Merlin

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
  
                                                                        
                                                                             

A bestselling author and professor brings the historical figure of Merlin to life--the Merlin who prophesied his own death and was a counselor to kings as well as a scientist, humanist, and man of mystery. 

                                                       

From Library Journal

Goodrich identifies Merlin with the St. Dubricius who controlled vast lands in 6th-century Wales and founded a monastic university. She has freshly translated from the Latin Geoffrey of Monmouth's "Merlin's Prophecy" and interpreted its veiled phrases as a history of King Arthur's wars. The maps, chronologies, and bibliographical annotations are illuminating, but the text resembles notes rather than a thoroughly digested work. Those not put off by Goodrich's mixture of naivete and breathless scholarship, and who liked her King Arthur ( LJ 2/1/86), may be able to appreciate it. General readers are better advised to start with Nikolai Tolstoi's The Quest for Merlin ( LJ 8/85) or the various Arthurian books by Geoffrey Ashe. Barbara J. Dunlap, City Coll. Lib., CUNY Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. 
  
 

AMAZON reviews:

"Forget what you thought you knew about Arthur, Guenevere, and Merlin. It's wrong. Read these three books by Goodrich and discover that once again reality is far better than the myth."  Wayne S.  February 2015


"This is not what I think most people would call a "summer read", but if you're willing to wade through copious footnotes and rigorous, meticulous research, you'll definitely be rewarded. The Man surpasses the Myth!" -Amazon Customer

"This was wonderfully informative and creative resource. Sure there were some awkward grammar spots, but it didn't take away from the content. It combines and compares numerous historical accounts of Merlin and present it neatly in a well calculated timeline. Beautifully presented-- an engaging text book type resource." Aspen M. November 2014


"Merlin is the second book by Goodrich that I've read. Ms. Goodrich's writing is intelligent and impressive. It's interesting to read a book that considers the Arthurian legend to be a historical reality, and Ms. Goodrich comes up with lots of evidence to back up her claims. The best part of this book, in my opinion, is "The Prophecy of Merlin" and the author's explanation of it. Merlin must have lived! Reading this book made me a believer." -Marcie, Pittsburgh, PA


"An excellent exploration to find the historical Merlin. I like Norma Goodrich. She is a lively writer who follows where the history takes her. I've read too many history based books where an author will bend time, space and reason to fit the theory. Norma sets out on a quest and begins with a theory and sometimes finds that historical documentation, geography, etc takes her somewhere beyond the theory so she follows the leads to where they go rather than BSing her way through." -A reader (June 2012) at goodreads.com



"This work from Dr. Goodrich was the first of her books I've read. If you're looking for a piece of historical fiction, this isn't it.
On the other hand, the author using her command of Medieval languages has opened up some volumes of historical fiction/prose which were once accounted "romances" by the European courtesans. Cooincidentally, much of what we
consider "Arthurian" literature falls into this category. The genius of Dr. Goodrich in recounting some of the geographical details and old world customs of social-enumeration/entitlement, gives the reader of this biography a lively sense of the role of the character in life. The people of the past were not bound, according to her telling to simply a "name" + "surname" sort of scheme as we know our families in today's world. Rather, the people of history who became legendary took to themselves multiple titles in their routines and associations which asserted their experiences or higher social associations much like we confer the titles of rank and courtship and educational status today. (ie. Dr, Esquire, Senator, Professor, etc.)  The character of Merlin seems to have carried a variety of titles bequeathed by the Celtic/Britons and Roman/Christians of the 5th century A.D. This author explores some of the meanings of these titles and associations. She also recounts the details of her visits in search of historically mentioned sites in this book and also her work on "Arthur."  A review of the book isn't the place to expound all the implications of the characters and characteristics associated with Merlin. But for my part, I appreciate the references included in this book wherein I've even found the earliest known Arthurian tale. I bought that book from Amazon but they've lost the note of it. If you buy "Merlin," by Dr. Goodrich, then you'll find  (if you don't already know) what story that is." -E.Hansen, Mojave Desert, CA 



An excellent writer who bases her beliefs with carefully gathered I historical data. Reads like a textbook, and at that level, it is nicely done. To the skeptics of Camelot and the Arthurian legend........ you have to take a leap of faith occasionally. Some could argue that it is just a revisionists perception of an historical possibility; however, we all bring our own thoughts and prejudices to each new read and often a book read at the age of twenty something takes on a new meaning at forty something. -Reyannan (April 2013) at goodreads.com






                                                                            

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