Merlin and the Lady Genevieve

By Maria Kinsey

Loosely based on my favorite of all the Arthurian novels:
 

The Merlin Trilogy of books by British novelist Mary Stewart:
 

The Crystal Cave, 1970

The Hollow Hills, 1973

The Last Enchantment, 1979

Although I cannot claim complete copyright, as the initial ideas come from the Mary Stewart novels, from the birth and heritage of Merlin, to the locations such the cave at Maridunum and life at Camelot, etc., the deviations from those ideas are my own and copyright can be claimed only on these story deviations, time lines, main characters, locations, battles and major life events as conceived and written by me. 

Still and yet, a lot of research and effort went into the creation of this fiction.  From using real locations according to the legend and researching ancient place names for these locations, to researching herbal plants and medicines and life in ancient Britain, this was a labor of love.   Please do not copy or redistribute without contacting me, the author first.

Although I acknowledge that T. H. White's "The Once and Future King" is one of the great classics of Arthurian literature, I could not help but be disappointed in his sequel "The Book of Merlyn".  I simply could not see Merlin as a backward-living, forgetful, doddering old fool.  I much preferred the history of the man as he grew from childhood to Enchanter of Britain in the books by Mary Stewart.  I chose to take it a step further and portray Merlin as a man who was human, who was fallible, vulnerable and not always all-seeing and all-powerful.  I began to wonder what he might have been like had he found a woman to love, and what it might have been like to meet someone who had a bit of magic in her as well.  For I believe we all have a bit of magic in us, whether or not we choose to recognize and act what special talents we have to enhance our lives and those around us.  I hope my bit of fancy gives you some enjoyment and that it awakens what magic you have within you. 

Feedback and comments are welcome.

I'd love to know what you thought
after you have read the novel. 

Feel free to contact me at:     kinsey4805@gmail.com