Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enchanted, once more, July 4, 2005
A long time ago, I read Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy, which consists of three books: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. I had last read the trilogy back in the mid-1980s, back when I was in high school. So, recently I turned back to these old favorites, and found myself enjoying the tale once again.
Here's a brief background of the story, without spoiling it too much for potential readers. England is suffering under fractured leadership following the departure of the Romans, some time before. England is broken up into several small kingdoms, with a High King to hold them all together, and to try to repell the Saxon threat already encamped on the shores. Into this time, Merlin is born, the bastard child of a local princess. The trilogy tells the tale of his life.
In the first book, Merlin is first a small boy in Wales, where he finds his tutor in magic and the gods and medicine, and is touched by the prophecy which will shape his whole life's work. He flees Wales, for his own protection, and his subsequent actions inexorably lead to the conception of a child: Arthur, the future High King.
In the second book, Merlin is charged by both the High King, Uthur, and his god to keep Arthur in his care, and to train him for his coming challenges. The story closes with Arthur assuming the mantle of leadership, following the passing of Uthur.
In the third book, Arthur and Merlin work to end the Saxon threat, found Camelot, and close with Merlin's final destiny, as he had long since foreseen...almost.
The tale is told in the first person: Merlin. In this fashion, the story feels personal in a way that few other Arthurian fantasies ever have. Merlin, the character, is a sympathetic one: he has good in his heart, he looks after his mission in life with care and humility, and he certainly doesn't buy into this "Merlin the Enchanter" crap circulating about England...though he's not above using it to his benefit from time to time. The other characters in the story are also fleshed out with care...and the characters are certainly not one-dimensional or static.
The storyline is clearly grounded in historical "facts", as much as possible. Clearly Mary Stewart put some time into research, before beginning the writing of this tale.
The writing style is very descriptive. In some novels, the description is somewhat threadbare, willing the reader to fill in the look of the setting to some extent with their own imagination. It's a perfectly valid writing style, and I've enjoyed many books written with that style. Here, however, Mary Stewart has sought to ground us, again, in a historical setting, and she puts a lot of attention into describing the setting so as to help with that grounding process. It's very effective.
So, with the close of the tale, I feel somewhat saddened. Merlin became like a friend. So, I encourage other readers to pick up the challenge, and read the Merlin Trilogy, so you can be touched in this way also.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart, March 24, 2000
By A Customer
The book The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart tells of the life of Merlin the Enchanter from when he was six to about 24. His adventures are vividly described, whether its roaming the tunnels under his grandfathers castle or sneaking his uncle into the fortress of Cornwall. There is almost never a dull moment in this book. It takes awhile getting started, but it gets interesting around page 50, so hang in there. One part of the book I really enjoyed was when 13 year old Merlin takes a ride in the forest with his servant and catches his tutor up to no good. Overall, I'd say this book is excellent literature because it really describes everything. You can picture every scene and character in your head. I really felt like I knew each character and was genuinely upset when one died and outraged when one betrayed another. The book also teaches you a lot about the Middle Ages. There were castles, knights, maidens in distress, and all the usual stuff, but it also told about normal people. It tells of everyday life in medieval times. If you like this book, I recommend you read the 2nd and 3rd books in the Merlin Trilogy, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. Both are just as good as The Crystal Cave. If you are fascinated with the legend of Arthur and Merlin, and are a patient reader who likes long, detailed novels like I do, you will adore this book!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stewart shows real Merlin in this spellbinding masterpiece, May 27, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: The Crystal Cave (The Arthurian Saga, Book 1) (Paperback)
What was it like to live in Arthurian time? No one living today can actually know, but after reading The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart, one feels as if they had. Those who haven't read this yet must obtain a copy. Stewart delves into the personal life of Myrddin Emrys, better known as Merlin the magician, counselor, and guardian of King Arthur. Intertwining fact, legend, and fiction, Stewart interprets the mystery surrounding Merlin and his powers into a personal, heartfelt story of a very misunderstood individual. This book starts when Merlin is very young and living in his grandfather's castle in Madridunum. We follow him through the trials of growing up without knowing the identity of his father, interacting with his Uncle Camlach who tries to poison him, understanding his mother, and discovering his power which is later referred to as "The Sight". This power he possesses perplexes, terrifies and intrigues him. One day he travels far into the hills around his town and finds a cave full of crystals and an old man named Galapas. Here he learns of his powers and how to control them. When his grandfather is killed, he runs away in fear of his uncle. Soon he is kidnapped but this leads to meeting Ambrosius, who is later discovered to be his true father. Ambrosius keeps him as a counselor and lets him live as he pleases. Many years later he goes back to Madridunum to visit his mother and seek out information for Ambrosius when he is captured by men of Ambrosius' enemy, Vortigern. He goes through trials of staying alive and soon prophesizes of a cave and two dragons. This is the turning point from which the normal legend of Merlin turns dark. In Stewart's version, though, Merlin is also in awe of his powers and has fear of what he is becoming. Up to this point the book is intriguing and fast paced, but now it turns to the more historical side and even cuts out most of the dialog. The story of Ambrosius, his brother Uther, Vortimer and his father Vortigern with the Saxon wife drags on for about a fourth of the book. Soon enough, Ambrosius is the High King and wants to take Killare, the stronghold of Ireland. Inside this fortress is a huge ring upon ring of enormous stones called The Dance. Ambrosius wants it moved to his new stronghold of all the empire. While this seems impossible, Merlin again surprises the kingdom with his supposed magic and thinks of a plan. Suddenly Ambrosius dies and Merlin dedicates himself to moving this and burying Ambrosius under the center stone, which has magical qualities itself. This new Dance is better known as Stonehenge. Now Uther is King, and Merlin and Uther must work out their problems to rule the kingdom. Presently, Uther falls in love with another ruler's wife. She, named Ygraine, wants him also, but is constantly followed by guards. Merlin, his devoted servant Cadal, and Uther devise a plan to impregnate Ygraine with Uther's baby, but let her husband think it is his child. This plan is barely carried out, and in this process Cadal and other servants of Ygraine and her husband are killed. Merlin, saddened, but with high faith, returns to Galapas' Crystal Cave, which is now his own. What makes this book so unique is that Stewart portrays Merlin as a real human being with emotions, fears, and dreams, unlike the legends show. She lets the reader see into his head and understand that he was just a highly intelligent human used by the gods, not a sinister wizard. After reading it, the real Merlin Emrys becomes an odd but graspable character with whom one can connect. This true mastery shown by Mary Stewart beckons me to read the next two books in the trilogy.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
