MERLIN THE WIZARD

retold by Ann Lawrence, illustrated by Susan Hunter

Published by Methuen Children's Books       ISBN 0-416-961-0-1       Price £2.50

Some thought and care should be given to the choice of books to be read by, or to, children. Too many people are content to abandon their own judgement in favour of that of the media planners. To just allow our children to be saturated by American influences, or in other ways not to analyse the values and political content of such works before feeding them to our children is lazy, irresponsible and wrong. All culture is value laden... If not our values, then whose?

With this in mind I have no hesitation in recommending Merlin the Wizard. The Legend of Merlin and King Arthur is a complex one which speaks on many levels, but here it is told simply and directly; the story is enhanceded by very beautiful illustrations which are sure to fire the imagination of a child and transport him or her back to a time when magic was accepted as a natural part of reality. The book ends with these words concerning Merlin:--

It is said that he still sleeps, watched by Niniane, in his invisible tower;
but that when Arthur wakes, he too will return to help his country in its greatest need...

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