All the places I describe are authentic, with no significant exceptions but the cave of Galapas—and if Merlin is indeed sleeping there “with all his fires and travelling glories around him”, one would expect it to be invisible. But the well is there on Bryn Myrddin, and there is a burial mound on the crest of the hill.

It would seem that the name “merlin” was not recorded for the falcon columbarius until mediaeval times, and the word is possibly French; but its derivation is uncertain, and this was sufficient excuse for a writer whose imagination had already woven a series of images from the name before the book was even begun.

Where Merlin refers to the potter’s mark A.M., the A would be the potter’s initial or trade mark; the M stands for Manu, literally “by the hand of”.

The relationship between Merlin and Ambrosius has (I believe) no basis in legend. A ninth century historian, Nennius, from whom Geoffrey took some of his material, called his prophet “Ambrosius”. Nennius told the story of the dragons in the pool, and the young seer’s first recorded prophecy. Geoffrey, borrowing the story, calmly equates the two prophets: “Then saith Merlin, that is also called Ambrosius . . .” This throwaway piece of “nerve”, as Professor Gwyn Jones calls it,5 gave me the idea of identifying the “prince of darkness” who fathered Merlin—gave me, indeed, the main plot of The Crystal Cave.

My greatest debt is obviously to Geoffrey of Monmouth, master of romance. Among other creditors too numerous to name and impossible to repay, I should like especially to thank Mr. Francis Jones, County Archivist, Carmarthen; Mr. and Mrs. Morris of Bryn Myrddin, Carmarthen; Mr. G. B. Lancashire of The Chase Hotel, Ross-on-Wye; Brigadier R. Waller, of Wyaston Leys, Monmouthshire, on whose land lie Lesser Doward and the Romans’ Way; Professor Hermann Brück, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, and Mrs. Brück; Professor Stuart Piggott of the Department of Archaeology at Edinburgh University; Miss Elizabeth Manners, Headmistress of Felixstowe College; and Mr. Robin Denniston, of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., London.

M.S.

February 1968—February 1970

ENDNOTES

1. dd is pronounced th as in thus. Myrddin is, roughly, Murthin. Caer-Myrddin is the modern Carmarthen.

2. Or possibly Breton.

3. So fontes galabes is sometimes translated.

4. Bede, the 7th C. historian, calls him “Ambrosius, a Roman.” (Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation.)

5. Introduction to the Everyman ed. of History of the Kings of Britain.

Immediately on publication the hardcover edition of The Crystal Cave became a bestseller on both sides of the Atlantic. Holding the coveted Number 1 position for week after week, it outsold her previous bestsellers by many thousands of copies. Here is a selection of the reviews which greeted British publication:

‘Mary Stewart brilliantly re-creates Britain of the 5th Century.’

Books and Bookmen

‘. . . one need hardly add, a good professional read’

Guardian

‘Her best book to date’

Birmingham Evening Mail