Ellis Peters

Ellis Peters was the pen name of Edith Pargeter, an English novelist born in 1913 in Horsehay, a village on the western outskirts of Dawley, Shropshire, England. She was the last-born in a family of three children, with an elder sister named Margaret and a brother named Ellis, whose name she would later adopt as her pseudonym. Growing up, Pargeter had Welsh ancestry, and many of her works would be set in Wales and its borderlands.

Pargeter was a prolific author who wrote in many categories, with a focus on history and historical fiction. She was also recognized for her translations of Czech classics and became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1994 for her services to literature. Before her literary success, she worked in an administrative role during World War II in the Women's Royal Naval Service and received the British Empire Medal (BEM).

Pargeter's writing career included various pseudonyms, but it was as Ellis Peters that she gained the most fame. Under this pen name, she wrote the Cadfael Chronicles, a series of medieval detective novels, and the Inspector Felse series. The Cadfael Chronicles, set in the 12th century, follows the adventures of a fictional monk named Brother Cadfael, who solves mysteries. The series gained significant popularity and was adapted into a successful television show. Pargeter's ability to combine historical detail with engaging storytelling made the Cadfael Chronicles a beloved contribution to the mystery genre.