description: Large Print EditionInitially 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
language: English
title: The Crystal Cave (Merlin, #1)
titlecomplete: The Crystal Cave (Merlin, #1) (Arthurian Saga, #1)
characters: Uther Pendragon, Ralf, Vortigern, Ulfin, Merlin (Arthurian wizard), Galapas, Cadal, Niniane, Ygraine, Aurelius Ambrosius
genres: Science Fiction Fantasy, Mythology, Fantasy, Historical, Magic, Adventure, Fiction, Classics, Arthurian, Historical Fiction
ratings_count: 45417
places: United Kingdom
series: Arthurian Saga
awards: awardedAt: 31564800000
name: Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
publisher: G.K. Hall & Co