or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
or
Amazon Prime Free Trial required. Sign up when you check out. Learn More
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
The Life of Merlin, Vita Merlini (Forgotten Books)
 
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

The Life of Merlin, Vita Merlini (Forgotten Books) [Paperback]

Geoffrey of Monmouth (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Price: $6.80 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it delivered Monday, January 30? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Paperback $6.80  
Unknown Binding --  

Book Description

January 9, 2008
Book Description:

"Vita Merlini, or The Life of Merlin, is a work by Geoffrey of Monmouth composed in Latin around AD 1150. It retells incidents from the life of the Brython Merlin, and is based on traditional material about the character.

Merlin is referred to as a prophet, king and law-giver in the text. There are multiple episodes in which he losing his mind and lives in the wilderness like a wild animal, similar to Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel. It is also the first work to describe the Arthurian sorceress Morgan le Fay, as Morgen.

Geoffrey had dealt with Merlin in his two previous works, the Prophetiae Merlini, purported to be a series of prophecies from the sage, and the Historia Regum Britanniae, which is the first work presenting a link between Merlin and King Arthur. The Vita Merlini presents an account of Merlin much more faithful to the Welsh traditions of Myrddin Wyllt, the archetype behind Geoffrey's composite figure of Merlin. Whereas the Historia had Merlin associating with Arthur, his father Uther Pendragon, and his uncle Aurelius Ambrosius in the 5th century, the Vita's timeframe is during the late 6th century, and includes references to various figures from that period, including Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio and Taliesin. Geoffrey attempts to synchronize the the Vita with his earlier work by having Merlin mention he had been with Arthur long before." (Quote from wikipedia.org)

Table of Contents:

Publisher's Preface; The Life Of Merlin; Endnotes

About the Publisher:

Forgotten Books is a publisher of historical writings, such as: Philosophy, Classics, Science, Religion, Esoteric and Mythology. www.forgottenbooks.org

Forgotten Books is about sharing information, not about making money. All books are priced at wholesale prices. We are also the only publisher we know of to print in large sans-serif font, which is proven to make the text easier to read and put less strain on your eyes.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Frequently Bought Together

The Life of Merlin, Vita Merlini (Forgotten Books) + The Four Ancient Books of Wales (Forgotten Books) + The Welsh Fairy Book: (Forgotten Books)
Price For All Three: $27.58

Show availability and shipping details

Buy the selected items together
  • In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Four Ancient Books of Wales (Forgotten Books) $12.13

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Welsh Fairy Book: (Forgotten Books) $8.65

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details



Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Latin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

About the Author:

"Geoffrey of Monmouth (Welsh: Gruffudd ap Arthur or Sieffre o Fynwy) (c. 1100 - c. 1155) was a clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history and the popularity of tales of King Arthur. Most of his work is romanticized historical fiction with very little factual merit.

Geoffrey's birthplace is unknown, but he may have been born in Monmouth in Wales, possibly of Breton ancestry. Certainly he had significant connections to Monmouth, as his name suggests, and the descriptions of Caerleon in Historia Regum Britanniae indicate familiarity with the area. He studied at Oxford University, where he met Walter, who was Archdeacon of Oxford. On 21 February 1152 Archbishop Theobald consecrated Geoffrey as bishop of St Asaph, having ordained him a priest 10 days before. "There is no evidence that he ever visited his see," writes Lewis Thorpe, "and indeed the wars of Owain Gwynedd make this most unlikely." Geoffrey attested about six different charters between the years 1129 and 1151; the date of his death is recorded in the Welsh Chronicles." (Quote from wikipedia.org)

Product Details

  • Paperback: 68 pages
  • Publisher: Forgotten Books (January 9, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1605064831
  • ISBN-13: 978-1605064833
  • Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

 

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Ripoff 101, February 10, 2011
By 
Taliesin Silverbrow (Somerville, Massachusetts USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
The above review mentions that the text jumps for no reason to a web design section and then goes back to Vita Merlini. The reason is these print on demand reprints that are trashing the book trade are printed on automatic pilot.I am sure they have no clue they accidently switched programs in the middle of printing.This publisher has the damn nerve to copyright a book he stole and does not give even credit or even mention the author John Parry!These people should stick to selling gold on television and stay the hell out of the noble book trade. Do you agree?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great edition of a classic book, March 23, 2011
By 
D. Ronald (Battle Creek, MI) - See all my reviews
Not sure what the other reviewers are speaking of, I have this exact edition of the book and it is easy to read and beautifully laid out. A short but valuable book--I'm so glad I bought it!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars A Peculiar Extra, January 23, 2011
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This edition, at least my copy of it, stops abruptly on around p. 45, and inserts a booklet of some 100 pages on how to design webpages. After which, we return to p. 46 of the Vita Merlini. One might see this as a bonus, I suppose; but I have to say I didn't.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
new fountain, fierce people
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Vita Merlini, The Life of Merlin, Forgotten Books, King Rhydderch
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Books by subject:



i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...