The Crystal Cave

Books by Mary Stewart

Whenever I feel off balance, in grief, or lost, Mary Stewart’s novels lift me up. As I read, I am reminded of what I value, how I want to be in the world. Stewart’s stories are my friends, providing comfort, picking me up when I am feeling down.

Stewart’s stories are my steady foundation, tales that helps me to ground and to affirm what I believe to be true and important.

Written in the 1970s, Mary Stewart expands the King Arthur myth into a trilogy: The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment. She begins the legend a generation before Arthur is born, and tells the story from Merlin’s point of view. In first person narrative, the story is told to the reader, as if Merlin is writing his memoires for me, recalling his life, when he is very old and looking back to see the story and the patterns.

My copy from 1974 is well loved

Book 1, The Crystal Cave focuses on Merlin’s early life, detailing his childhood, as a fatherless boy in the royal court. His mother, a princess, would not tell who his father was, and he lives precariously as a child in a unsafe world. At age twelve, he takes his life into his hands by running away, and by the hand of the gods, makes his way to his true father’s court. Ambrosius, in Stewart’s telling, is the older brother to Uther (who is Arthur’s father), and the unnamed father of Merlin.

The Crystal Cave, focusses on Merlin’s schooling, and how he becomes a man under his father’s guidance, and until Ambrosius’ death, when Uther takes over. Book 1 ends where the Arthur myth traditionally begins with Merlin casting a spell so that Uther can sneak in to be with Ygraine, and she becomes pregnant with Arthur, who is prophesized to be the King who changes history.

Book 2, The Hollow Hills picks up the next part of the story, where the baby’s future is determined. Merlin positions himself as tutor and role model for the young Arthur. mirroring the men who cared for Merlin when he was a boy. Merlin shapes Arthur’s character, and sets up the events that will fulfill the prophecy for Arthur to become King.

Book 3, The Last Enchantment focusses on King Arthur’s tale, as told through Merlin’s understanding; revealing the back story behind the main story. Some of the magical myths are explained as merely Merlin engaging his education, use of strategy and positioning of the event in such a way that Arthur’s people eagerly see as miracles. Other elements are explained by Merlin as truly mystic and only explainable as the work of the gods.

The Merlin Trilogy from Mary Stewart

I enjoy most the aspect of the story that delves into Merlin’s upbringing. The descriptions of how he befriended Galapas, his tutor, an old hermit living in a cave in the hills are poignant and somehow capture my own emotions when I, too, am feeling lost and alone.

Galapas shows the six year old Merlin the wonders of books, and educates him about his natural surroundings. The older man takes in the young orphan, in need of shelter and safety, and becomes the one adult who is on Merlin’s side, his ally and protector. The older man is the first to accept Merlin and has skills and knowledge that are relevant to Merlin understanding his true nature. Under Galapas’ guidance, Merlin develops his abilities with ‘the sight’ - the ability to see into the future or to know what is happening elsewhere. ‘The sight’ is explained as a rare ability that people know about, but don’t outrightly acknowledge, adding to the mysterious forces that predominate those times.

Stewart weaves in credible reasons that explain aspects of Merlin’s extraordinary abilities. As a young man, he studies extensively with tutors of medicine, engineering and history. An educated man in fifth century Britain is rare and his knowledge seems mysterious to the common people. Merlin, a member of the court, also has a knack for being in the right place at the right time as a boy, and later, as a man of standing, has authority to influence others. Is it coincidence and opportunity, or is it the mysterious act of fate?

Merlin speaks highly of his gifts, and is humble about how he uses the powers of magic, expressing in different ways how the will of the gods work through him. Stewart masterfully expresses themes of fate and destiny, living among forces beyond our understanding, and how our actions ripple beyond what we can know.

The language of having the will of the gods work through Merlin, of serving a higher purpose, is a fascinating theme. As a teenager reading these books in the 1980s, this was a phrase that captured my attention. What did it mean? It seemed an important belief.

As a storyteller, Stewart’s craft stands the test of time. Exploring the circumstances of secondary characters, in the years that preceded the main legend of the King Arthur’s reign, was met in the 1970s with fanfare. Telling Merlin’s story as a lonely orphan with special skills, who matures into a compassionate, devoted mentor whose purpose is to use his magic to serve the King for the betterment of the Kingdom, provides a timeless contrast to the other characters who serve greed, power and fear.

I recommend Mary Stewart’s books, fifty years after they were first published. Just as Merlin speaks highly of his gifts, I speak highly of Stewart’s storytelling craft. Well worth the read, whether you are familiar with the King Arthur myth or not. This is an engaging story about a young person finding his place amongst forces beyond his control, discovering what he must do with what is given to him, and dedicating his life to take action, against all odds, and to fulfill his promise.