The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well (Joan of Arc Tapestries, Book 1) - Softcover

Chamberlin, Ann

3.27

44 ratings by Goodreads

9780312875916: The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well (Joan of Arc Tapestries, Book 1)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312875916 ISBN 13: 9780312875916

Publisher: Tor Books, 2000

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In the bestselling tradition of The Mists of Avalon, a powerful retelling of the legend of Joan of Arc!

For close to six hundred years, the world has been fascinated by the true story of Joan of Arc. The saga of her rise from obscurity to lead the armies of France, followed by her tragic martyrdom, has inspired many books, plays, and films.

Less well known is the fact that Joan's astounding destiny was predicted by ancient prophecies attributed to none other than Merlin himself. Or that Joan, later canonized by the Church as a saint, may have been a practioner of an even older religion: the ancient pagan ways that predated Christianity throughout Europe.

The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is a stunning historical fantasy, based on actual events, that casts Joan and her times in a revealing new light.

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Review:

The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is Book One of the Joan of Arc Tapestries--a new series in what you'd think would be a crowded fantasy subgenre. Surprisingly, fantastic treatments of this famous historical figure are pretty much confined to film. And Joan of Arc isn't actually a character in this book. The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is a St. Joan novel in the same sense that Mary Stewart's classic The Crystal Cave is an Arthurian novel: both depict the early lives of the men and women (mostly men) who will foretell, instruct, and inspire the pivotal character appearing later in the series. Both novels also draw on Breton elements of the Arthurian mythos.

Set in the early 1400s, The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well portrays the origins of Jean Le Drapier, a maimed Breton with powers that may rival Merlin's, and Gilles de Rais, the French nobleman who will one day fight heroically beside Joan and commit the sadistic murders that spawned the Bluebeard legend. The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well also depicts the deadly political struggles between the king and lords of France and (with far less historical basis) between the powerful Christian church and a coexisting underground Celtic paganism. This novel may annoy historical-fiction readers who demand characters with pure period mindsets, but it will please many fans of high fantasy, historical fantasy, alternate history, secret history, and Arthurian fiction. --Cynthia Ward

About the Author:

Ann Chamberlin is the author of such acclaimed historical novels Sofia, The Sultan's Daughter, and The Reign of the Favored Women. The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is her first fantasy. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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