Product Description

Mary Stewart's first book in her Merlin Trilogy, set in fifth century Britain.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #327057 in Books
• Published on: 1983-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Daily Mail
'Vivid, enthralling, absolutely first-class'

Books And Bookmen
'Mary Stewart brilliantly recreates the Britain of the fifth century'

Sunday Times
'A deft colourful . . . re-creation of Merlin's early life'

Customer Reviews

Favourite retelling of the Arthur myth
First read this series (Crystal Cave - Hollow Hills - Last Enchantment - Wicked Day) in the seventies and it stands the test of time well.

Mary Stewart makes the best attempt I have so far read to combine most of the legends passed down to us (especially Geoffrey of Monmouth who is her main source) with such historical knowledge of the period as was available at the time. And she does it in a way that is highly readable, with convincing characters, good pace, and a version as near plausible as anything that must cover some magical element can be.

Monmouth would have voted for it.

Merlin from boy to profit... and it's actually quite believable...
Mary Stewart's much lauded Merlin Trilogy starts here. As a regular reader of fantasy novels, and a sucker for King Arthur and everything related to him since I was little, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the trilogy, and in particular the Crystal Cave.

Stewart takes on the unenviable task of making a character of extreme legend - Merlin - and focussing a story on him. The reason it works comfortably and entertainingly is that she works in interesting bits of history with the legend. She looks for the links between the legend (based on older versions of the Merlin stories) and facts. You still have to suspend your disbelief, and Merlin still works magic, but he is also an engineer and a mathematician. Overall, he's clever, brave, lucky, and a little blessed by the gods.

The Crystal Cave follows Merlin from childhood through a number of the famous early episodes of his life - such as the dragons under Vortigern's fortress. It adds some twists and turns, and a little humour. It links him with a variety of powerful figures from the time's history, and shows us of course all sides of being a young profit and wizard!

I can recommend this novel. It is not a rip-roaring blockbuster, but it moves on with purpose and a good deal of interest. And there are scenes here that are as vivid and engrossing as one can hope for in a novel.

Merlin's Cave!
This wonderful book captures the legend of Merlin beautifully. I felt like I was in the cave, surrounded by crystals and magic. This is part one of a trilogy, which means there will be two more coming. Count me in!