Product Description
The bestselling author of the acclaimed Merlin Trilogy returns to the magical world of King Arthur and Camelot--to tell a story of daring adventure, unexpected love, and unsurpassed enchantment. . . .

ALEXANDER THE FATHERLESS

Eager, burning, and young, Alexander has come of age to take vengeance on the treacherous King of Cornwall who murdered his father. He sets off toward Camelot to seek justice from King Arthur, only to be diverted by the beautiful and sensual Morgan le Fay, Arthur's sister. Using her wiles and her enchantments, Morgan persuades the young prince to attempt a theft of the Holy Grail. He is unaware her motives are of the darkest nature. . . .

ALICE THE PRETTY PILGRIM

Motherless daughter of a royal duke, Alice has lived a life of lively adventure, accompanying her father on his yearly pilgrimages. Now, on her father's final visit to Jerusalem, she comes under the protection of a young prince whose brothers were murdered, a prince who is in possession of an enchanted silver cup believed to be the mysterious Holy Grail itself.

Thus the stage is set for two young seekers to meet--and to find not what they are searching for but, instead, the greatest treasure of all . . . love.

"A wonderful love story set in the magical times of King Arthur and Camelot."

--Oklahoman

... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great service.
This book arrived earlier than estimated, which was good, was in perfect shape and was a good price.

A well written, if not passionate, book.
Although this book is quite well written, with a satisfactory craftmanship of words, I must say that I was not particularly excited about this novel. It held my interest fairly well, but I didn't feel the flood of emotions truly good books always bring me. I liked the way both Alexander and Alice have, in their way, their own seperate sections, like how it explained their youth, but I didn't really enjoy how they didn't meet until close to the end of the book. It seemed short and fake when Alexander proclaimed his love to Alice, and lacked the ability to set my heart thumping and my eyes watering as a passionate romance novel may have. Since it was obvious how the book would end, I didn't feel the suspense or intrigue I expected. Although it may have its faults, it was not a completely bad book, and in the end, I would dub it "okay".

GREAT BOOK!!
i have to disagree with those who have said this book is poor, unadventurous, etc.this book is wonderful!!!Mary stewart has done a phenomenal job in writing this book.the two main characters are alexander and alice.one is a prince with a lost kingdom, the other a pilgrim waiting for marriage.this book tells the adventures that both go on, whether to the dark tower of morgan le fay or to Jerusalum, the Holy Land.this book is excellent, i can't wait to read it again!!

Somewhat entertaining - not much substance
I would have given this book only 2 stars except for the fact that I enjoy Arthurian type stories and this was one I found previously untold (shy of Malory's book).Stewart tells the story of Alexander the Fatherless and the Pretty Pilgrim Alice.However, the interesting story the book cover promised of Morgan Le Fey persuading Alexander to try and steal the Holy Grail just never developed.Oh, Morgan is in the story, but the author seems to give up on that plot very quickly and then wraps the story up quickly and neatly with little drama or suspense.The Grail itself barely gets mentioned until the end of the book and then the author invokes a philosophy of the Grail that she later notes came from a personal friend and not from legend or lore.Stewart also introduces the Merovingian kings of Gaul into the story but again - the drama and excitement of the four brothers battling for control of the entire kingdom is sorely lacking.Instead, she wraps it all up in a puts the storyline to bed without really taking advantage of the twists and turns that it could have provided.So, why three stars for a story I obviously found sugar-coated, far from any historical possibiity and not even exciting enough to rouse Arthur from his throne in the story???It's a new tale of the Arthurian time period that I had not discovered before outside of Malory.The book makes somewhat entertaining reading -especially if you like romance and lack of thought provoking substance.It's sweet and simple and an easy read.I found her historical notes at the end of the book to be the best part of the entire work.

Prince
Although not quite as interesting as the Merlin series, Prince and the Pilgram was entertaining and a worthwhile read. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (19)

Never say that nothing ever happens to you
"Nothing ever happens to me," wrote Camilla...shortly before the Greek man turned up with the rental car, assuming that she was "Simon's girl" and that she had arranged to drive the car from Athens to Delphi. Camilla, wanting to go to Delphi anyway, and failing to convince the insistent man that she was not actually "Simon's girl", decided that she might as well drive the car to Delphi. When she got there, perhaps she could find "Simon" and deliver the car to him. She did indeed find Simon...and an adventure to boot. Simon (who knew nothing of any car's having been rented for him) was planning to visit the grave of his brother Michael, and hoping to discover clues as to why Michael had been killed. Michael's death, years earlier, seemed to be connected in some way to a mysterious treasure which had been hinted at in a letter from Michael. Where or what the treasure might be, no one seemed to know. Camilla, caught up with Simon in the intrigue surrounding these events, soon found that far more things were happening than she could ever have guessed might be possible when she innocently wrote that nothing ever happened to her. Even more intriguing, she found herself becoming increasingly aware that she was or soon would be Simon's girl in reality. But her life and Simon's were in danger...and the danger was coming ever closer...

Mary Stewart, in her usual appealing style, brings two likeable characters together, in unusual circumstances which give them first an absorbing mystery to pursue and then the perfect opportunity to fall in love with each other...not in a London ballroom or at a quiet garden party, but in the powerful and historic atmosphere of Greece...and not in a simple and "suitable" situation, but in the midst of searching for treasure and avoiding murderers. (Much more charming than the average run-of-the-mill "romance".)

Four stars because the author has written other books I like even better (The Moon-Spinners, for instance) (although perhaps this deserves five stars and that deserves ten!).

Extraordinarily good
This is the seventh of Mary Stewart's novels that I've read, and I've noticed that they tend to be a bit formulaic. There's always a young Englishwoman who's experienced disappointment in love, who goes to an exotic location to recuperate. While there, she usually finds herself in the midst of a mystery, usually risking her own life. And, of course, there's the handsome stranger, with whom there's a romantic subplot.


My Brother Michael follows this ploline to a T. Camilla Haven travels to Athens, Greece. In the middle of writing a letter to a friend, in which she complains that nothing ever happens to her, Camilla is offered the use of a car. She takes the car to Delphi, in lieu of the girl--"Simon's Girl--it's meant for--and finds herself involved in a fourteen-year-old mystery. Camilla is a pretty average girl (who calls herself "old" at 25!) who nonetheless shows great courage and fortitude--not unlike some of Mary Stewart's other heroines.


OK, so the plot, and its romantic subplot, are pretty predictable--but it's a formula that really works well. Mary Stewart was adept at creating great atmosphere in her novels, and she did a lot of research on the places in which her books are set. She also describes everything in great detail, which I love. The romance story in My Brother Michael is a bit rushed (although, obviously, you can see it coming from a mile away).


However, the suspense in this novel is absolutely top notch--how can you forget that climactic scene in the caves? And Camilla and Simon's walk in the ruins of Delphi earlier is a prime example of why I love Mary Stewart's writing--again-she really knows how to write atmospheric novels! My Brother Michael probably isn't my favorite of Stewart's books, since it tends to meander a bit, but I did enjoy it quite a lot.

Another Stewart winner
Mary Stewart's, My Brother Michael, was a singularly interesting reading experience for me, to say the least.

I received the old, tattered copy from my library sporting a particularly garish aqua and yellow library bound graphic cover and consisting of browned, wavy pages (looking like the book had been dropped into a vat of coffee) and emitting a distinctive....musty....odor. Dog-earned and ripped pages, and the doodles of (surely) a five year old child also graced Dame Stewart's novel of suspense featuring lovely Camilla Haven and Simon Lester as they search the ruins of Delphi to learn what happened to Simon's brother, Michael, 12 years previously.

I tell you all this in advance in an attempt to make you understand the complete allure of Stewart's wonderful writing talent in the face of so many reader obstacles. Despite the cringe-worthy factor of holding this book without the protection of rubber gloves and a face mask, My Brother Michael kept me enthralled from the first coffee-stained page (oh, please let it be coffee), to the last tattered page.

As a special unexpected bonus, I read Stewart's beautiful Chapter 7 (in which Camilla and Simon tour the ruins of the temple of Delphi by moonlight) under the faux-moonlight of a street light in a Church parking lot while awaiting my daughter to leave a school function. How cool to sit in my dimly illuminated car and imagine a hero so suave, so educated, so utterly Stewart-ish that he could stand among the moonlit ruins of a Grecian amphitheater and recite a stanza of Sophocles' Electra (in Greek, no less!) and then in English with a swoon-worthy Brit-accent. Only a Stewart hero could get away with THAT! Be still, my romantic-suspense heart....

Great experience to re-read after 40 years!
There is a story for me behind this book.I read it nearly 40 years ago when my children were small.It was storming and lightning out that night and I was home alone other than the two boys asleep in their rooms.For decades I have remembered how scared I was that night reading My Brother Michael.I was so afraid I settled BEHIND a chair with a gun to spend the night - after the electricity went out.Sooooo four decades later I just had to find this book and read it again.I knew quickly why I loved Mary Stewart's books back then and will once more as I collect and re-read them.My Brother Michael does indeed have a very tense scene or two involving some terrible but wonderful discoveries, but I must be braver now as it wasn't quite the same.Maybe today's horror stories have numbed me a little to that, but it is Mary Stewart's writing that makes this one come so alive.Highly recommend.

Full of Stewart's signature atmospheric and romantic suspense...
Nothing ever happens to Camilla.She has never ventured into any risky affairs, has played it safe all her life.And as she writes these lamentations to her sister at a café in Athens, opportunity for adventure comes knocking.A simple case of mistaken identity leads her to Delphi, where she is to deliver a car to an unknown man named Simon. She finds a man named Simon, a dark and handsome Englishman, but he claims he is not the one she is looking for.As they drive around looking for this other Simon, Camilla learns that this Simon has a strong reason for being in Greece.His brother Michael, a WWII fighter, may or may not be dead.Either way, Simon wants to know what happened to him.And that is how Camilla encounters danger in ways she could have never imagined.Nothing is as it seems.One thing is certain: she will never begin a letter with "Nothing ever happens to me" again.

Mary Stewart has written some compelling novels full of suspense, danger, atmosphere and romance.My Brother Michael, first published in the early 1960s, is not an exception.This is set in Greece like The Moonspinners, but the plot is quite different.There are twists and turns that only Stewart can achieve with her brilliant writing.You feel the suspense and tension -- and you can't put the book down until it reaches its wonderful climax.Greece comes alive with every rich description and subtle gothic atmosphere.Description was one of Stewart's finest abilities, and you almost feel as though you were in Greece and amid all of the tension.This is a wonderful novel.It is almost as good as my three favorite Stewart novels (Nine Coaches Waiting, The Ivy Tree and Madam, Will You Talk?) and right in the same level as The Moonspinners.I look forward to reading more of her older books. ... Read more

Product Description

Young, beautiful, and adventurous Nicola Ferris loves her life as a secretary at the British Embassy on the lush island of Crete. Then on her day off, she links up with two hiking companions who have inadvertently stumbledupon a scene of blood vengeance.

And suddenly the life Nicola adores is in danger of coming to an abrupt, brutal, and terrifying end . . .

Customer Reviews (15)

Fresh and exciting, even after almost fifty years!
I'm always afraid that books I loved many years ago won't stand up to a 21st century reread.I'm delighted to report that The Moonspinners does.Unlike a couple of other novels of romantic suspense published about the same time I've recently reread and thrown across the room, the heroine of this one is independent and resourceful, makes decisions and saves the day.

Nicola Ferris is young but courageous.With only a rudimentary knowlege of Greek, she gets a job in the British Embassy in Athens and spends her weekends and holidays exploring the countryside.Of course her language skills improve, but it is that intrepid spirit that sets the scene for The Moonspinners.Enroute to a small village on Crete to meet her cousin for an Easter vacation, Nicola stumbles onto a mystery and the hunky Mark, who's been shot in the shoulder.For safety's sake, he urges her to continue her journey and forget she met him, but that's not our Nicola's way.What follows is a breathless cat and mouse game as Nicola tries to locate Mark's missing younger brother and find out who shot Mark and why.Set in a charming Cretan village, Mary Steward took full advantage of its sights, sounds and smells and her prose is so descriptive, it's like being there.

Mary Stewart wrote for educated and civilized readers. Her characters have lovely manners and it's a pleasure to read about them.Another thing I really enjoy about her books is their frequent allusions to classic works of literature, with the assumption the reader will get them.I always learn something from her books, things that stick with me long after I've forgotten the plot and the characters, and I've remembered the story of the Moonspinners since I read the book for the first time.I'm looking forward to rereading all of Ms. Stewart's books.It'll be like meeting up with old friends.

Once Upon A Time, In Crete...
"The Moonspinners" is an excellent Mary Stewart adventure novel, first published in 1962. The story features a plucky young Englishwoman named Nicola Ferris, a junior employee at the British Embassy in Athens, who goes on vacation in Crete at a remote location on the coast.While out on a walk, she stumbles into the middle of a deadly situation involving a wounded but dashing young Englishman and his kidnapped younger brother.Over a matter of just days, Nicola will save the life of the wounded man, then search for his missing brother, right under the noses of a deadly gang of Greek thieves.Their Greek enemies will retaliate, leading to a suspenseful final confrontation offshore.

Mary Stewart wrote a number of these novels, mixing adventure and romance with proper 1960's decorum.What makes "The Moonspinners" stand out is her intricate plotting, her almost reverent sense of detail for the scenery and culture of the Greek Isles, and her ability to keep the exploits of her heroes and heroines within the realm of the believable.The result is a crisply written, fast-moving story with adventure around every turn."The Moonspinners" is very highly recommended to fans of Mary Stewart and her novels.

Moonspinners
I first read this book when in my teens and have lost track of the number of times I've reread it. Needless to say, this is on the top of my favorites list. Alas, I've always wanted to visit Crete, but haven't been there yet.

"Somewhere out in the black horizon, the drowned moon was waiting to unspin in stranded light towards the shore"
...on the darkest night, the maidens take their spindles down to the sea, to wash their wool. And the wool slips from the spindles into the water, and unravels in long ripples of light from the shore to the horizon, and there is the moon again, rising above the sea....Only when all the wool is washed, and wound again into a white ball in the sky, can the moon-spinners start their work once more...."

Can this woman write or what? Nicola Ferris takes a vacation from her job at the British Embassy in Athens and plans on meeting her cousin Frances in a small village on the island of Crete. Arriving a day early, she decides to traipse through the White Mountains and in true Stewart fashion soon finds herself in the thick of danger, mystery and of course a hero in need of feminine assistance. Mark Langley and his younger brother Colin had been attacked after witnessing a crime, Mark was wounded and they assume Colin is murdered or been taken hostage. Nicola spends a night tending to Mark as Lambis goes for supplies and she is then forcefully sent on her way to forget what she's seen and continue her holiday. But of course it's not quite as simple as that and once settled into her hotel she recognizes Mark's attackers from the description he gave her and the adventure begins.

And that's all I'm going to tell. What follows is a darn-near unputdownable tale of mystery, cat-and-mouse intrigues and unexpected plot turns all leading up to one incredible nail-biting finish (I must get hold of the film now). I really enjoyed Nicola and Mark, they had just the right spark and spunkiness to play off of each other and add a perfect light-heartedness to the story (lol, his comments at the end when she had to wear his brother's slightly too tight pants), and I loved the way she can set up her scenes - everything on the island literally came alive for me from the tiniest flower, to the windmills, the mountains as well as those treacherous rocks alongside the bay. Don't miss this one.

Trouble in paradise...
Nicola Ferris is a young English woman working in Athens.She takes a break to go on holiday to Crete.But things go wrong.She gets there before her cousin Frances, gets off course, and encounters two men, one of whom is seriously wounded.It appears that he's witnessed a crime taking place and is now in hiding.The worst part is that his fifteen-year-old brother is missing.Have the killers kidnapped the boy?What is going on in those exotic yet isolated lands?What transpires is something sinister and dangerous indeed, and Nicola will have to deal with both the man she's decided to help and the group of people surrounding them on her own.

The Moonspinners, first published in 1962, is my sixth Mary Stewart novel.Three of them I loved, the other two not so much.The sixth one falls into the former.Imagine, if you will, paradise: beautiful and exotic surroundings, no one in sight except you and perhaps a few local shepherds.Then you realize you're on your own and involved in something where you may end up dead.You can't escape; there is no escape, for you're surrounded.Mary Stewart creates the perfect atmosphere for beauty, romance and terror.Her descriptions draw you in from the first page.The Moonspinners, like the other Stewart books I've read, is quite a quick read.You'll wish it were longer.This is one of Stewart's most popular titles.There is even a film loosely based on it (never seen it).She's a great author.Even though most of her novels were romantic suspense, most of them are very unique, not very repetitive.She also chose some rather exotic settings for each book.The Ivy Tree and Thornyhold are the only books of hers I've read so far set in England.I have My Brother Michael and The Rose Cottage on my TBR pile and I can't wait to read them. ... Read more

Product Description

TEN MINUTES A DAY CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE

As our bodies begin to show the signs of daily wear and tear, and workout programs which once seemed effective no longer meet our changing needs, yoga can be the ideal exercise. Low impact and non-competitive, invigorating rather than exhausting, and with an emphasis on keeping the body supple and the mind relaxed and focused, the ancient discipline of yoga can be practiced at any time of life. The programs in Yoga Over 50 feature:

* Step-by-step descriptions of yoga positions for active and resting poses
* Programs suited to varying degrees of fitness, experience, and flexibility
* Exercises to relieve specific problems, including headache, stiffness, and insomnia

Whether you're looking for an alternative to more strenuous exercise, or a gentle yet efficient way to stay fit, Yoga Over 50 will enable you to reach new levels of physical vitality and mental clarity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great for us over 50 gals!
I really think this is a great book for all of us over 50 gals.The photos are helpful and the description of the moves thorough.I also like the fact that the photos are of rather average women with a few grey hairs and wrinkles!Enjoy!

Yoga Over 50 Book
Good book.I've done yoga before, so I was familiar with poses.If you haven't done yoga before, this may be hard for a first-timer.

Yoga books
I use this book allot in teaching and showing my older students that no matter what age, yoga is for everyone.

Yoga for Seniors
As the baby boomers age group becomes a significant portion of the population, it is necessary to inspire more people to keeping the body and the mind healthy and active. Whilst the models in this book are for the most part very adept in their asana practice, some of the asanas translate very well for the over 50 year old that has not had much exposure to yoga. The triangle is a nice example of this and the standing twist with one foot on the chair.
I think the book is an inspiration for student who is open minded. Many of my senior students laughed when I showed them some of the poses in the book saying "I can't do that". Yet in that same class they did do some of the asanas,and with integrity too.This was a great psychological boost for them. We are never too old to learn new things, only too old in the habits we have cultivated. An added bonus was seeing British actor Terence Stamp in some of the photos.Camella Nair - Author of "Aqua Kriya Yoga".

Intimidating to Seniors
Anyone over the age of 50 who is interested in trying yoga for the first time would be intimidated by this book.MANY of the poses are shown at the most advanced level.There are few examples of poses being modified for the less flexible senior and very little mention of contraindications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Very good
Charity Selborne is on vacation in the south of France with a friend, when by chance she meets David Shelley, an English boy traveling with his stepmother. It turns out that the boy's father, Richard Byron, is a murderer--and he's followed David to France. Charity immediately becomes embroiled in the lives of David and Richard, not knowing who she can trust.

Another really great suspense novel from Mary Stewart. One thing she's really good at is description--you can almost hear the cicadas chirping (well, it was quite literal in my case--I had my window open and the cicadas were working overtime!). Mary Stewart is also known for her exotic locations, and this one definitely didn't disappoint. The car chase scene is especially well done; the tension is palpable, even as we find out what really happened all those years ago. Mary Stewart's books aren't by any stretch of the imagination, literature as such (even the cover looks a little bit romance-y), but they're definitely entertaining, and the perfect end-of-summer read.

Couldn't put this one down!
Charity Selborne looks forward to a wonderful holiday with her friend Louise in the South of France -- Charity's first holiday since her husband's death. But her dream of lazy days on the beach and lovely afternoons sightseeing come to an end when she befriends a sweet but troubled young boy. From that moment on, her life becomes a nightmare when Richard Byron, the boy's father, begins to stalk her, hoping to find his boy through her. Young David is with his stepmother, who is hiding from Richard. Richard is a dangerous, crazy murderer who shouldn't be allowed to be near his son. But as Charity goes out of her way to protect David, she discovers that things are far more sinister than she had ever imagined.

Mary Stewart is a clever writer of literary romantic suspense. I loved Nine Coaches Waiting and The Ivy Tree but hated Thornyhold. The aforementioned book had magic elements and was sketchy and dull to me. Stewart is in her element with this novel, writing the genre she does best, and I couldn't put Madam, Will You Talk? down. An atmospheric tone is big in Stewart's novels, and this one is not an exception. Suspense and tension are in every page, but the backdrop of the South of France plays a major role as well. I enjoyed Charity's descriptions of cafés, beaches and the Provencal landscapes. The best part is when Charity, in an effort to avoid Richard, travels to Marseilles and takes a tourist ferry ride to the Château d'If. The scene is short, and full of suspense, but I like that the author added that into the mix. All in all, I absolutely LOVED Madam, Will You Talk? First published in 1955, this dark, suspenseful, romantic, and quite surprising novel is a definite page-turner. The plot is a little similar to Nine Coaches Waiting, but only in superficial ways (heroine going beyond her call of duty to protect a child, falling for a man she cannot trust, etc.). My one and only complaint is that this novel is too short (only 191 pages -- at least that was the page count of the used out of print paperback edition I bought). More of a novella than a novel, really. It ended too soon for me and I'm going to experience some Mary Stewart withdrawal. Alas, I have Airs Above the Ground and My Brother Michael on my TBR pile and I look forward to reading those soon.

Madam will talk - about this novel!
This was the second MS novel I read, having first read "Touch Not the Cat" in serialized form.I read MWYT while a lonely grad student, waiting for my husband to finish his degree and join me in California for his post-doc.Having little money, I checked out the cheap books at the bookstore (the library had only "serious" books) for fun.MWYT was there for a quarter.I was hooked.The writing is fast-paced, the chase descriptions thrilling, the mystery terrific, the descriptions of people, food, clothing wonderful. All these years later I re-read it to plan my own trip to Roman France.Who would know to watch a sunrise at Les Baux otherwise?

Madam Will You Talk
If you appreciate an 'old fashioned' tale free of graphic intimacy and violence, if you appreciate vivid description, romance and intrigue this is for you. I read all but one of Mary Stewart's books in my early twenty's through late thirties. Now, nearing seventy, I am rereading them and cherishing the stories I read in my young years. I have divested myself of hundreds of books. Mary Stewart's remain a constant. Though I prefer some over others "Madam Will You Talk" is one of my favorites. It tells of a young widow vacationing in Southern France who accidentially stumbles on murder, betrayal and intrique.Of course there is a romantic touch, but who is the object of the heroine's affection?Good read...

Scarry but exciting novel to read
A novel to read which puts you on the edge of your seat from page one. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Liked it, but could've been much better
This book was an enjoyable read, however I found the storyline to be lacking a bit and highly predictable.It was still a good read and I would recommend it, however, if you're expecting something thrilling and romantic this book is not for you.It's entertaining at most, but the ending was rushed, like the author had only ten minutes to pop out an ending.If she had taken her time to write a hearty ending, I would have given this book five stars.

The sort of book you can curl up with and get lost in...
There are certain moments in nearly every Mary Stewart book where the author's descriptions of time and place truly resonate with the sensitive reader. You can feel the warmth of a summer day, smell an early morning or a rainfall, see the reflection of the moon on a starlit bay. What's more, you are transported into the life of the narrator: Your stomach tightens as Charity Selbourne flees her pursuer in "Madame, Will You Talk," or Linda Martin and her charge, Philippe, flee their imagined enemy in "Nine Coaches Waiting." Such is the case with "Thornyhold."

This is a book you can escape into, as it takes place a few years after World War II, when the world was on the precipice of a time of unbridled optimism and boundless change. But rural England was much the same as it had been 20 years before.

And that's the charm here: This is a story you get lost in, if only for a brief time. It is not as complex and layered as some of Stewart's books, but it is charming in a gentle way. As usual, Stewart's characters are deftly created.

The books gets off to a slow start, but it picks up once Gilly moves into her cousin's cottage. Stewart creates a vivid supporting cast, including an engaging young boy and a enigmatic cat.

If you are seeking a gentle respite from modern life and a story that calms you, read this book.

Something a bit different from my favorite mystery writer.
This book is a bit different from my favorite mystery writer. I love Mary Stewart's books, and thought I had read most of them, if not all. This one has a little different feel to it. Enjoyed it.

Nostalgic for an earlier time?
Mary Stewart can take you there. But they were not necessarily simpler or less complicated times...

Thornyhold is less well known than Steward's tour-de-force Merlin/Arthurian novels, but still one of my favorites. Where many of her novels have modern (for the time) heroines, fighting villains in the form of thieves, murderers, selfish relatives, whatever, Gillie has less obvious battles to fight. Set in post-World War II England, where rationing still held sway and everyone knew their neighbors, Thornyhold is much like it's heroine: deep, introspective, self-depreciating, and ultimately, quietly triumphant -- much like their author.

If you are looking for excitement, battles, gunfights, and torrid love affairs, it isn't for you. But if you are looking for a truly brilliant example of character development, where gaining self knowledge is important...look into this gem.

a lovely read
Thornyhold is a magical read for those of you who love a genteel cozy.If you would like to curl up and imagine yourself in a cozy cottage with a touch of mystery and witchcraft....brew yourself a cup of tea, grab a scone or some great chocolate and allow yourself to enter the cottage.There is a gentle romance, a mysterious cat, and chanting in the woods.If you like the type of book where you can practically see the lace tablecloth and imagine the china teapot this book is for you.My mother, my daughter and my best friend concur with me....this is the best book i have ever read!They don't write em like this anymore!!!
... Read more

Product Description
THE WHOLE FAMILY,

A NOVEL BY TWELVE AUTHORS

By William Dean Howells, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Mary Heaton Vorse,
Mary Stewart Cutting, Elizabeth Jordan, John Kendrick Bangs, Henry
James, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Edith Wyatt, Mary Raymond Shipman
Andrews, Alice Brown, Henry Van Dyke


CONTENTS

I. The Father by William Dean Howells
II.The Old-Maid Aunt by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
III. The Grandmother by Mary Heaton Vorse
IV.The Daughter-in-Law by Mary Stewart Cutting
V. The School-Girl by Elizabeth Jordan
VI.The Son-in-Law by John Kendrick Bangs
VII. The Married Son by Henry James
VIII. The Married Daughter by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
IX.The Mother by Edith Wyatt
X. The School-Boy by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
XI.Peggy by Alice Brown
XII. The Friend of the Family by Henry Van Dyke
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating Book
I am very happy to see this book available on the Kindle and to see that people are reading it!When I read it some years ago, I found it so fascinating that I did a lot of research on it, and ended up writing an entire book of cultural history.There's a whole tradition of novels written in this way, each author writing one chapter.Readers of the Kindle edition might want to know that the paper reprint also includes supporting materials that tell you a lot about the authors and about the process by which this quirky book was produced--it was originally serialized in Harper's Bazar (as the name was spelled then--same magazine though).And the contributors had a lot of disputes; the correspondence is quite funny.(Warning: self-promotion follows) Duke University Press has published both the novel (ed. Alfred Bendixen, with a short foreword by me) and my book, which is titled Publishing the Family--of course there's a short description on Amazon--pretty specialized, but I try to make it interesting!My sister advises that any readers who are not professional scholars should skip the introduction. :)

An enjoyable experiment in writing
This novel was enjoyable to read. Each of the twelve writers takes a family member and tells the story of a daughter's engagement through through their eyes. The story flows together pretty well, except for the piece written by Henry James. I thought it bogged down there, and the tone was much too somber compared with the rest of the book. However, you can easily skim over that chapter and still understand the plot. I'm glad I read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Three full length, first rate novels of romantic suspense. Comtains "This Rough Magic;" " The Ivy Tree"; and "Wildfire at Midnight." ... Read more

Product Description
John and Margaret Begbie are picnicking with their parents in the Black Forest when they are mysteriously spirited back through time into the Middle Ages. There they meet Mardian, one-time servant and closest friend of Duke Otho, ruler of the country. He tells them a terrible secret - he is under the enchantment of the evil sorcerer Almeric, and is forced to assume a wolf's shape every night. Unable to return to the castle, the children are his only hope. And so John and Margaret disguise themselves as children of the court and embark on a thrilling and frightening quest to reveal Almeric's true nature and gain the Duke's confidence. But then Almeric becomes suspicious, and suddenly all their lives are in danger... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A great read

The reading age on this book is, I'd say, 10 and up.It is still interesting to me, as an adult.It is literary and well-written, unusual and welcome attributes for children's books.

There is no bad language, no crudity, no violence.And yet, there is wonderful suspense and the need for two children, siblings, to behave cleverly and heroically.

This is well-written fiction for kids.Nice.

The fantastical world of Mary Stewart...
John and Margaret are on a picnic vacation with their parents.They wander off on their own often, as children usually do, to discover new grounds and seek adventure.They get that and a whole lot more when they encounter a strange man in what appears to be medieval garb.The man is, in fact, from the fourteenth century.Mardian is the dark and brooding sort.He has every reason to be that way.After all, he has been cursed by a sorcerer.He shifts into a wolf at night and is unable to rescue his friend and son from certain danger.He cannot enter the castle where they reside.How will he be able to reverse the spell on him and approach Duke Otho (his friend)?In his most desperate time, two children appear as if from nowhere and offer to help...

Mary Stewart is a wonderful author who wrote romantic suspense/gothic novels from the fifties well into the early nineties.She also wrote the Merlin novels, which I haven't read.I picked up A Walk in Wolf Wood with a great deal of curiosity.It is a mixture of children's fantasy, historical, paranormal and time travel.So, of course, I had to pick this one up.At first, I thought I'd picked up a book from an author whose name was Mary Stewart, not the author of Nine Coaches Waiting and Madam, Will You Talk?But the further I read, the more I realized the author is the one and the same.I marvel at her versitality.She, like Daphne du Maurier, had dared to go outside the box and write various genres.She does a decent enough job with the fantasy genre here.This is written in third person, which isn't as enthralling as her first-person books, but things improve as the story goes on.The style in this book is similar to that in Thornyhold, with the same magic elements.This is a fun read, great for anyone from ages ten forward.However, Stewart does not shine here as much as in The Ivy Tree and The Moonspinners, so I think I'll stick to Stewart's romantic suspense work from now on.

"Something Awful Had Happened to Him..."
Mary Stewart is best known for her Merlin-themed books (including "The Crystal Cave"), which are geared toward slightly older readers, but "A Walk in Wolf Woods", (along with "The Little Broomstick" and "Ludo and the Star Horse" are wonderful books to make accessible to younger readers. Told in clear, descriptive prose, with plenty of adventure and mystery, plus a few nuggets of wisdom, Stewart's novels are a great addition to any child's library.

John and Margaret Begbie are enjoying a holiday picnic when they are distracted by the sight of a distraught, weeping man rushing into the forest. Even odder, the man appears to be dressed in clothing from another era: a tunic and hose, cloak and knife, and a beautiful gold medallion. Compelled to follow him, the children creep into the forest till they reach a ramshackle cottage where they hear an extraordinary story from its inhabitant. The weeping man is Lord Mardian, and the gold medallion was a gift from his dearest friend Duke Otho. But thanks to an evil enchanter named Almeric, the friendship has been sundered and Mardian is cursed to roam as a wolf whenever the sun goes down.

The children have inadvertently time-shifted back into the 13th century, and Mardian sees in them the chance to see things set right. Lending them his gold medallion, he charges them with the task of delivering it into the hand of Duke Otho and explaining his story to his former friend. Then perhaps, the spell will be broken. But the children must first adjust to life in the distant past, and the wiles of the evil Almeric, who has disguised himself as Mardian and dwells within the court itself, whispering poison in the ears of Otho's son Crispen.

"A Walk in Wolf Woods" is a pleasant and exciting read for the under-10s, and is of particular interest is the way Stewart incorporates legitimate information about the medieval period into the text, as well as paragraphs of unsurpassed wisdom. How many children's books do you read these days that has a paragraph like this in it: "They knew that, if you find some person or creature in desperate need of help which you can supply, you have a human duty to supply it, even if it could inconvenience you or even hurt you to do so. This, after all, is how the greatest and best deeds in the world have been done, and though the children did not say this aloud, they knew it inside themselves without even thinking about it."

It isn't all perfect; a character named Lady Blancheflower is introduced as a possible threat to the children (having seen them outside the castle walls) only to totally disappear from the action, and Almeric is a trifle bland as the lead villain (he's your typical tyrant who wants to take over the land), but nonetheless, this is a top-notch novel for young readers.

A Walk in Wolf Wood
I really liked the book A Walk in Wolf Wood because it was a good easy read.Although it was easy to read it was not a boring book.I love books that take place in the Middle Ages like this one.It is full of enchantments and friendships.Parts of this book reminded me of Harry Potter books.This book kept me on my toes to find out what would happen next.There was always a new twist or turn when I thought that I had it figured out.The end was great, not one of those that let you down.

A Walk in Wolf Wood
When I started to read this book, it wasn't counfusing, but it was, diferent... I liked it, as far as "two kids, cought in the mid evil time, that has a friend that turns in to a evil beast of terror, in the night.." It's a good plot, it just doesn't suite me. But every person has they're opinions. Any way, so I would have to say this book is for any one who is an adventurest person.

No offence, but i couldn't really get into this book. But that doesn't mean you can't! It's a good book. Read it, see if you like it. And if you don't, hey, at least you tried. And if you do like it. hey, cool, good for you.

So like i said before, every one has they're own opinions, I'm just telling you mine. I'm sorry if this didn't help you alot, or at all. But, you know, at least I tried. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for courses in Creativity or Three-Dimensional Design, Launching the Imagination: A Guide to Three-Dimensional Design offers a comprehensive framework on which students, teachers, and administrators can build. The approach in this second edition is refined, distilled, and updated, using hundreds of examples drawn from traditional and contemporary sources. Profiles with interviews of artists and designers introduce students to working processes, career choices, and criteria for excellence from a remarkable group of masters.

Launching the Imagination is available in a comprehensive volume treating 2D design, Creativity and Problem-solving, 3D design, and time-based (4D) design; or in split volumes containing either 2D or 3D design, plus the material on Creativity and Problem-solving.

Launching the Imagination’s Core Concepts in Art CD-ROM, version 2.0, which engages students interactively with the elements and principles of art through numerous interactive exercises, has been re-organized and expanded. A copy of this CD-ROM is included free with every copy of the textbook purchased from McGraw-Hill, a student-value of over $30, and is also available individually through your local bookstore.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

source

This "book" was originally written as a magazine short story. I have the original article which I tore from the magazine. That is why it is not complete as a book--- it was never intended to be one. If you read it with this in mind, it is perfectly complete and satisfying.

A really interesting novella
I finally got a copy of this book from Australia, of all places, and was glad to complete my collection of Mary Stewart books. I fell hard for her when I read The Crystal Cave at the age of 14, when it first came out, and was overjoyed when she wrote The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. I credit her with the beginnings of my long term interest in the character of Merlin.

Anyway, I had read one of her suspense novels around the time of the Crystal Cave, and liked it pretty well. This past year or so, I have collected hardback copies of all her novels and have read them in order. It was interesting to read her progressing towards what I consider her major, master, work, The Merlin Trilogy.

Wind Off the Small Isles was published just before Crystal Cave, and, on reading it, I wonder if she wrote it to fulfill a contractual obligation for one more book, before she could let go and write what she wanted. This might explain why it is a novella, instead of a fully fledged novel, which it could easily have been. Even so, it is still great writing. She manages to condense the story into 96 pages, with her trademark beautiful prose and incisive characterizations. And the ending, which I won't give away, was quite chilling. Stewart is a master at creating atmosphere, and this little novel does not disappoint.

I gave it four stars instead of five because I truly wish she had fleshed it out to full length. But it is still worth reading as is. I wouldn't make it my first novel of hers to read, but it should be in there somewhere. I wonder why it has never been published in the US. A pity, because it is worth the effort to get it, even at such an abbreviated length.

Not one of her best
I looked for a copy of this book for 30 years! It finally took the internet to find it for me, from a bookstore in Wales, and I am grateful for that. I'm glad to have it because I love Mary Stewart and wanted a copy for my Stewart Collection, but it does not live up to her full-length novels.

The setting is exotic and fascinating, but there are just not enough pages here to fully develop the heroine, the hero, or any of their motivation for why they do some of the things they do. I wish Stewart had taken the time to flesh this out into a full-fledged novel. At twice the number of pages, with all the additional detail that entails, it probably would have been a fantastic book. But at a scant 96 pages it is only an echo of Stewart's far better books, of which there are many.

If you are a rabid Stewart fan I would certainly recommend this one to round out your collection, but if you are new to Stewart this is not the book I would start with. Try some of her earlier wonderful books set in Greece, France and the UK.

A Perfect Rose in this Author's VibrantBouquet
While this book was never published in the United States, it is well worth the search. At a mere 96 pages, it cannot be pigeon-holed as a novel of romantic suspense as Ms Stewart's other works.There is no grand mystery---no one tottering between life and death.However it contains all the other elements of the Mary Stewart novel in all its three-dimensional glory: a lovely Englishwoman, an exotic locale,and the quintessential hero, reeking of intrepid British charm.Here 23-year-old Perdita West is assistant to older whimisical Cora Gresham,a children's author.Research for a new book brings them both to Lanzarote, a volcanic island in the Canary archipelago where legend has it that two young lovers eloped during a night when the wind off the north cape brought with it the gas and ash from a volcanic eruption. The fabled couple was never seen again.Perdita is entranced with the story, particularly as she is attracted to Cora's son, Michael.As Perdita and Michael explore their mutual affection, their ultimate adventure parallels that of the legendary lovers and Perdita discovers that it matters naught whether love lasts forever or just for a matter of seconds.As in her other novels,Ms Stewart's descriptive gifts sparkle as they bring to life the paradise of Lanzarote with prose that is almost poetic in its cadence.If one was to consider Ms Stewart's other works as a lush and textured bouquet consisting of large jungle blossoms, this slim volume would be likened to one perfect rose. Look for it!

The wind off the small isles
this is a great book with so much detail in it. I love all of the Mary Stewart books. This is one of the best! ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for courses in Creativity and Two-Dimensional Design, Launching the Imagination offers a comprehensive framework on which students, teachers, and administrators can build. The approach in this third edition is refined, distilled, and updated, using over 275 examples drawn from traditional and contemporary sources. Interviews of artists and designers, known as Profiles, introduce students to working processes, career choices, and criteria for excellence from a remarkable group of masters.

Launching the Imagination is also available in a comprehensive volume treating 2D design, Creativity and Problem-solving, 3D design, and time-based (4D) design; or in a split volume containing 3D design plus the material on Creativity and Problem-solving.

This edition of Launching the Imagination moves the content of the Core Concepts in Art CD-ROM to the Online Learning Center. With free access, this website, which engages students interactively with the elements and principles of art through numerous interactive exercises, has been re-organized and expanded. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thanks
Thanks for the quick delivery and the book is in a good shape as you said. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed for courses in Creativity, Two-, Three- or Four-Dimensional Design, "Launching the Imagination" offers a comprehensive framework on which students, teachers, and administrators can build. The approach in this third edition is refined, distilled, and updated, using over 600 examples drawn from traditional and contemporary sources. Interviews of artists and designers, known as Profiles, introduce students to working processes, career choices, and criteria for excellence from a remarkable group of masters."Launching the Imagination" is available in a comprehensive volume treating 2D design, Creativity and Problem-solving, 3D design, and time-based (4D) design; or in split volumes containing either 2D or 3D design, plus the material on Creativity and Problem-solving. This edition of "Launching the Imagination" moves the content of the Core Concepts in Art CD-ROM to the Online Learning Center. With free access, this website, which engages students interactively with the elements and principles of art through numerous interactive exercises, has been re-organized and expanded. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Books for College
Good value for the money - was in great condition and much less expnsive than at the college bookstore! WT

Great and Easy to Read
This is a really great textbook filled with a ton of pictures of many artists. It's easy to read and almost doesn't feel like a textbook at times. Very useful as a resource to look up terms that the internet sometimes is a stretch to find the "art" definition of.

Very Readable Textbook
it is not always easy reading textbooks, even those written by professors who are excellent lecturers. This book is a distinct exception. This book provides good foundation information for both two-dimension and three-dimension design.

This book is a UK version.
This is a version published in the UK.I never received the book.Because its shipped from there, I ordered it, waited 4 weeks and it never shipped (due to delays).I needed it by the end of the 5th week for a class, so I had to cancel the order and buy the US Version (isbn: 0073526487.)

As far as I can tell from online reviews, this book is not different.However, don't order it if you need it quickly.Too bad it takes so long to arrive, since its 30% cheaper than the US version.

it was ok
the book was ok, i bought a brand new one, and it's looks absolutely fine,there's nothing wrong with it.
and i got it on time, it wasn't too fast either, yeah, it was ok ... Read more

Product Description
A lavishly illustrated introduction to a British national treasure examines the highly detailed articles of Queen Mary's dolls' house, providing blueprint diagrams of every floor, content lists for each wing, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Accidental History
Lutyens, the architect of Queen Mary's Dolls' House, also designed the city of New Delhi and the Viceroy's House, one of the largest and most unique palaces in the world.Sadly, he was one of the world's greatest artists, but is remembered only for this (comparatively) tiny tourist attraction.

Tourists, architectural students, and historians should buy this book.This is the only thorough analysis of any of Lutyens' buildings, and as such, is an important historical document above and beyond its tourist appeal.

Probably the best book until they make a virtual reality show.
I was so enchanted by Royal Collection Official Guide Book to Queen Mary's Dolls' House that I ordered this one figuring (correctly) that there would be other unique pictures.This is the better of the two books - nearly three times as long and filled with more pictures, especially detail shots of the tiny furnishings and decorations. I am charmed by Cripp's method of showing scale: he poses the tiny cricket bat next to a regulation cricket ball, and the little golf clubs next to a real golf ball. This also includes a section on how the house is aging: fading wallpaper, damaged paint, etc.All of the pictures, except for a few that are historic, are in color.This is unfortunately out of print, and may be more expensive, so the purchaser will have to weigh issues of cost and availability for themselves. I think that either would do as a souvenier.

If someone is really interested, I would recommend getting both books.The Royal Collection Official Guidebook is a pretty good buy at $11.95 and a nice supplement to this one. Avery few of the shots are in both, but not enough to make them redundant to the person who wants all the information they can get. Generally, the duplicate shots are slightly large in the S-W book.To compare and contrast the two,while the S-W book has more of everything, the RC book still has some unique shots. The photographs in this book take in the entire room, while the RC book often shoots the room at an angle, cutting off part of the room, but what is shown is sometimes in better focus and a bit larger.To compare the shots of the Queen's bedroom, the Stewart-Wilson shot shows the entire bedroom. The Royal Collection shot, at an angle , reveals some additional details such as the fire screen and the chinoiserie cabinet, but cuts off the exteme left-hand side of the room. (Her Majesty has apparently been rearranging her decorative items since the S-W book.) The S-W detail of the 18th century pietre-dure table concentrates on showing the design on the top. The RC detail shows more of the table and the objects normally on it.The historical sections, revealing how the house came to be built are the most different, and the RC book has more pictures of people who participated in creating the doll house and of the room in which it now sits with the Phillip Connard mural. The captions are overlapping, but not identical, and so one gains more information by having both.

More Corrections
To further correct the first reviewer, the Doll's House is certainly not a copy of Windsor Castle.It is nothing like it. Windsor Castle is a CASTLE - stones and very old, and big.The Doll's House is an "ideal home" of the early 1020's - albeit intended for royalty and not for your average Joneses.

Fantastic book
With a couple of corrections of the first review, I'd like to make sure that it's known that Queen Mary did not commission this dollshouse.It was the original brain child of the Princess Marie Louise, who spearheaded the creation of the house. Queen Mary was "extremely surprised" but agreed.The initial shell of the house was erected in Lutyen's office, then removed to the drawing room of his house in Mansfield Street in London.

It was unveiled to the press, once completed, in the Mansfield Street house, then moved and reconstructed in the Palace of Arts at Wembley.It went from there to Windsor Castle, then to an exhibition at Olympia.In February of 1925, the house was returned to Windsor Castle.The Daily Mail donated a glass case through which we can now view the dollshouse in Windsor Castle.

This wonderful book has photographs of the letters written by Princess Marie Louise to all the firms and manufacturers involved in the dollshouse creation, as well as numerous photographs of the interior and furnishings.Pictures of tiny dollshouse ledgers, keys, and even a garden snail grace this book.

An extraordinary dollhouse explored in depth
England's Queen Mary--grandmother of the current Queen Elizabeth II--commissioned the construction of her extraordinary dollhouse (or "dolls' house" as it is referred to here) in 1921, during her own reign.It resides at Windsor Castle, as it has since being constructed there.Designed by Edward Lutyens (famous for his graceful furniture), the house is a reproduction of Windsor Castle right down to the last nail--almost literally.

David Cripps' photography beautifully captures the interiors of this amazing dollhouse, from the grand to the plebian.Here is the linen closet, each batch of towels tied with different-colored ribbon to denote whether they were intended for the nursery, the staff, or the kitchen.Here is a lacquer cabinet with gilded stand, dovetailed working drawers, and gold-leafed decoration.Here is a bed, complete with pillows, bolsters, sheets, blankets, and even a tiny walnut-handled bedwarmer.The toilet, complete with toilet paper discreetly placed in a bowl alongside, really works.The toothbrushes are made of ivory and have bristles made from the hair of a goat's inner ear.In the cellar, bottles of Chateau Margaux are properly corked and waxed and labeled.The pantry shows real bows of Fry's Chocolates sharing space with McVitie & Price biscuits, barley sugar candies in hefty glass candy jars, and Frank Cooper's Seville Marmalade in squat jars tied with brown paper and string.

The garage houses a miniature bicycle with brakes "in perfect working order," not to mention a Rudge motorcycle and sidecar, a seven-seater Rolls Royce limousine-landaulet, a Vauxhall, a "Sunbeam open tourer," and two Daimlers.Gorgeous royal crests are hand-painted on each.The house even has its own petrol pumps and fire appliances, as was normal for large houses in that era.

The house's garden is splendid despite the absence of a single living thing.The lawn, made of cut green velvet, boasts several tiny mowers (both motor-powered and not), and the nearby garden has its own lovely benches, hoes, spades and the like.There is even a robin's nest, complete with eggs, and a tiny, tiny snail.

Perhaps the most extraordinary thing in the house is the book collection.Famous authors were asked to contribute their own works.Arthur Conan Doyle obliged by submitted "How Watson Learned the Trick," an original 500-word short story done in his own handwriting.The bookplates for each of the books were designed by beloved Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator Ernest Shepard.Rudyard Kipling submitted not only two poems, but illustrated them himself as well.Other well-known authors who gave their own works to the Queen's house included G. K. Chesterton, Joseph Conrad, Robert Graves, Aldous Huxley, Hilaire Belloc, Rose Macauley, W. Somerset Maugham, and Vita Sackville-West.Topping off the fine works of this distinguished crowd are the leather-bound autograph books--one each for famous folks from stage and screen, famous folks from the military, and famous politicans.

There is even a room for storing the scepter, crowns and other regalia--all featuring flawless gemstones!

The details are endlessly fascinating and the house and its furnishings so well-constructed that without a tennis ball or coin or some other everyday real object, you easily forget that everything your eye falls upon here is miniature.For those who cannot get to Windsor Castle themselves to view the house in person, this book offers a very fine tour. ... Read more

Product Description
As our bodies begin to show the signs of daily wear and tear, and workout programmes which once seemed effective no longer meet our changing needs, yoga can be the ideal exercise. Low impact and non-competitive, invigorating rather than exhausting, and with an emphasis on keeping the body supple and the mind relaxed and focused, the ancient discipline of yoga can be practised at any time of life. Whether you are looking for an alternative to more strenuous exercise, or a gentle yet efficient way to stay fit, YOGA OVER 50 will enable you to reach new levels of physical vitality and mental clarity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

From the dustjacket flap.......
A novel that re-creates the suspense and excitement of an ancient legend -- how Merlin, the enchanter, helped Arthur become King of all Britain.

Once again, as she did in her international best seller The Crystal Cave, Mary Stewart uses Arthurian legend to tell a spellbinding story.

The Hollow Hills takes place in a fifth-century Britain fraught with superstition and fear, where no life is safe, no law is stable, and where a king risks accusations of murder and adultery to get himself an heir.For his own safety, the boy Arthur, rejected as a bastard by his father, is long kept ignorant of his parentage.

Dangerous rides through the deep forests of England and Wales, sudden battles amidst brooding mountains, and retreats into secret hollows in the hills provide the background for this tale of Arthur's growth into manhood and his discovery of the strange sword that was to test his claim to power.

Behind and around Arthur always is the mysterious, strong, yet vulnerable figure of Merlin, who sees and knows so much but who, like Arthur, must also suffer for the sake of a nation being born.In this world of embattled kings and courtiers, hurried journeys, whispered anxieties, and sudden death, we watch Merlin and Arthur follow their common destiny.

Merlin is the narrator, and his prophetic voice communicates not only the bristling atmosphere of the ancient setting but also the profound relevance of this age-old tale to our own time.
... Read more