Roland Emmerich directs this political thriller based around the notion that William Shakespeare was not in fact the author of the canon of plays attributed to him. In Elizabethan England, political intrigue abounds as the Tudors and the Cecils battle it out over the succession of Queen Elizabeth I (Joely Richardson/Vanessa Redgrave), and the Essex Rebellion mobilises against her. Enter the dashing and wildly talented Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford (Jamie Campbell Bower/Rhys Ifans), who not only fathers an illegitimate son in a clandestine incestuous relationship with Queen Elizabeth, but is also the secret author of the plays labeled with the name of William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall).

A special release marking the 50th anniversary of the first TV appearance of the Master in January 1971. The Master's finally done it. He's won. He summons his other selves to a celebration of his ultimate victory. And they come - from across time and dimensions. But he's forgotten to invite someone. And Missy's not happy. Has the Master really conquered the universe? Or has something more awful been unleashed? Something that even all the Masters cannot stop? Missy is determined to reveal the truth. Because one fact about the Master's existence never changes. No-one can trust the Master. Not even the Master. Cast: Geoffrey Beevers (The Master), Mark Gatiss (The Master), Derek Jacobi (The Master), Alex Macqueen (The Master), Milo Parker (The Master), Eric Roberts (The Master), John Simm (The Master), Michelle Gomez (Missy), Jon Culshaw (Kamelion), Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Aurora Burghart (Achim/Carola), Zaqi Ismail (Sardo), Abigail McKern (Kitty), Glen McCready (Butler/Castellan/Drones), Gina McKee (The Lumiat). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Pursued by a squadron of Dalek assault ships, the Master’s only hope is to abandon the space-time vortex and flee into an altogether different reality: a realm of fiction. Confronted with creatures of myth and figures from folklore, the Master sees an opportunity to scavenge a universe of impossible artefacts and use them against his enemies. But first, he must face off against a host of legendary monsters, literary heroes and embody fiction’s greatest consulting detective: Sherlock Holmes. 8.1 The Wrath of Medusa by Rochana Patel. Crashing into a universe of fiction, the Master finds himself lost in a world of Greek mythology… with a Dalek assault squad close behind. 8.2 The Shadow Master by Lizzie Hopley. As the Master plunders inconceivable artefacts from an impossible universe, he encounters a figure that may prove his greatest threat: his own Shadow. Contains four new stories: 8.3 The Adventure of the Deceased Doctor by Alfie Shaw. When Dr John Watson is informed of his own murder, only the world’s greatest consulting detective can assist. He just happens to come from a different world. 8.4 The Master of Dorian Gray by David Llewellyn. Seeking the power of immortality, the Master works himself into the life of Dorian Gray. But can he change how the story ends? CAST: Derek Jacobi (The War Master), Tom Alexander (Herman), Gethin Anthony (The Shadow), Greg Austin (Perseus), Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks/Sherlock Holmes), Richard Earl (Dr John Watson), Pauline Eyre (Hecate), Burn Gorman (Lestrade), Edward Harrison (Basil Hallward), Safiyya Ingar (Hobgoblin), Eleanor Jackson (Johanna), Sakuntala Ramanee (Athena), Jessye Romeo (Sibyl Vane), David Sibley (Henry Wotton), Ella Smith (Medusa), Sam Stafford (The Devil), Alexander Vlahos (Dorian Gray). Other parts played by members of the cast.

A full-cast dramatisation of Neil Gaiman's magical retellings of the Norse myths, inviting us into a world of gods and monsters, tricks and trust, fiery endings and new beginnings Winner of The London Book Fair CAMEO Award 2020 for Book to Audio adaptation. 'And the game begins anew...' Meet the trickster god Loki and his astonishing children - the giant wolf Fenrir, Jormungundr the snake that encircles the world, and Hel, the little girl who grows up to be Queen of the dead. Here, too, is Odin the all-father, who sacrificed his eye to see the future; Thor the thunderer, who defends Asgard with his fearsome strength and mighty hammer; and Freya the understandably angry, most beautiful of the gods and always being gambled for by unwanted suitors. From the beginning of the universe in fire and ice, to the very end of the world, Ragnarok, these enthralling tales of gods, goddesses, dwarves and giants bring the ancient myths to vigorous life. Diana Rigg, Derek Jacobi, Colin Morgan, Natalie Dormer and Neil Gaiman himself are among the stellar cast in these spellbinding stories of old betrayals - and new hope.

The Time War is an epic conflict underpinning much of the story arcs of many of the recent series of Doctor Who on TV. Here, Sir Derek Jacobi reprises his terrifying turn as the Doctor's arch nemesis The Master from episode Utopia, to show how the character survived in a universe torn apart by war. In this release, the Master is pitted once again against the Eighth Doctor, played by Paul McGann in a brand new four-part adventure. Recruited by the Celestial Intervention Agency to track down his oldest enemy, the Master finds himself thrown into a mission that will take him into deepest Dalek territory. Abandoned on the planet Redemption, he assembles a crew and acquires a ship - the journey that follows is certain to test them all...and not everyone will survive. But space pirates and living corpses are the least of their worries. Their biggest threat remains at large: a Time Lord who likes to call himself 'the Doctor' CAST: Derek Jacobi (The Master), Paul McGann (The Doctor), Seán Carlsen (Narvin), George Fletcher (Grondak), Sam Hallion (Kriket), Sandra Huggett (Dorada), Alex Jordan (Domdaniel Computer), Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (The Scaramancer), Colin McFarlane (Morski), Tanya Moodie (Kilda), Henry Nott (Dieter), Julia Sandiford (Ilya), Amanda Shodeko (Meri). Other parts played by members of the cast.

The Time War incarnation of the Doctor's best enemy is back, and the two Time Lords face each other once more - but who remembers whom? 7.1 The Forest of Penitence by Lou Morgan. Waking in an unusual forest with no memory of how he arrived there, the Master has little choice but to seek help from other survivors. But what is it they've all survived? 7.2 The Players by Una McCormack. On the planet Trabus, the Master discovers a society where nobody is innocent, and the only true crime is to be a less successful villain than those around you. 7.3 Boundaries by Lizbeth Myles. As his companion Cole attempts to save a world, the Master discovers an extraterrestrial entity that that threatens to spread across the globe. 7.4 The Last Line by Lizzie Hopley At the mercy of an ancient and powerful race, the Master calls upon his oldest friend in his hour of need. The problem is he doesn't recognise this incarnation of the Doctor... while the Doctor knows this Master all too well! CAST: Derek Jacobi (The War Master), David Tennant (The Doctor), Robyn Addison (Gallia), Cecilia Appiah (Ellie), Arlyon Bakare (Cato), Josh Berry (Theo), Phil Dunster (Scarp/Kerrif), Adetomiwa Edun (Carvell/Block), Steven Flynn (High Vector Goriant), Jonny Green (Cole), Jo Joyner (Fenice), Ella Kenion (Lucia), Deirdre Mullins (Dalfin), Sara Powell (Blythe/Confederation Official), Sophie Shad (Severine), Abigail Thaw (High Vector Salaskin). Other parts played by members of the cast.

A brand-new four-part adventure featuring the Master's exploits in the Time War. In a Time War, there is a crime that not even the Daleks would dare consider. But the Master has more than considered - and he is ready to commit. When his TARDIS returns to Gallifrey carrying his corpse, a chain of events ensues that will change established history, Old friendships will be destroyed and dark alliances formed, as the Master exploits a terrifying truth. Even for the two most powerful races, time can be rewritten. 4.1 From the Flames by Nicholas Briggs. After the Master's TARDIS returns his remains to Gallifrey, in accordance with his final wishes, an intricate plot begins to change the nature of the universe forever. But even in death the Master threatens life. And only CIA Coordinator Narvin can hope to stop him. 4.2 The Master's Dalek Plan by Alan Barnes. As the Master infiltrates the Kaled scientific elite, the Time Lords seek to counter his interference. But while Narvin and President Livia try to stabilise the past, a new and horrifying future dawns in the wastelands of ancient Skaro. 4.3 Shockwave by Alan Barnes. With all known history threatened, the Daleks take desperate action to preserve their established legacy. When they cross dimensions to recruit an alternative incarnation of the Master, an uneasy alliance is formed ... But can either side truly trust the other? 4.4 He Who Wins by Nicholas Briggs. The Master has achieved an ultimate victory. But at what cost? Cast: Derek Jacobi (The Master), Mark Gatiss (The Other Master), Sean Carlsen (Narvin), Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks), Zaraah Abrahams (Kaled Corporal), Pippa Bennett-Warner (Livia), Vikash Bhai (Arfor), Daniel Brocklebank (Yaren), Richard Clifford (Novar), Ben Crystal (Soogasor), Christopher Harper (Kaled Guard), Will Kirk (Uglen), Jordan Renzo (Insloy), Gavin Swift (Crazlus), Franchi Webb (Lamarius). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Star of stage, screen and television, and one of only two people to be awarded two Knighthoods, Sir Derek Jacobi is one of Britain's most distinguished actors. 'If you want to be an actor, don't. If you need to be an actor, do.' The world of theatre could not have been further from Derek's childhood: an only child, born in Leytonstone, London. With his father a department store manager and his mother a secretary, his was very much a working class background. But nonetheless Derek always knew he was going to be an actor, and he remembers clearly the first time he was in costume - draping himself in his mother's glorious wedding veil as he paraded up and down the Essex Road with his friends. A few short years later, at the age of seven, Derek made his acting debut, playing both lead roles in a local library production of The Prince and the Swineherd. By the age of 18 Derek was playing Hamlet (his most famed role) at the Edinburgh festival. He won a scholarship to Cambridge, where he studied and acted alongside other future acting greats including Ian McKellen. His talent was quickly recognised and in 1963 he was invited to become one of the first members of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre. Often admired for his willingness to grapple with even the most dislikeable of characters, Derek Jacobi has worked continuously throughout his career, starring in roles ranging from the lead in I, Claudius to Hitler in Inside the Third Reich and Francis Bacon in the controversial Love Is The Devil. But it is his numerous Shakespearean roles that have gained him worldwide recognition. This book is, however, much more than a career record. Funny, warm and honest, Jacobi brings us his insider's view on the world of acting. From a simple childhood in the East End to the height of fame on stage and screen, Derek recalls his journey in full: from the beginnings of his childhood dreams to the legendary productions, the renowned stars and the intimate off-stage moments.

The Drane Institute is home to the galaxy's most criminally deranged. Patients are kept locked away for the protection of themselves and the rest of the universe... with their most dangerous kept in active isolation. The Master is one such convalescent. He has no memory of how he came to be there. All he knows for certain is he should be: his presence is part of a greater design. Confiding in the institute's staff, the Master shares stories of love and loss, madness and glory... but there's still a final twist in the tale: one the Master's waiting to share with his enemies. Contains four new stories: 9.1 The Walls of Absence by James Goss. The Code Purgers of Chift have made a fortune cleaning up the galaxy's code: subroutines assessed, and errors repaired. So when the Master loses his mind, quite literally, there is only one place he can turn. 9.2 The Long Despair by Tim Foley. On the ocean world of Mehr Kee, the Master enlists the help of a captain to voyage across its seas. Their target: a beacon on a distant isle, shining across the waves. But what deadly trials await? 9.3 The Life and Loves of Mr Alexander Bennett by Alfie Shaw. Alexander Bennett lives a normal life. He has a job, a girlfriend, a plan for the future... and a new home assistant - Maisu - that offers all the advice he could ever need... whether he wants it or not. 9.4 The Kicker by Trevor Baxendale. When a member of the Temporal Inquisition arrives at the Crane Institute, they discover more to the Master's madness than meets the eye - and his secrets now threaten them all. CAST: : Derek Jacobi (The War Master), Kae Alexander (Mia Chan), Silas Carson (Drane), Lois Chimimba (Bartholom), Jacob Dudman (Alexander Bennett), Jason Flemyng (The Captain), Jack Forsyth-Noble (Shilling), Mia Hope (Charrup) Neve McIntosh (Innkeeper), Mateo Oxley (Glen Jackson), Siân Phillips (Mendrix), Eva Pope (Sendaya), Lucy Sheen (Michele Chan), Amanda Shodeko (Elaine Redfield). Other parts played by members of the cast.

British comedy starring Burt Reynolds as Jefferson Steel, a washed-up Hollywood action star desperate to revive his flagging career. When his sleazy agent (Charles Durning) signs him up for what he believes is a high-profile Royal Shakespeare Company production of King Lear at Stratford upon Avon, Steel thinks he has finally landed the plum role he has been waiting for. However, he soon discovers that he has been tricked into joining an amateur dramatics group for a charity production. Imelda Staunton, Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond co-star.

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance... a race the Master seeks to seize control of. Unfortunately for him, he has a rival - Calantha - and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. One thing, however, is certain. Whichever of them may win, the Stagnant Protocol is destined to lose...Contains four stories; 6.1 The Sincerest Form of Flattery by James Goss. 6.2 A Quiet Night In by Lou Morgan.6.3 The Orphan by Lou Morgan. 6.4 Unfinished Business by Lisa McMullin. CAST: Derek Jacobi (The Master), Katy Manning (Jo Jones), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Alexandria Riley (Calantha), Ian Abeysekera (Valmont), Timothy Blore (Earl), Doña Croll (The Empress), Laura Doddington (Lady Sutlumu), Sarah Douglas (Mrs Mevel), Raj Ghatak (Second Vizier), Glen McCready (First Vizier), Francois Pandolfo (Officiencier), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Prince Gardam), Mali Ann Rees (Varnomium Computer), Harley Viveash (Waiter), Fanos Xenofós (Professor Merc-Hodden). Other parts played by members of the cast.

A brand-new four-part adventure featuring the Master’s exploits in the Time War. With all of space and time in chaos, the Master plots his most audacious project yet. Only one other Time Lord has ever been able to stop him. But where is that Time Lord when the universe needs him? CAST: Derek Jacobi (The Master),Paul McGann (The Doctor), Katherine Pearce (Alice Pritchard), Mina Anwar (Valerie Pritchard), Su Douglas (Lady Raleigh), Laura Riseborough (Hannah Raleigh), Paul Clayton(Judge Hale), Youssef Kerkour (Giuseppe Sabatini), Taj Atwal (Esther), Anjela Lauren Smith (Genevieve), Ryan Forde Iosco (Fletcher), Dominic Thorburn (Mandrake), Liz Sutherland-Lim (Professor Silver), James MacCallum (Crantz), Lu Corfiel(Stern),Shvorne Marks (Pryor), Ricky Nixon (Turma). Other parts played by members of the cast.

A brand-new four-part adventure featuring the Master’s exploits in the Time War. 1. Call for the Dead by James Goss. 2. The Glittering Prize by James Goss. 3. The Persistence of Dreams by Guy Adams. 4. Sins of the Father by Guy Adams. On the mining colony Callous, Elliot King struggles to meet the demands of its governor, Teremon. The odds are stacked against him, and his options are running low. The world that once promised dreams now offers only despair. A wild Ood stalks the forests, carrying an antiquated phone. The caller promises much – he claims he can change the world – but he always speaks a devastating truth. He is the Master and the Ood will obey him... but to what end? The Time War is an epic conflict unpinning much of the story arcs of the most recent series of Doctor Who on TV. Here, Sir Derek Jacobi reprises his terrifying turn as the Doctor's arch nemesis The Master from episode Utopia, to show how the character survived in a universe torn apart by war.. CAST: Derek Jacobi (The Master), Silas Carson (The Ood), Maeve Bluebell Wells (Cassandra King), Samantha Béart (Martine King), Simon Ludders (Elliot King), Pippa Haywood (Teremon), David Menkin (Herschel), Barnaby Edwards (Jaques), RichardEarl (Sassanby), Kai Owen (Porrit), Joe Shire (Calia), Angela Bruce (Mother), Wilf Scolding (First Soldier) and Tom Forrister (Second Soldier).

Four new chapters in the Gallifrey saga. The Time Lords and the Daleks have opposed one another across millennia. But now, their conflict tips into an all - out Time War, and nowhere across the universe of spacetime is safe. Battle plans will be drawn, allies recruited, and innocents caught in the crossfire. Gallifrey is going to war, and the cosmos will never be the same again. 1. Celestial Intervention by David Llewellyn. The Temporal Powers are under threat. It is only a matter of time before the Daleks attack. Now CIA Coordinator, Romana must protect the interests of Gallifrey, while dealing with demands from President Livia and an increasingly powerful War Council. As allies are whittled away, the Time Lords are drawn into a conflict they can no longer avoid. 2. Soldier Obscura by Tim Foley. Braxiatel has always planned for contingencies. As hostilities escalate, he takes Ace into a deadly region of spacetime - The Obscura - to locate an ancient research station. But Ace is about to learn more about Irving Braxiatel than anyone should know. Some soldiers are ready for this fight, but some will not make it through the first round. 3. The Devil You Know by Scott Handcock. The Time War has begun in earnest, and Romana must think the unthinkable. For a most dangerous mission, she selects the most dangerous warrior - the Master. But he will not be alone. Leela accompanies her old enemy as they begin an unusual interrogation. What does Finnian Valentine know? And can Leela and the Master ever truly be on the same side? 4. Desperate Measures by Matt Fitton. he Dalek Emperor attacks a vital Time Lord outpost. Victory would be a devastating blow to Gallifrey. Romana is caught in the machinations of a President who sees control slipping away. Is it time to bargain with the War Council, or perhaps to parlay with even more dangerous parties? The Time War has barely begun, and for Gallifrey, desperate times are already here. The ninth series of Big Finish's hugely popular spin-off from the main Doctor Who range is set on the Doctor's homeworld Gallifrey This is the first of the Gallifrey stories to directly deal with The Time War - the horrific and universe-wide battle between Daleks and Time Lords with everything at stake! Louise Jameson and Lalla Ward played the Doctor's companions Leela and Romana respectively opposite Tom Baker in the late 1970s. They've since reprised their much-loved characters for Big Finish across a wide number of stories. CAST: Louise Jameson (Leela), Lalla Ward (Romana), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Sean Carlsen (Narvin), Miles Richardson (Braxiatel), Derek Jacobi (The Master), Pippa Bennett-Warner (Livia), Paul Marc Davis (Trave), Ebony Wong (Karla), David Sibley(Valerian), Zulema Dene (Danna), Bryan Dick (Finnian Valentine), Guy Adams (Beglis) and Nicholas Briggs (The Daleks).

When a country doctor comes to Sherlock Holmes with a far-fetched tale of a sudden death, a devil dog and an ancient curse, Holmes is sceptical. Could the demise of Sir Charles Baskerville really have been caused by the gigantic ghostly hound which is said to have haunted his family for generations? Arch-rationalist Sherlock Holmes characteristically dismisses the theory as nonsense. Claiming to be immersed in another case, he sends Watson to Dartmoor to protect the Baskerville heir and to observe the suspects at close hand. But soon events take a dangerous turn, and it seems that the legend may be real... With Watson in dreadful peril, can Holmes uncover the terrible truth about the hound of the Baskervilles? 6 CDs. 6 hrs.

Puffin Audiobooks present a phizz-whizzing reading of Roald Dahl's George's Marvellous Medicine, read by Derek Jacobi. The audiobook features original music and 3D sound design by Pinewood film studios. George Kranky is eight-years-old and wondering what sort of mischief he might get into. George's Grandma is a grizzly old grouch and George wants to teach her a lesson . . . And when Grandma's finished drinking George's marvellous medicine, she'll really have something to grumble about. Listen to GEORGE'S MARVELLOUS MEDICINE and other Roald Dahl audiobooks read by some very famous voices, including Kate Winslet, David Walliams and Steven Fry - plus there are added squelchy soundeffects from Pinewood Studios! Look out for new Roald Dahl apps in the App store and Google Play- including the disgusting TWIT OR MISS! inspired by the revolting Twits.

Much anticipated by fans of Doctor Who both old and new, Big Finish are delighted to welcome Alex Kingston back again to reprise her River Song character first seen in 2008 on TV. The Doctor isn’t the only Time Lord River runs into on her travels up and down the timeline.The Master, in all of his - or her - guises, also has a chequered history with Professor Song. And whenever they meet, it’s a close call as to who comes out on top...It’s something River must get used to: there are three people in her marriage –at the very least! This series contains four stories; The Bekdel Test by Jonathan Morris. Back at the start of her imprisonment, Dr Song becomes a guinea pig for an innovative new security system. But it’s her fellow prisoners she needs to be most wary of. Because it’s early days for Missy, too. The Doctor is dead, and she is outraged that somebody else killed him first...Animal Instinct by Roy Gill. On a world where vicious beasts stalk ancient ruins, Professor Song teaches a student the finer points of archaeology. But then she meets an incarnation of the Master who is desperate to survive. And if they are going to escape this place alive, they all must work together. The Lifeboat and the Deathboat byEddie Robson. Stranded in the Vortex, a father and daughter do their best to survive, living on salvage in a ramshackle vessel. Elsewhere, an obsessive ship’s captain hunts down a vengeful monster, whatever the cost. And River is caught between them, uncovering an old enemy in the most unexpected new guise. Concealed Weapon by Scott Handcock. A deep space exploration mission nears its end – when suddenly, the crew start to die. River must try to protect her colleagues and work out what else is on board their ship. Something is stalking them, and the deadliest Master of all has his own plans for River Song. CAST: Alex Kingston (River Song), Geoffrey Beevers (The Master), Eric Roberts (The Master), Derek Jacobi (The Master), Michelle Gomez (Missy). .

'It is the Valley of Fear, the Valley of Death. The terror is in the hearts of the people from the dusk to the dawn. Wait, young man, and you will learn for yourself'. Sherlock Holmes is intrigued and disturbed when he receives an ominous coded message: a Mr Douglas of Birlstone House is in terrible danger. Before Holmes can act, shocking news arrives. Douglas has been founded dead - his face blown off by a shotgun. Scotland Yard is stumped. Was this suicide or murder? But Holmes is in no doubt. For he recognises the calling card of his nemesis: Professor James Moriarty. In this thrilling tale of fear and tyranny, stretching from the stark American coal valleys to an English country manor, Holmes must battle his greatest - and most lethal - enemy... 6 CDs. 6 hrs 17 mins.

All thirteen episodes of the drama series starring Derek Jacobi as the medieval sleuth. In the opening episode 'One Corpse Too Many', Cadfael, once a man of the world, has become a man of the cloth. However, this by no means qualifies him as a saint. He discovers a murder, and sets out in pursuit of the perpertrator, assisted by a lovely young fugitive. 'The Sanctuary Sparrow' sees Brother Cadfael investigating the murder of the local goldsmith. In 'The Leper of St Giles' a great wedding is to take place in the Abbey of Shrewsbury between Baron Huon (Norman Eshley) and Iveta De Massard (Tara Fitzgerald). Iveta is a beautiful, kind soul and on the day she and her betrothed ride into the town she throws money to the lepers, but her brutish Baron beats them. On the eve of the wedding he rides off into the night never to return. Cadfael sets out to find out what is going on. In 'Monk's Hood', a landowner cuts his son-in-law out of his will, leaving his inheritance to the church. However, before the transaction is finished, Gervase Gurney (Bernard Gallagher) is poisoned whilst staying at the Abbey of Shrewsbury. Cadfael finds someone from his past as he looks into the poisoning. In 'The Virgin in the Ice' Cadfael has to prove the innocence of his novice, Oswin (Mark Charnock), who is accused of murdering a nun after he is found wandering deliriously. In 'The Devil's Novice', Cadfael is suspicious when a young man, Meriet (Christien Anholt), arrives at Shrewsbury Abbey wishing to become a Novice. Canon Eluard (Ian McNeice) shares Cadfael's doubts as to Meriet's intentions, and when the half-burned body of a colleague is discovered, Meriet is accused of murder. In 'A Morbid Taste For Bones', Cadfael reluctantly accompanies an expedition to dig up the grave of St Winifred, after one of the Shrewsbury monks has a vision. He soon finds himself investigating a murder, when Lord Rhysart (John Hallam) is found dead on a forest track with an arrow in his chest. Robert (Michael Culver) believes the culprit to be Godwin, who was having an affair with Rhysart's daughter, Sioned (Anna Friel). However, Cadfael has other ideas. In 'The Rose Rent', the recently-widowed of a rich merchant becomes an attraction for the men of Shrewsbury, until one of her suitors and a monk are murdered. In 'St Peter's Fair', conflict arises between the townspeople of Shrewsbury and visitors to the annual fair. In 'The Raven in the Foregate', Cadfael has a double murder to solve when a pregnant girl and a priest who refused to hear her confession are both killed. In 'The Holy Thief', Cadfael is on the hunt for a beautiful slave girl and the bones of St Winifred, both of which have mysteriously disappeared from the Abbey. In 'The Potter's Field', Cadfael uncovers a terrible web of jealousy, adultery and suicide pacts when he examines the past of a potter who has entered the monastery under suspicious circumstances. Finally, in 'The Pilgrim of Hate', an old man's corpse is found in a sack in the Abbey, and Cadfael must find his killer.

This is a classic collection of over 20 stories assembled from CSA's short story archives. Featured authors include Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Oscar Wilde, Jerome K. Jerome, Katherine Mansfield, Rudyard Kipling, and F. Scott Fitzgerlald.