Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy [Hardcover]

Mary Stewart (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2004

The Arthurian legend is one of the most enduring and powerful of myths, and Mary Stewart's classic The Merlin Trilogy is one of its most beloved and acclaimed retellings. In prose that is as vividly, achingly real as it is poetic, New York Times bestselling author Mary Stewart brings to life the man behind the myth: Myrddin Emrys ... Merlinus Ambrosius ... Merlin.

The Crystal Cave
The Hollow Hills
The Last Enchantment

Born the bastard son of a Welsh princess, Myrddin Emrys -- or, as he would later be known, Merlin -- leads a perilous childhood in The Crystal Cave, haunted by portents and visions. But destiny has great plans for this no-man's-son, taking him from prophesying before the High King Vortigern to the crowning of UtherPendragon ... and the conception of Arthur -- king for once and always.

Keeping watch over the young Arthur Pendragon in The Hollow Hills, the prince and prophet Merlin Ambrosius is haunted by dreams of the magical sword Caliburn, hidden for centuries. When Uther Pendragon is killed in battle, the time of destiny is at hand, and Arthur must claim the fabled sword to become the true High King of Britain.

In The Last Enchantment, Arthur Pendragon is king at last. Unchallenged on the battlefield, he melds the country together in a time of promise as Merlin works to keep safe the once and future king. But sinister powers plot to destroy Camelot, and when the witch-queen Morgause -- Arthur's own half sister -- ensnares him in an incestuous liaison, a fatal web of love, betrayal, and bloody vengeance is woven.

Extensively researched and beautifully written, The Merlin Trilogy is the epic culmination of an acclaimed career, a legend in and of itself.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Merlin Trilogy is Mary Stewart's take on the Arthurian legend in three books: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment. These books have Merlin, Arthur's wizard mentor, as their focal point, and the result is a charming, engrossing tale providing a unique perspective on a familiar tale. Her history is superb and richly detailed, her characterizations are masterful, and her plotting is perfect. You'll be entranced by this magical story.

About the Author

Mart Stewart is one of the most widely read fiction writers of our time. The author of twenty novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for young readers, she is admired for both her contemporary stories of romantic suspense and her historical novels. Born in England, she has lived for many years in Scotland.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 919 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1St Edition edition (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688003478
• ISBN-13: 978-0688003470
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (106 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mart Stewart, one of the most popular novelists writing today, was born in Sunderland, County Durham, England. After boarding-school, she recieved a B.A. with first class honors in English Language and Literature from Durham University and went on for her M.A. Later she returned to her own University as a Lecturer in English. She married in 1945. Her husband is Sir Frederick Stewart, who is Chairman of the Geology Department at Edinburgh University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society.Mary Stewart's career as a novelist began in 1954 with the publication of Madam, Will You Talk? Since then she has published fifteen successful novels, including The Last Enchantment, the third book of the magical trilogy about the legendary enchanter Merlin and young Arthur. Her books for young readers, The Little Broomstick (1971) and Ludo and the Star Horse (1974), quickly met with the same success as her other novels. In 1968, she was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts. In 1971, the Scottish Chapter of the International PEN Association awarded her the Frederick Niven prize for the The Crystal Cave. In 1974, the Scottish Arts Council Award went to Ludo and the Star Horse.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mary Stewart, The Enchantress..., September 7, 2004

By 

J. Redbird "Love Mother Earth" (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy (Hardcover)

Whenever I see as many reviews as this book has, I doubt that anyone will ever see mine, but at the same time it says a lot of people have read it, and that is a good thing. Mary Stewart happens to be one of my very favorite authors, and I have all of her books. When the Merlin Trilogy came out, I was already a big Mary Stewart fan. I could hardly wait to get my hands on the trilogy. Her descriptive style is one of the aspects of her writing that always left me feeling as though if I ever went to any of the places she described, I'd recognize them. The Merlin Trilogy is refreshingly different than the usual Arthurian Legends; Mary Stewart has created a Merlin who is believable, not entirely without magic, but endowed with wisdom, and common sense. I think perhaps he has more magic than he is willing to admit, but I got the feeling that that is just what Lady Stewart intended for me to feel. She weaves a mystical web in this trilogy that enthralled me. Although not part of the trilogy, The Wicked Day, deserves to be included, because it brings the entire story to a close with an entirely different view of Mordred. I only wish she'd dared to have a different ending. But what a magnificent tale to read by a fireside on cold winter nights...and having them all together in this way is wonderfully convenient. A beautiful product and a magnificent gift!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic, yet enchanting, May 28, 2000

By 

James P. McMahon "www.cleanairpurewater.com" (Brookside, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy (Hardcover)

The story of Merlin has always intrigued me. Yet I have found the various books and movies distasteful. They portray Merlin in ways that do not jive with my inner sense of what might have been real. Mary Stewart, on the other hand, has portrayed a real individual in her books. A boy, Myrddin Emrys, who grows up spending a great deal of time alone, exploring and thinking. He is then believable as an adult because the magic he practices is ensconced in political wisdom, the beliefs of the people, strategic thinking, and the type of shamanic power that no doubt exists in the world. When the Merlin stood on a hillside overlooking Arthur's troops entering battle, of course they won. They won because they knew they would. Amazingly simple. Was it wizardry or was it the power of belief? Or both? I was permanently affected by this book. I named my son Emrys. I came to believe that the king's merlin no doubt existed, much as political advisors exist today. It is the realistic portrayal of this very important historical character that no one else has managed to conjure in quite so convincing a way.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stewart has based much of her story on historical record, October 9, 2000

By 

A. Tresca - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mary Stewart's Merlin Trilogy (Hardcover)

I believe that no story has been told more often than the Arthurian legends. Stewart, however, has based much of her story on historical record, which lends a certain ring of truth that other versions do not have. The story is told from Merlin's point of view and begins with his childhood and the uncertain parentage that people believe gave him his extraordinary abilities. As the High King's advisor, his prophecies unfailingly come to pass, much to the surprise of some and despite the orchestrations of others. His intelligence helps guide the kingdom through the dark times and into the light.

Through Merlin's eyes Arthur, Ygraine, Uther, Guenever and Morgause are created anew. He shows us their loves, their secrets, their treachery, and their lives. The magician shows us much that is hidden from plain view, and the scandalous truths that even Arthur himself does not know. The original heroic fantasy tale, I recommend it to both history and fantasy buffs alike.