History Literature / SisterFidelma

* SummationGathering: Almost every time. Often [[{{Justified}}]] by Fidelma either presenting the solution before a judge as part of a legal case, or having to explain things to someone in authority who wasn't there at the time. Sometimes done so civilians involved in the case don't spend their whole lives wondering what the heck happened, or aren't ConvictedByPublicOpinon.

* WhamMoment: A lot of the books ended with these, usually with a large hint as to the plot of the next book. Book 2 ended with Fidelma leaving Rome, with her believing she would never see Eadulf again. Another ends with her finding an abandoned, blood-stained ship with Eadulf's distinctive satchel (which she gave to him) on it. One ends with Fidelma announcing her pregnancy (to the reader, anyway. Opinion differs whether Eadulf knew and they just didn't mention it aloud). Another ends with Fidelma and Eadulf being handed an urgent letter saying their baby son has been kidnapped.

* ModestRoyalty: Fidelma, who as a religiuse just wears a habit. Occasionally averted for cause, such as putting arrogant nobles in their place.
* PoliticallyActivePrincess: Many of the murders have political implications for Colgu and his kingdom of Muman, so Fidelma often has to be diplomatic.

* SummationGathering: Almost every time.

Series of historical mysteries by British historian Peter Beresford Ellis under the pen name of Peter Tremayne. Sister Fidelma of Cashel is a 7th-century Irish religiuse, educated at the abbey of Kildare. Also sister to King Colgu of Muman (modern Munster), and a trained dalaigh, or lawyer, Fidelma travels DarkAgeEurope with her friend, [[spoiler: later husband]] the Saxon Brother Eadulf, former gerefa (magistrate) of Seaxmund's Ham (modern Saxmundham, Suffolk).

* BadassPrincess: Unarmed religious were trained in an obscure martial art to protect them during their travels. More than once Fidelma uses this art to subdue armed attackers with her bare hands.

8 FootnoteFever: averted. things other authors might bung in as explanatory footnotes often end up in the main text. See ShownTheirWork below.

* HookerWithAHeartOfGold: Della, one of Fidelma's closest friends, is a former ''be-taid'', or prostitute.

* WouldHurtaChild: In ''Suffer Little Children'' an orphanage is burned down as part of a complicated plot to murder the heirs to the throne.

Series of historical mysteries by British historian Peter Beresford Ellis under the pen name of Peter Tremayne. Sister Fidelma of Cashel is a 7th-century Irish religiuse, educated at the abbey of Kildare. Also sister to King Colgu of Muman (modern Munster), and a trained dalaigh, or lawyer, Fidelma travels Dark-Ages Europe with her friend, [[spoiler: later husband]] the Saxon Brother Eadulf, former gerefa (magistrate) of Seaxmund's Ham (modern Saxmundham, Suffolk).

* AlwaysMurder: At least three in every novel.

* ChristianityIsCatholic: Averted every which way; while what will become Catholicism is recognizable, there are undercurrents of conflict both within it (even the Pope, while disapproving, didn't technically outlaw coed houses at the time) and between it and Celtic Christianity (different methods of crossing oneself, different tonsures, different ''official'' attitudes towards women). Other, more exotic varieties of Christianity also appear, such as Ethiopian.

* Up until the 9th century or so, many religious houses were coed; priests, monks and nuns could marry, and women could be priests and even bishops. At the time of the series, what we now call Catholicism was starting to gain ascendancy over Celtic Christianity, but it was not yet all-powerful.

** Position was not strictly hereditary; kings and chiefs were elected by their families, and could be removed from their posts.
** Up until the 9th century or so, many religious houses were coed; priests, monks and nuns could marry, and women could be priests and even bishops. At the time of the series, what we now call Catholicism was starting to gain ascendancy over Celtic Christianity, but it was not yet all-powerful.
** Women's rights were relatively progressive. Women could take significant social roles such as warriors, rulers, and lawyers; they could own their own property and have child custody and alimony; they could choose their husbands and divorce them freely.
** There were many laws for the safety of citizens and communities. Trials were a right; innkeepers were required to keep clean establishments and lit lanterns; workers in dangerous professions were required to safeguard their workplaces. There were also many types of legal agreements, for example nine kinds of marriage.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: King Colgu, High King Sechnassach, and several other secular and religious leaders of the period. Novels are set at the Synod of Whitby and Council of Autun.

** Women's rights were relatively progressive. Women could take significant social roles such as warriors, rulers, and lawyers; they could divorce their husbands and have child custody and alimony; they could own their own property and choose their husbands.
** There were many laws for the safety of citizens and communities. Trials were a right; innkeepers were required to keep clean establishments and lit lanterns; workers in dangerous professions were required to safeguard their workplaces. There were also many types of legal agreements, for example a dozen kinds of marriage.

There are 21 novels and two anthologies of short stories. The first, ''Absolution by Murder,'' was published in 1994.

* BadassPrincess: Despite her training in a peaceful religious abbey, Fidelma is fully trained in an obscure Irish martial art. More than once she uses this to subdue armed attackers with her bare hands.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: King Colgu, and several other historical kings and priests. The Synod of Whitby is the setting of the first book, and several of its actual participants are important characters.

* ModestRoyalty: Fidelma, who as a religiuse just wears a habit. Occasionally averted for cause, usually putting arrogant nobles in their place.

* TakingTheVeil: Played with; religious houses even before Christianity were closer to schools than places of worship. Fidelma becomes a religiuse primarily because of the educational opportunities it offers, and gradually draws away from the religious life.

Ellis uses Fidelma and Eadulf to expound to the reader on the society of Ireland during this period, and on the complex web of cultures, places, religions and rivalries. Irish society was surprisingly FairForItsDay, compared with its neighbors. The stories often focus on specific points of law, or on comparison between societies and religions. Ellis brings up the following points particularly often:

* AuthorAppeal: As a historian of the period, Ellis really leans on this.

Series of historical mysteries by British historian Peter Beresford Ellis under the pen name of Peter Tremayne. Sister Fidelma of Cashel is a 7th-century Irish religiuse, trained at the abbey of Kildare. Also sister to King Colgu of Muman (modern Munster), and a trained dalaigh, or lawyer, Fidelma travels Dark-Ages Europe with her friend, [[spoiler: later husband]] the Saxon Brother Eadulf, former gerefa (magistrate) of Seaxmund's Ham (modern Saxmundham, Suffolk).

Ellis uses Fidelma and Eadulf to expound to the reader on the society of Ireland during this period, and on the complex web of cultures, provinces, religions and the rivalries between them.

There are 21 novels and two anthologies of short stories. The first, ''Absolution by Murder,'' is set in 664 AD.

!!This series provides examples of:

* AuthorAppeal: Irish society of the period was surprisingly FairForItsDay, compared with its neighbors. The stories often focus on specific points of law, or on comparison between societies and religions. Ellis brings up the following points particularly often:

** Up until the 10th century or so, many religious houses were coed; priests, monks and nuns could marry, and women could be priests and even bishops. At the time of the series, what we now call Catholicism was starting to gain ascendancy over Celtic Christianity, but it was not yet all-powerful.
** Women's rights were relatively progressive. Women could take significant social roles such as warriors, rulers, and lawyers; they could divorce their husbands and have child custody and alimony; and they could choose their husbands.
** There were many laws for the safety of citizens and communities. Trials were a right; innkeepers were required to keep clean establishments and lit lanterns; workers in dangerous professions were required to safeguard their workplaces.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: King Colgu, and other kings and chiefs.