is this once-great Norman abbey that Peters made the home of her fictional Brother Cadfael.

Surrounded by this history of intrigue, it is not surprising that Edith Pargeter, using the nom de plume Ellis Peters, set her Brother Cadfael mysteries against the actual turbulent 12th-century history of this area. Shrewsbury Abbey, and indeed all of the historical landmarks Edith wove into the pages of her Cadfael mysteries, really did exist. The Quest is located across the busy A512 road from the church of St. Peter and St. Paul, locally referred to as Shrewsbury Abbey. A car park is across from the church and beside the Quest. Like many medieval towns, the old part of Shrewsbury is a nightmare to drive, but a joy to walk, with curious courtyards, maze-like streets and twisting alleys. Once inside, the Shrewsbury Quest gives Cadfael fans a taste of abbey life with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of 12th- century monastic cloistered life. Sleuths of all ages can wander the Quest in search of clues to the mystery game. Gardeners will enjoy the over 120 varieties of flowers and medicinal herbs which fill the medieval monastery garden surrounded by a cloister walk where dark- robed monks can be seen passing by.

The first of 20 Brother Cadfael books appeared in 1977. They included \"The Potter's Field\" (1990), \"The Confession of Brother Haluin\" (1989) and \"The Hermit of Eyton Forest\" (1988), all published by Mysterious Press.

The first of 20 Brother Cadfael books appeared in 1977. They included \"The Potter's Field\" (1990), \"The Confession of Brother Haluin\" (1989) and \"The Hermit of Eyton Forest\" (1988), all published by Mysterious Press.

GEORGE JEAN NATHAN (1882-1958) was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., but in his early 20's he migrated to New York City, where he became the sort of sophisticated Manhattan figure that George Sanders might have played in a movie-- a drama critic and essayist who wrote more than 30 books and was a combination, never since quite matched, of a man of letters and a man about town.