Yeah, PBS gomered up some of the stories. They did the same thing with another series of books that I love; Ellis Peters' "Cadfael" stories, about a Crusader in the late 11th century who, after returning from Jerusalem, at a loss about what to do with his life, 'takes the cowl', and becomes a Benedictine monk. Because of his knowledge of plants and herbs learned in the Holy Land, and because he's seen the violence that men can do to each other, he begins to help the local sheriff solve murders.
I’ve read all the “Brother Cadfael” books. I thought a few of the BBC movies were okay - the earlier ones, before they turned Hugh Beringar into a meathead. However, it’s impossible to do justice to the complex plots in a 90-minute show.
On the other hand, I think the A&E series of “Horatio Hornblower” is better than the books!