Book 1

The Crystal Cave

by Mary Stewart

Published 1 January 1974
Fifth century Britain is a country in chaos and division after the Roman withdrawal. This is Merlin's world - the illegitimate son of a South Wales princess - he is aware of the gift of "the sight". The other books in this trilogy include "The Hollow Hills" and "The Last Enchantment".

Book 2

The Hollow Hills

by Mary Stewart

Published 1 January 1973

The countryside of England and Wales in the Dark Ages forms an almost tangible background to this wonderfully and powerfully realised picture of an ancestral hero coming to manhood. The Hollow Hills is the brilliant portrayal of the young Arthur from his birth to accession to the throne of Britain. And behind and around him is the strong, yet vulnerable figure of Merlin who sees and knows so much but is powerless to prevent the strife and violence of his turbulent times.



The Hollow Hills was first published in 1973 and tells the story of Merlin's guardianship of Arthur. He leads Arthur to the sword that tests his claim to power and the crown.


Book 3

The Last Enchantment

by Mary Stewart

Published 1 June 1979
With the great sword Caliburn in his hand and Merlin the enchanter at his side, Arthur comes out of hiding to claim the crown he was born to wear. Merlin, Arthur's protector, sees the glories and horrors that await the new king . . . and to save him Merlin musters all his power to weave one last enchantment. He is showing signs of age and he gradually realises he is losing his powers of prophecy and clairvoyance to a younger generation. But he is able to accept this because he knows that they will be at the service of his beloved monarch whose fabled victories, marriage and the building of Camelot shine through these pages.

Book 4

The Wicked Day

by Mary Stewart

Published 24 January 1984

Mordred is the son of King Arthur, bastard child of his union with his half-sister Morgause. Prophesied by Merlin to kill Arthur, Mordred is stolen away from his mother and raised in secrecy by a kind couple on an isolated Orkney island in the hopes that he will defy his fate.

Mordred, known to history as a traitor and a murderer, is no villain, but a quick-witted young man, with hopes and dreams of his own. But try as he might, Mordred cannot escape Merlin's prophecy.

For his mother, Morgause, has plans of her own. She tracks her son down and takes him back, then feeds the flames of Mordred's ambition, setting into motion a chain of events that will go down in history - and legend - as father and son are finally forced to confront each other one last time: on the wicked day of destiny, when Arthur's final battle will be fought.

Mary Stewart's stunning Arthurian Saga began with The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills, The Last Enchantment and The Wicked Day. It concludes with The Prince & the Pilgrim.


Book 5

The Prince and the Pilgrim

by Mary Stewart

Published 15 November 1995
Alexander, nephew of the murderous King March of Cornwall, seeks to avenge his father, but falls under the sinister spell of Morgan le Fay at the Dark Tower. Alice, daughter of one of Arthur's knights, travels on pilgrimages with her father to the Holy Land and France, and brings a holy grail back to Britain. One day she meets Alexander . . .