|
Loading...
LibraryThing recommendationsMember recommendations
Loading...
won't like
will probably not like
will probably like
will like
will love Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. Mary Stewart's Arthurian series include some of my major "go to" books when feeling under the weather or stressed. This first book covers Merlin's childhood in Wales, and his adolescence with his exiled father in Less Britain, through their successful campaign to retake Britain. This story has many versions by various authors, but Stewart's haunting prose is well suited to the mythic material, and her use of Merlin as the narrator makes the series unusual. (  ) freecyclor | Dec 18, 2009 |  Great series (  ) MartinaL | Dec 6, 2009 | As mentioned on the back cover, this story covers Merlin's early childhood through the conception of Arthur. It was intriguing to see so many familiar aspects of the famous legend, but I have to admit that I think I prefer magical Merlin to merely clever Merlin. Yes, it's kind of neat how you can explain away his "spells" with ingenuity and careful calculation, but to me it takes away some of the fun of the story. That said, this was well-written and I may pick up the rest of the trilogy at some point. (  ) melydia | Oct 28, 2009 | Reviewed by Mr. Deken (Social Studies) Perhaps the best imaginative retelling of the Arthur legend, the story is done from Merlin's perspective. Stewart's sweeping grasp of religion, politics, love, and history give the story a depth and plausibility too often missing from simplified Sword-in-the-Stone versions of this tale. This book opens with the young Merlin and carries him through his twenties. In case the reader becomes as entranced as I was, Stewart's two succeeding volumes continue the story through Arthur's advent and the rise and fall of Camelot. Volumes two and three are entitled The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. HHS-Staff | Oct 20, 2009 | Mary Stewart is a great writer. This reminded me of two of my other favs- a young wizard with a rough beginning in life discovering who he is (uh, hem) and a little of the wonderful way that CS Lewis turned the myth of Cupid and Psyche into an engaging novel. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series. ( ) bridgetmarkwood | Sep 16, 2009 |  no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com (ISBN 0449206440, Mass Market Paperback)Initially published nearly thirty years ago, Mary Stewart's The Crystal Cave has been spellbinding readers and converting them into serious Arthurian buffs ever since. The first in a series of four books, this novel focuses on the early life of Merlin the magician, and the political developments of fifth-century Britain. Not for the fainthearted, this verbose text pays careful attention to historical details and methodical plot development.Merlin's childhood is formed by the absence of his reticent, convent-bound mother and his unnamed and unknown father. As the bastard grandson of a local king, Merlin is the object of both envy and ridicule. His strange powers and predictions earn him greater status as a pariah, and he leaves home as a preadolescent. Returning years later as a young man--empowered by self-knowledge and magic--Merlin finds himself caught in the currents of the shifting kingdoms. As an established classic in this genre, and the first in a popular series, The Crystal Cave introduces this familiar character with fresh sensitivity. While readers looking for the romance of First Knight will be disappointed, those happy with tight writing and a complex story line will be satisfied. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien (retrieved from Amazon Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:58:19 -0400) The first test round has been closed. Visit the Open Shelves Classification group for details. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English (1)
