Merlin: Knowledge and Power through the Ages

by Stephen Knight

Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, has been a source of enduring fascination for centuries. In this authoritative, entertaining, and generously illustrated book, Stephen Knight traces the myth of Merlin back to its earliest roots in the early Welsh figure of Myrddin. He then follows Merlin as he is imagined and reimagined through centuries of literature and art, beginning with Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose immensely popular History of the Kings of Britain (1138) transmitted the story of Merlin to Europe at large. He covers French and German as well as Anglophone elements of the myth and brings the story up to the present with discussions of a globalized Merlin who finds his way into popular literature, film, television, and New Age philosophy. Knight argues that Merlin in all his guises represents a conflict basic to Western societies-the clash between knowledge and power. While the Merlin story varies over time, the underlying structural tension remains the same whether it takes the form of bard versus lord, magician versus monarch, scientist versus capitalist, or academic versus politician. As Knight sees it, Merlin embodies the contentious duality inherent to organized societies. In tracing the applied meanings of knowledge in a range of social contexts, Knight reveals the four main stages of the Merlin myth: Wisdom (early Celtic British), Advice (medieval European), Cleverness (early modern English), and Education (worldwide since the nineteenth century). If a wizard can be captured within the pages of a book, Knight has accomplished the feat.

Genres: Arthurian, Nonfiction, History, Medieval

296 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

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Stephen Knight - Thrillers

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've only managed to read this in brief, as I'm not thinking of writing an essay on Merlin -- an elusive figure at best in the texts I've been reading for my course -- but it's a good reference for most Merlin material, including the pre-Galfridian sources. Stephen Knight writes clearly and cogently, as always.

The book itself is pretty appealing, as well -- it includes lots of images, and plenty of quotes, so it isn't endlessly referring to material outside itself which the reader may or may not have. Stephen was very good at contextualising what he was talking about here.

[Eyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well researched and well thought out account for Merlin through the ages, explained within the context of knowledge and power being contested ideologies. Stephen Knight clearly knows what he is talking about to compile this incredibly useful and academic text, but it was also approachable and understandable, written so that even non-Arthurian scholars could read and understand what is going on here.

[Sarah Fournier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Knight goes alot furthur into his examination of Merlin than other books I read. Published in 2009, he has added more information to the study.

I only read the first 40 pages, doing research on the early Welsh character Myrddin, pre-Geoffrey of Monmouth. His book was very useful.