Synopses & Reviews
Born of an incestuous relationship between King Arthur and his half sister, the evil sorceress Morgause, the bastard Mordred is reared in secrecy. Called to Camelot by events he cannot deny, Mordred becomes Arthurs most trusted counselor -- a fateful act that leads to the "wicked day of destiny" when father and son must face each other in battle.
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"Outstanding....Rewarding....A superior adventure tale." Wall Street Journal
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"Exciting and interesting reading...filled with adventure, romance, fantasy, and details of everyday life." Christian Science Monitor
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"A perfect trip out of the present." The New York Times Book Review
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"The Arthurian legend is first and foremost defined by literary classics [such as] Mary Stewart's beloved Crystal Cave trilogy." USA Today
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"Mary Stewart has whetted readers' appetites for Arthurian marvels....Her purpose is not to recast old material but to bring alive a long-dead historical epoch....This she does splendidly. Fifth-century Britain is caught in these pages." Washington Post Book World
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"Superb and lyrical." Washington Times
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"[An] enchanting version of the Arthurian legend...[that] stands heads and shoulders above a bland mass of fairy tales based on the story....Three-dimensional characters in a realistic world....A feast for Arthur lovers everywhere....In her fully realized version of the legend, Stewart remains true to tradition while still holding and surprising us with the unexpected plot twists. The magic in her novels is somber and mysterious." Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin)
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"In most King Arthur stories, Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son...always gets a bum rap....Mary Stewart takes a different view of the legend....She humanizes everyone." St. Louis Post-Dispatch
About the Author
Mary Stewart, one of the most widely read authors of our time, began writing at the age of five, when she published her first poem in a small parish magazine in England. Having published 20 novels, a volume of poetry, and three books for young readers, she is noted both for her contemporary stories of romance and suspense and for her Arthurian novels, most recently The Prince and the Pilgrim. She has fourteen New York Times bestsellers to her credit, including The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, and The Last Enchantment, which comprise The Merlin Trilogy. Before embarking on a full-time writing career she taught English at school and university level. Born in England, Mary Stewart has lived for many years in Scotland, dividing her time between Edinburgh and the West Highlands. Her interests include natural history, gardening, Greek and Roman history, music, and art.
Series Description
If you haven't read Mary Stewart's Arthurian Saga, you don't know what you're missing. They are must reads for any romance reader, for any lover of Arthurian legend, for any history buff, for any voracious reader, and may be the books to get non-readers started. Basically, they should be read by everyone! Mary Stewart's research for these books is phenomenal. Her understanding of myth and its relationship to fact is remarkable. The books are complex, yet incredibly inviting and you will absolutely love the characters. They also weave together so beautifully that you won't be able to read only one. The books go in this order: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment, and The Wicked Day.