Morality Play (1995) by Barry Unsworth is a medieval detective novel set in 14th-century England. It follows a runaway priest, Nicolas Barber, who joins a traveling acting troupe. The troupe stages a play based on the murder of a boy, Thomas Wells, in a village. Initially following the popular theory about the crime, they soon discover that the convicted woman is innocent. As they investigate, they uncover that the true murderer is the local feudal lord, Richard de Guise. The novel explores themes of morality, power, and the intersection of art and life, while Barber grapples with his own moral journey, questioning his actions and faith. The actors’ investigation challenges the town's corrupt political order and critiques medieval societal inequalities.
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