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Finding Merlin: The Truth Behind the Legend
Merlin: the very name evokes intriguing images - magician, wise man, prophet, adviser to Arthur, counsellor of Camelot. The legend is famous but not the truth: that Merlin was a historical figure, a Briton, who hailed not from England or Wales, as traditional wisdom would have it, but from Scotland.
Adam Ardrey brings back to life Merlin's role in the cataclysmic battles between reason and religion of sixth-century Britain - battles which Merlin would ultimately lose. From the time of his death up until the present day, historical records relating to Merlin have been altered, his true provenance and importance obscured and his name changed to mean 'Madman'. The same fate awaited Merlin's twin sister, Languoreth, as intelligent and powerful as her brother but, as a woman, a greater threat to the power of church and state. Languoreth's existence was all but obliterated and her story lost - until now.
Finding Merlin uncovers new evidence and re-examines the old. The places where Merlin was born, lived, died and was buried are identified, as well as the people surrounding him - his nemesis Mungo and his friend the hero Arthur. In this impressively well-researched and accessibly written book, Merlin walks from the pages of legend into history.
Adam Ardrey brings back to life Merlin's role in the cataclysmic battles between reason and religion of sixth-century Britain - battles which Merlin would ultimately lose. From the time of his death up until the present day, historical records relating to Merlin have been altered, his true provenance and importance obscured and his name changed to mean 'Madman'. The same fate awaited Merlin's twin sister, Languoreth, as intelligent and powerful as her brother but, as a woman, a greater threat to the power of church and state. Languoreth's existence was all but obliterated and her story lost - until now.
Finding Merlin uncovers new evidence and re-examines the old. The places where Merlin was born, lived, died and was buried are identified, as well as the people surrounding him - his nemesis Mungo and his friend the hero Arthur. In this impressively well-researched and accessibly written book, Merlin walks from the pages of legend into history.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
20 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 6, 2015
For starters, this book is in terrible need of an editor. (I'm looking at you Overlook. I will think thrice about ever reading another one of your publications.) I should have known that a book whose spine is misspelled on the dust jacket ("Finding Merln") is a sign of the (lack of) attention to detail inside. The book read more as an in-class essay exam where the student is word vomiting everything they can possibly remember about a subject with no chance of organizing said material. The chapters were all over the map and the content of the chapters was just as scattered. (Again, the fault of the editor and not the author.)
It should have been called "Finding Mungo and Other Key Players in Sixth-Century Legend." Merlin was only directly discussed for about 50-60 pages, Mungo for about 150, and Kings and other key players for the other 100.
Ardrey's premise behind the book of peeling back layers of history and legend to find the Druid Merlin was, and is still, promising. When Ardrey did discuss the practice of the old Celtic religion and how Merlin may have fit in, the material was quite good. The lack of training, however, is evident in the material he presents. Ardrey lacks a firm understanding of the medieval church, (but to be fair, so do a lot of people) and so much of his material on this subject is skewed.
The pedantic air in Ardrey's vocabulary was frustrating. The use of "obvious," "preposterous," and "ridiculous" lost him a lot of credibility. (To be fair, his use of linguistics was quite interesting for names.) Scholars have been researching the legend of Merlin for some time and I can't imagine that certain discoveries of his were so "obvious." He may truly be quite brilliant to discover certain connections but using the word "obvious" causes me to question them. And using the words "preposterous" and "ridiculous" only highlight the author's strong bias and not the intelligence of his sources. It seems unwise to call your sources morons. Using the word "unlikely" would have been less polarizing.
Again, had an editor seriously combed through Ardrey's work, it could have been rather enjoyable and interesting. Alas, it was not.
It should have been called "Finding Mungo and Other Key Players in Sixth-Century Legend." Merlin was only directly discussed for about 50-60 pages, Mungo for about 150, and Kings and other key players for the other 100.
Ardrey's premise behind the book of peeling back layers of history and legend to find the Druid Merlin was, and is still, promising. When Ardrey did discuss the practice of the old Celtic religion and how Merlin may have fit in, the material was quite good. The lack of training, however, is evident in the material he presents. Ardrey lacks a firm understanding of the medieval church, (but to be fair, so do a lot of people) and so much of his material on this subject is skewed.
The pedantic air in Ardrey's vocabulary was frustrating. The use of "obvious," "preposterous," and "ridiculous" lost him a lot of credibility. (To be fair, his use of linguistics was quite interesting for names.) Scholars have been researching the legend of Merlin for some time and I can't imagine that certain discoveries of his were so "obvious." He may truly be quite brilliant to discover certain connections but using the word "obvious" causes me to question them. And using the words "preposterous" and "ridiculous" only highlight the author's strong bias and not the intelligence of his sources. It seems unwise to call your sources morons. Using the word "unlikely" would have been less polarizing.
Again, had an editor seriously combed through Ardrey's work, it could have been rather enjoyable and interesting. Alas, it was not.
April 29, 2012
Let's start with the positive, shall we? On the plus side, I thought this book was researched on a very deep level and the writer truly put forth an effort to tell what he believes to be the truth. I admire the dedication that clearly went into the making of this book and the passion with which the writer tells us about this mysterious time in history.
Nonetheless, I thought that Adam Ardrey's elaboration on Merlin's nemesis, Mungo or St. Kentigern, came across as anti-Christian and felt rather over-powering. While Ardrey points out in the beginning that certainly not all Christians are extremist, power-hungry radicals like St. Kentigern and his followers, I think he should have mentioned that a few more times so that the reader wouldn't forget. I think he should have also pointed out that the Christian faith does not teach that we should act the way these "Christians" supposedly did.
The other thing I took issue with was how Ardrey painted Merlin and the other Druids as modern "men of science" and says that it was the superstitious Mungo Christians who associated sorcery with Merlin's name. Ardrey sort of neglects the fact that Druids were nature worshippers and would have believed in things like prophecy and the gift of foresight. Instead, the image he weaves is one of the Christian faith putting an end to science and learning. When in truth, it was not the Christian faith, but men who used the Christian faith as a route to power that brought about the Dark Ages.
This book told me about things I never knew about Merlin, but, I'm afraid to say, I'm not sure that this books tells the whole and complete story. The writer often makes what seem to me to be huge extrapolations from rather small bits of evidence and often seems to forget that sixth-century Britain was not quite as liberal as today. However, I'll let you decide for yourselves. I rated this book 3 stars because I respect the work that went into it, but I think it "takes sides" to an extreme.
Nonetheless, I thought that Adam Ardrey's elaboration on Merlin's nemesis, Mungo or St. Kentigern, came across as anti-Christian and felt rather over-powering. While Ardrey points out in the beginning that certainly not all Christians are extremist, power-hungry radicals like St. Kentigern and his followers, I think he should have mentioned that a few more times so that the reader wouldn't forget. I think he should have also pointed out that the Christian faith does not teach that we should act the way these "Christians" supposedly did.
The other thing I took issue with was how Ardrey painted Merlin and the other Druids as modern "men of science" and says that it was the superstitious Mungo Christians who associated sorcery with Merlin's name. Ardrey sort of neglects the fact that Druids were nature worshippers and would have believed in things like prophecy and the gift of foresight. Instead, the image he weaves is one of the Christian faith putting an end to science and learning. When in truth, it was not the Christian faith, but men who used the Christian faith as a route to power that brought about the Dark Ages.
This book told me about things I never knew about Merlin, but, I'm afraid to say, I'm not sure that this books tells the whole and complete story. The writer often makes what seem to me to be huge extrapolations from rather small bits of evidence and often seems to forget that sixth-century Britain was not quite as liberal as today. However, I'll let you decide for yourselves. I rated this book 3 stars because I respect the work that went into it, but I think it "takes sides" to an extreme.
March 7, 2014
If ever there were a more boringly written, scholastically shaky, self-agrandizing writer, I do not know who it might be.
To take a madly fascinating subject like the "true" history of the personage called Merlin, one must use the care and attention practiced by a truly good art restoration expert. You must strip away the veils of centuries of legend to dig for the truth...and basically, this guy doesn't bother.
The only reason I wrote this review was to warn off any potential readers -- save your time!!
To take a madly fascinating subject like the "true" history of the personage called Merlin, one must use the care and attention practiced by a truly good art restoration expert. You must strip away the veils of centuries of legend to dig for the truth...and basically, this guy doesn't bother.
The only reason I wrote this review was to warn off any potential readers -- save your time!!
January 10, 2019
I think he makes fairly good arguments. Despite what some critics have said, he does not present this a absolutely, definitely true. He is careful to use words like I think, its probable, etc. I think the real problem people had with this work is that he presented Merlin as anti-Christian. The response this book has gotten in the modern era does give validity to his argument that writers in the early middle ages had to code their works to present Christianity in a favorable light thus obscuring the true account of Merlin.
October 9, 2017
While Ardrey provides ample logical research regarding the life of Merlin and is certainly closer to actual history, I'll not give up the romantic version of him as a mentor and magician in the legend of King Arthur. I would not recommend this book to anyone who takes offense to reading about early Christian tyranny, especially those of Catholic faith.
May 26, 2022
I'm impressed at the sheet amount of research Ardrey, as an amateur historian, must have done to put so much detail into this. Not just the historical aspects, but the understanding of the Gaelic languages and Scottish placenames. It's clear throughout that he is intensely passionate about the subject and he does present a fascinating alternative into the story of Merlin with which we are familiar.
He theorises that Merlin, and his sister Langoueth are actually from Scotland. She becomes a queen and Merlin, rather than being the wizard of the tales, is a powerful Druid.
There is so much detail that I did at times find it tricky trying to follow, especially as I dipped into this over the course of a few weeks whilst also reading other books. I also had it on audiobook so it makes it more difficult to go back and reread passages or chapters to remind yourself who is who.
A variety of sources are used and quoted from, and Ardrey very much puts Merlin in context against the background of political and religious upheaval that was going on at the end of the Roman occupation of Britain, and before the Dark Ages set in. He decodes the writing of what would have primarily been Christian clerics who took pains to paint the church and their sponsors in a good light and prevent any light at all shining on the pre-Christian pagan religions that existed, and which struggled to continue against the spreading of the church's power. Merlin, as a Druid, is at the forefront of that struggle. He is described very much as a man of science and intellect, who clings fiercely to the religion of 'the old way'.
Merlin himself is only the direct focus of a part of the book, as the rest is devoted to putting together the context of the time he lived, and the people who existed around him, and also discussing his sister, as powerful and clever in her own right as her brother, but due to being a woman very much overlooked by history. St Mungo takes up probably more of the book than either of them in fact. So it's very much an all round historical journey of what was happening around the Scotland and Britain that Merlin lived in.
Some of what Ardrey surmised stretched belief somewhat, but I liked that he did offer an alternative and often less dusty scholarly point of view. Being an amateur rather than professional historian obviously gives him much more leeway to make claims based on fairly flimsy evidence, and he does sound biased at times, but it all helps to add to the atmosphere of the times he's describing. He reiterates the phrases 'if I'm right' and 'I believe' a lot, so reminding you that this is one man's interpretation, but it's compelling because of his passion for what he's talking about and the details he puts in regarding the locations he's discussing.
He theorises that Merlin, and his sister Langoueth are actually from Scotland. She becomes a queen and Merlin, rather than being the wizard of the tales, is a powerful Druid.
There is so much detail that I did at times find it tricky trying to follow, especially as I dipped into this over the course of a few weeks whilst also reading other books. I also had it on audiobook so it makes it more difficult to go back and reread passages or chapters to remind yourself who is who.
A variety of sources are used and quoted from, and Ardrey very much puts Merlin in context against the background of political and religious upheaval that was going on at the end of the Roman occupation of Britain, and before the Dark Ages set in. He decodes the writing of what would have primarily been Christian clerics who took pains to paint the church and their sponsors in a good light and prevent any light at all shining on the pre-Christian pagan religions that existed, and which struggled to continue against the spreading of the church's power. Merlin, as a Druid, is at the forefront of that struggle. He is described very much as a man of science and intellect, who clings fiercely to the religion of 'the old way'.
Merlin himself is only the direct focus of a part of the book, as the rest is devoted to putting together the context of the time he lived, and the people who existed around him, and also discussing his sister, as powerful and clever in her own right as her brother, but due to being a woman very much overlooked by history. St Mungo takes up probably more of the book than either of them in fact. So it's very much an all round historical journey of what was happening around the Scotland and Britain that Merlin lived in.
Some of what Ardrey surmised stretched belief somewhat, but I liked that he did offer an alternative and often less dusty scholarly point of view. Being an amateur rather than professional historian obviously gives him much more leeway to make claims based on fairly flimsy evidence, and he does sound biased at times, but it all helps to add to the atmosphere of the times he's describing. He reiterates the phrases 'if I'm right' and 'I believe' a lot, so reminding you that this is one man's interpretation, but it's compelling because of his passion for what he's talking about and the details he puts in regarding the locations he's discussing.
April 15, 2022
The concept for this book is interesting but the way it is written was hugely off putting for me.
The book begins explaining that this is the authors theory based on his own research but then from that point in he goes on to claim it as the only possible truth, attacking previous authors for their own theories. This overshadows the actual theory which is such a shame because there has clearly been a lot of time and dedication put into researching for this book.
It's a hard one to rate because based on information it's very good but the way that information is delivered is very arrogant. All books have mistakes and that's understandable and expected but I couldn't help noticing them more because the author presents in this rude way.
On too many occasions to list the author dismisses information claiming It's 'impossible' without really exploring it. It's clear that certain information just doesn't fit with his view and so he shuts it down immediately without allowing the reader to maybe form their own opinion. Similarly he takes barely there information and concocts elaborate stories to back it up. I've never actually experienced anything quite as bizarre when reading a book such as this. Very unusual and again makes the actual credible work look less than.
Considering the book is about Merlin, he isn't mentioned that much as the book progresses. The information shared is great but could have been separate books on separate people.
As a Pagan I found it embarrassing how aggressive toward Christianity the book is narrated. It's not just a document of historical facts, it's rather the authors distaste for Christianity is riddled throughout and gets worse as the book progresses.
Basic information about Druidry and Pagan practices were mixed up. At one point the author mentions the Summer and Winter equinoxes! Erm...🤔
I wouldn't 'not' recommend this book because it truly was interesting but I would warn whoever shows interest that you should go into it with an attitude to soak up the actual facts whilst being able to combat the array of strongly sprinkled opinions being served up as 'the only possible truth'.
The book begins explaining that this is the authors theory based on his own research but then from that point in he goes on to claim it as the only possible truth, attacking previous authors for their own theories. This overshadows the actual theory which is such a shame because there has clearly been a lot of time and dedication put into researching for this book.
It's a hard one to rate because based on information it's very good but the way that information is delivered is very arrogant. All books have mistakes and that's understandable and expected but I couldn't help noticing them more because the author presents in this rude way.
On too many occasions to list the author dismisses information claiming It's 'impossible' without really exploring it. It's clear that certain information just doesn't fit with his view and so he shuts it down immediately without allowing the reader to maybe form their own opinion. Similarly he takes barely there information and concocts elaborate stories to back it up. I've never actually experienced anything quite as bizarre when reading a book such as this. Very unusual and again makes the actual credible work look less than.
Considering the book is about Merlin, he isn't mentioned that much as the book progresses. The information shared is great but could have been separate books on separate people.
As a Pagan I found it embarrassing how aggressive toward Christianity the book is narrated. It's not just a document of historical facts, it's rather the authors distaste for Christianity is riddled throughout and gets worse as the book progresses.
Basic information about Druidry and Pagan practices were mixed up. At one point the author mentions the Summer and Winter equinoxes! Erm...🤔
I wouldn't 'not' recommend this book because it truly was interesting but I would warn whoever shows interest that you should go into it with an attitude to soak up the actual facts whilst being able to combat the array of strongly sprinkled opinions being served up as 'the only possible truth'.
October 30, 2019
Fact or fiction
I had this book thrust at me after I had just read about Atlantis the the Pyramids. Both interesting at times books but hard going, I was reluctant to read this one, I'm glad I did. True or not I don't know but it's well researched and well written. I learnt so much about the coming of Christianity and the Angles, the Picts and the Druids. While reading this book I could feel the authors passion and love of both the story and Scotland. It all fits together nicely and I want to believe he is right, although I am from the South of England I would rather Merlin be placed in Scotland if that's where he belongs. I really enjoyed this book and am now looking to reading Arthur, if and when it's written.
I had this book thrust at me after I had just read about Atlantis the the Pyramids. Both interesting at times books but hard going, I was reluctant to read this one, I'm glad I did. True or not I don't know but it's well researched and well written. I learnt so much about the coming of Christianity and the Angles, the Picts and the Druids. While reading this book I could feel the authors passion and love of both the story and Scotland. It all fits together nicely and I want to believe he is right, although I am from the South of England I would rather Merlin be placed in Scotland if that's where he belongs. I really enjoyed this book and am now looking to reading Arthur, if and when it's written.
March 20, 2020
This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know the real story behind Merlin. However, the best part is discovering Langoureth, Merlin's twin sister and a Queen of Scotland. Adam does an amazing job bringing together so many different source materials and making logical arguments for the real story of Merlin. Very readable. This book is also the jumping off point for the historical fiction trilogy The Lost Queen by Signe Pike, which focuses on Langoureth and is an excellent read as well.
December 10, 2021
Ardrey clearly loves his domain, which is admirable. There's a great amateur historian element to this, which I enjoy. But my word does he like taking big leaps from nothing. Merlin was a Scottish druid deliberately suppressed over the year because of cross-dressing are among some of the outlandish themes asserted. I'm all for exploration of Arthurian Legend and identifying inspirations from which they're drawn but this is a piece of legend-making itself and in that it is difficult to take seriously.
+2 stars if you're a fan of those History channel Alien documentaries but wasn't for me.
+2 stars if you're a fan of those History channel Alien documentaries but wasn't for me.
April 8, 2018
Fascinating read! While I don't take it as gospel truth, Adam Ardrey has certainly done his homework. Legends have to come from somewhere, and Ardrey makes an excellent case for the historical Merlin. The only reason I give this less than 5 stars is the author's placement of Merlin and the "old way" of the Druids on a pedestal, and his rather obvious contempt of Christianity. But, hey, its his book, and it isn't going to stop me from reading more of his books. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
January 27, 2020
I don't know whether Audrey's Merlin is the Merlin, but this book shows why we will probably never know for sure. It was really good at giving me an understanding of how "history" can change over time, and how. It was also good at showing how Christianity eliminated the competition. I had never heard of the battle of Arderydd before reading this.
September 26, 2022
Ardrey does a great job telling the truth about Merlin and his sister Languoreth. It is very fascinating!! Also he tells the truth about Christianity and its intolerance of science and other beliefs. No wonder there was the dark ages!!
May 5, 2017
This was a fascinating read. Well researched and detailed.
The author has a style that is light and communicates easily and holds interest.
I will follow his work after this.
The author has a style that is light and communicates easily and holds interest.
I will follow his work after this.
November 15, 2018
Fascinating book that places the Arthurian legends and Merlin in Scotland.
June 22, 2021
A very interesting and well researched book.
June 24, 2021
A very interesting account of Merlin's life. Also compelling suggestion of Merlin being Scottish.
January 13, 2022
Full of facts but its hard going
August 27, 2022
At the beginning the author points out problems about people inserting their own narratives on top of historical sources; he then proceeds to do this through much of the book.
February 26, 2025
This was clearly well researched and a passion project. But it veers from both academic work and a style trying to be fantasy style fiction at the same time with just jump assumptions by Ardrey.
January 15, 2023
also FUCK THE CHURCH
January 17, 2010
This is again a book I picked up at the agency. I wasn't sure what to expect, I wasn't even sure whether it was fiction or non fiction but, being the arthurian mythology lover that I am, I couldn't let this book pass by without at least giving it a look. Turns out it's non fiction and I did more than simply giving it a look. I read the whole thing.
This book did more than simply entertain my fascination about Merlin or Arthur. There's more in there than a mere retelling of all the myths and literature about those famous characters. It starts from there but it also deconstructs the various existing narratives about Merlin and Arthur, gives them a context and really tries to unearth the truth behind the lies.
If you go to the amazon page, you'll see that a lot of people are not too happy with Ardrey's new interpretation of history. For starters, according to Ardrey, Merlin and Arthur were Scotsmen (not Welsh, not English) and lived during the late sixth century. They were also men of the old way celtic ways and so they fought the Angles and the Saxons but they also fought the Christians and that explains the reasons why
Merlin was so often portrayed as a madman or a demon and Arthur preoccupied by the quest for Graal.
Ardrey sheds light on the old ways, the way sexuality, homosexuality and even tranvestism were perceived. Women were not seen as the creatures of temptation and deception that Christianity claimed them to be. It's fascinating to see and realize how much Christianity changed everything and, most often than not, for the worse. When you look at it, the reason why Christianity was embraced by most sovereigns (including King of Francs, Clovis) is because it completely squashed individuality, marginality and replaced it with blind obediance (I'm not setting on an anti-Christian quest here, I'm just saying that at the time, you weren't really asked whether you believed in God, you were forced to). People of the old ways who favored discussions, arguments and couldn't agree on anything didn't really stand of chance. When you look at it, living conditions during the old ways were much more in accordance with nature and human nature in general.
This really struck a chord because I'm all about alternative models of society. I can't understand how we came to be as close-minded as we are and this helped me understand. I can't figure out why we ever thought that spending most of your life working and not with your loved one could ever be a good thing. Society as it is doesn't give you time to develop and grow as an individual and why should it? It's far more content with letting you become a sheep whose only source of information is TV propaganda and is unable to think for itself. Bitter, much? Just a bit... back to the book.
I understand writers who say they find more inspiration in non fiction than in fiction and more essentially history books. Whether Finding Merlin is historically accurate I don't know and quite frankly I don't care. The research and the methodology appeared solid enough for me but hey, I'm no sixth century expert. I know this book dug up some amazing characters for me, namely Languoreth, Merlin's twin sister who was also Queen of Scotland (married to a possibly gay king), played a huge part in the country's history and was contemporary to the greatest figures of the period (Arthur, Merlin, Mordred, Mungo, etc.). There's story to be told here. It tells a lot about Christianity when such a great and powerful woman is simply remembered as an adulteress.
A highly recommended read for both amateurs of arthurian myths and history in general. Ardrey has done a considerable amount of research and crosses results in various fields of study including geography, linguistics and of course, history.
Finding Arthur: The Once and Future King came out in April 2009. Finding Camelot is planned though no release date is available yet. I'm eager to read both.
This book did more than simply entertain my fascination about Merlin or Arthur. There's more in there than a mere retelling of all the myths and literature about those famous characters. It starts from there but it also deconstructs the various existing narratives about Merlin and Arthur, gives them a context and really tries to unearth the truth behind the lies.
If you go to the amazon page, you'll see that a lot of people are not too happy with Ardrey's new interpretation of history. For starters, according to Ardrey, Merlin and Arthur were Scotsmen (not Welsh, not English) and lived during the late sixth century. They were also men of the old way celtic ways and so they fought the Angles and the Saxons but they also fought the Christians and that explains the reasons why
Merlin was so often portrayed as a madman or a demon and Arthur preoccupied by the quest for Graal.
Ardrey sheds light on the old ways, the way sexuality, homosexuality and even tranvestism were perceived. Women were not seen as the creatures of temptation and deception that Christianity claimed them to be. It's fascinating to see and realize how much Christianity changed everything and, most often than not, for the worse. When you look at it, the reason why Christianity was embraced by most sovereigns (including King of Francs, Clovis) is because it completely squashed individuality, marginality and replaced it with blind obediance (I'm not setting on an anti-Christian quest here, I'm just saying that at the time, you weren't really asked whether you believed in God, you were forced to). People of the old ways who favored discussions, arguments and couldn't agree on anything didn't really stand of chance. When you look at it, living conditions during the old ways were much more in accordance with nature and human nature in general.
This really struck a chord because I'm all about alternative models of society. I can't understand how we came to be as close-minded as we are and this helped me understand. I can't figure out why we ever thought that spending most of your life working and not with your loved one could ever be a good thing. Society as it is doesn't give you time to develop and grow as an individual and why should it? It's far more content with letting you become a sheep whose only source of information is TV propaganda and is unable to think for itself. Bitter, much? Just a bit... back to the book.
I understand writers who say they find more inspiration in non fiction than in fiction and more essentially history books. Whether Finding Merlin is historically accurate I don't know and quite frankly I don't care. The research and the methodology appeared solid enough for me but hey, I'm no sixth century expert. I know this book dug up some amazing characters for me, namely Languoreth, Merlin's twin sister who was also Queen of Scotland (married to a possibly gay king), played a huge part in the country's history and was contemporary to the greatest figures of the period (Arthur, Merlin, Mordred, Mungo, etc.). There's story to be told here. It tells a lot about Christianity when such a great and powerful woman is simply remembered as an adulteress.
A highly recommended read for both amateurs of arthurian myths and history in general. Ardrey has done a considerable amount of research and crosses results in various fields of study including geography, linguistics and of course, history.
Finding Arthur: The Once and Future King came out in April 2009. Finding Camelot is planned though no release date is available yet. I'm eager to read both.
March 9, 2017
An interesting look at Celtic and British Myths and Legends to name Merlin as a man who was a Druid and lived in ancient times.
August 21, 2014
Merlin: the very name summons up images of the wizard of Camelot—magician, prophet, and counselor to Arthur. The legend is famous but the truth is less well known: Merlin was a real historical figure, a champion of the old way of the Druids, a British man who hailed not from England or Wales, as traditional wisdom would have it, but from Scotland.
Adam Ardrey, who stumbled upon some of the hidden sources of Merlin’s life while researching the history of a Scottish clan, offers compelling evidence that links a very real Merlin figure into the histories of other real and prominent 6th century figures. Ardrey brings back to life Merlin’s role in the cataclysmic battles between reason and religion in 6th century Britain—battles that Merlin would ultimately lose. From the time of his death up until the present day, historical records relating to Merlin have been suppressed or altered by Christian writers, his true provenance and importance obscured, and his real power and influence undermined by slurs that he was a madman. Meanwhile, Merlin’s twin sister, Languoreth, as intelligent and powerful as her brother but, as a woman, a greater threat to the power of church and state, was all but written out of history. Languoreth’s existence was practically obliterated and her story lost—until now.
Finding Merlin uncovers new evidence and re-examines the old. The places where Merlin was born, lived, died, and was buried are identified, as are the people surrounding him—his nemesis, the fanatic Mungo, and his friend, the hero Arthur. In this impressively researched and accessibly written book, Merlin walks from the pages of legend into history.
Adam Ardrey, who stumbled upon some of the hidden sources of Merlin’s life while researching the history of a Scottish clan, offers compelling evidence that links a very real Merlin figure into the histories of other real and prominent 6th century figures. Ardrey brings back to life Merlin’s role in the cataclysmic battles between reason and religion in 6th century Britain—battles that Merlin would ultimately lose. From the time of his death up until the present day, historical records relating to Merlin have been suppressed or altered by Christian writers, his true provenance and importance obscured, and his real power and influence undermined by slurs that he was a madman. Meanwhile, Merlin’s twin sister, Languoreth, as intelligent and powerful as her brother but, as a woman, a greater threat to the power of church and state, was all but written out of history. Languoreth’s existence was practically obliterated and her story lost—until now.
Finding Merlin uncovers new evidence and re-examines the old. The places where Merlin was born, lived, died, and was buried are identified, as are the people surrounding him—his nemesis, the fanatic Mungo, and his friend, the hero Arthur. In this impressively researched and accessibly written book, Merlin walks from the pages of legend into history.
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August 19, 2025“The oldest southern British record of the name Merlin is in an entry in the Annales Cambriae for the year 573, which reads, “The battle of Arderydd between the sons of Eliffer and Gwenddoleu, son of Ceidio; in which Gwenddoleu fell. Merlin went mad.” p. 14
“Five minutes later, we were on a bridge high above the fast flowing River Avon. Although we were less than a mile from the M74 motorway, the main road to England, and in the heart of industrial Lanarkshore, all was quiet except for the noise of the water. There were tres all around us, and across the river, on the edge of the gorge, Cadzow Castle. It was east to imagine the fortress that had stood there in the time of Merlin. The river was the same river. The trees descendants of the trees he would have seen. There would have been no high bridge in the sixth century, but perhaps, the river the die that lay below would have been there when Merlin and Langoureth were children, playing on the banks of the river.”
p.40
“A life of learning cannot be beaten into a child, because it comes from within; it can, however, be beaten out, or left to wither, it isis not encouraged.” p. 89
“Five minutes later, we were on a bridge high above the fast flowing River Avon. Although we were less than a mile from the M74 motorway, the main road to England, and in the heart of industrial Lanarkshore, all was quiet except for the noise of the water. There were tres all around us, and across the river, on the edge of the gorge, Cadzow Castle. It was east to imagine the fortress that had stood there in the time of Merlin. The river was the same river. The trees descendants of the trees he would have seen. There would have been no high bridge in the sixth century, but perhaps, the river the die that lay below would have been there when Merlin and Langoureth were children, playing on the banks of the river.”
p.40
“A life of learning cannot be beaten into a child, because it comes from within; it can, however, be beaten out, or left to wither, it isis not encouraged.” p. 89
June 15, 2014
After reading this book I see there is much misinformation regarding the last great Druid of the old ways. His purpose was to defend the old way of life, before the advance of Christianity and the Anglo-Saxons into Britain. Granted the book is written from author Adam Ardrey's researched perspective, but he is a scholar with access to numerous old texts and historical records, and has gone to great lengths--at times on foot--to traverse the ancient lands of the ancient Celtic Druids and uncover some of its mysteries and history. One might surmise after reading this book that Merlin has been given a bad rap, that the old history books have tried to smear his name in support of their own Christian ideology. Merlin today is assimilated into an English myth of King Arthur (topic of his next book) and the knights of the round table as a wild man of the woods, half mad, when in fact Merlin was akin to a general of sorts, a leader in a time of great upheaval trying to hold onto what was, lest it be swoon, back in the 6th century.
March 24, 2013
In "Finding Merlin", Ardrey sets out to uncover the "real" Merlin as an Old Religion (Druid) leader in Scotland who fought against Mungo (St. of Glasgow) who represented the new and Roman Christianity.
I get that Merlin could be real, could have been in Scotland, fought there and died there, but Ardrey investigate style is to point to contemporary and later historical accounts and stories where they fit his theory and literally call other parts of them "preposterous".
There are times when he verges on nutter logic - the old story says there's a hill, and there's a hill, so that must be the hill where he died!
Perhaps he needed more corroboration and a more balanced review of the literature.
Regardless, this story he writes would probably make for a decent tv show.
I get that Merlin could be real, could have been in Scotland, fought there and died there, but Ardrey investigate style is to point to contemporary and later historical accounts and stories where they fit his theory and literally call other parts of them "preposterous".
There are times when he verges on nutter logic - the old story says there's a hill, and there's a hill, so that must be the hill where he died!
Perhaps he needed more corroboration and a more balanced review of the literature.
Regardless, this story he writes would probably make for a decent tv show.
April 28, 2012
I have always loved the story of King Arthur and especially of Merlin. This book is my first reading of what could be the actual history of those two men. I appreciate the fact that the author understands that there are many different theories out there about who Merlin and Arthur actually are. He says often that "if he is right..." and I appreciated that fact. They would not be an easy couple to follow as so much of that time has been lost and we have to go on legends alone almost.
Overall, the book was well written and kept my interest the entire time. I look forward to reading his Finding Arthur book as well.
Overall, the book was well written and kept my interest the entire time. I look forward to reading his Finding Arthur book as well.
December 18, 2009
The writer makes an argument that Arthur and Merlin where 7th century figures in Northern England and that Merlin was a Druid. Some of the story is conveluted like how the name Merlin is actually the historical figure of Luiguinani (or some such), but because he was mad, and the french word for mad was, and the last portion in arabic means, etc. The basic struggle for church control of England during the time of the Angles invading from Europe is more facinating than is the subject of who Merlin is.
March 13, 2012
This book explores facts behind the legends of Merlin and Arthur. He is excellent at peeling away 1500 years of religious censorship and propaganda. He places Merlin, a real person, in Scotland.
I truly enjoy this book. The author is easy to read and good at siting his sources. I recommend it to all druids and anyone interested in celtic culture.
I read it about 1 year ago, and am currently re-reading it. The author has a new website up
http://www.Finding-merlin.com and is open to discussion. He lives in Scotland and is politically active.
I truly enjoy this book. The author is easy to read and good at siting his sources. I recommend it to all druids and anyone interested in celtic culture.
I read it about 1 year ago, and am currently re-reading it. The author has a new website up
http://www.Finding-merlin.com and is open to discussion. He lives in Scotland and is politically active.
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