The Crystal Cave cover art

The Crystal Cave

Arthurian Saga, Book 1

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The Crystal Cave

By: Mary Stewart
Narrated by: Derek Perkins
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About this listen

The spellbinding story of Merlin's rise to power.

This is what happened. I saw it, and it is a true tale.

So begins the story of Merlin, born the illegitimate son of a Welsh princess in fifth-century Britain, a world ravaged by war. Small and neglected, with his mother unwilling to reveal his father's identity, Merlin must disguise his intelligence - and hide his occasional ability to know things before they happen - in order to keep himself safe.

One beautiful afternoon, while exploring the countryside near his home, Merlin stumbles across a cave filled with books and papers and hiding a room lined with crystals. It is the home of Galapas, who becomes Merlin's tutor and friend, and who teaches Merlin to understand the world around him...and to harness the power of the crystal cave to see the future.

Merlin will rise to power and enter history - and legend - as advisor to King Arthur. But all stories must begin somewhere. And this is his.

The Crystal Cave is the first of Mary Stewart's brilliant Arthurian Saga, telling the story of King Arthur from the perspective of the extraordinary, mysterious Merlin.

©1970 Mary Stewart (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Limited Fantasy Fiction Medieval Arthurian Royalty

Critic Reviews

"Vivid, enthralling, absolutely first-class." (Daily Mail)

What listeners say about The Crystal Cave

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Profile Image for Louise Hobson

A different Merlin

Thorough enjoyed the audible first book in this series. The story was clever- alluding to magic but not of the fantasy genre.

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Profile Image for Robyn Hill

An excellent rendition of a great story

There have been many retellings of the early years of Arthurian Britain. Mary Stewart presents us a different but well designed version of this. It flows well and provides an in-depth insight into the early life of Merlin that is not as well addressed in other readings.. Altogether, an interesting and arresting story, read well by Derek Perkins.

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