Wizards and Jesters

The Quest for Merlin, by Nikolai Tolstoy

Nikolai is the grandnephew of Leo Tolstoy (if that means anything; it is a bit of trivia), and he published this deeply scholarly examination of the Merlin legend, its development and history, in 1985. I pounced upon it, as I love anything about Merlin. From the question of whether there was a historical Merlin to the cultural impact that the figure of Merlin has had, this is very thoroughly researched and does not skip or skimp on sources. The first academic book I ever found completely dedicated to the wizard.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: History. Literary. Softcover.

Merlin, by Norma Lorre Goodrich

Goodrich had already written many books on medieval literature when she started producing her books on Arthurian legend. There are two or three others in this series, but “Merlin” is the only one I had to have. I don’t want to go into her theories or conclusions or their validity; I got it just to read about Merlin, his age, and the early sources.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Legend. History. Softcover.

Merlin: The Prophet and His History, by Geoffrey Ashe

Ashe was the Arthurian scholar when I was high school and I read a couple of his books there. This is his book concentrating on Merlin. 2006. He comes to the conclusion that of all the figures in the Matter of Britain, Merlin is the one character that has the most chance of having been a real historical person. Contains the usual look at the impact he has had on literature and art.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Legend. History. Literature. Hardback.

Merlin: Shaman, Prophet, Magician, by John Matthews

A popular culture, as opposed to a scholarly, book about the wizard. Full of color reproductions of works of art and movie stills. Nice to look at.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Legend. Hardback.

Merlin and the Dragons of Atlantis, by Rita and Tim Hildebrandt.

Lord, it’s not good. It’s even less good than Urshurak, because it doesn’t have color pictures (except for the cover), and Tim’s black-and-white illustrations are rather cold and stark. The story (probably penned by Rita) is not a writerly story, but seems to be developed as a template or suggestion for a movie, perhaps a lesser Harryhausen. Still, Hildebrandt.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Fantasy. Novel. Hardback

OJRIL – The Completely Incomplete Graham Chapman, by Graham Chapman, Edited by Jim Yoakum.

“Unpublished scripts from Monty Python’s pipe-smoking genius.” Foreword by Eric Idle. Hilarious, especially “Jake’s Journey” which was to be the pilot for a proposed series in the late 80’s about a boy who travels between the real world and others as a squire to a knight (played by Chapman). Comedy and fantasy. It wasn’t quite understood by producers at the time.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Scripts. Comedy. Softcover.

The Book of Sequels, by Henry Beard, Christopher Cerf, Sarah Durkee, and Sean Kelly.

“In One Lavishly Illustrated Volume: Remakes, Updates, and Spin-Offs of the World’s Best-Loved Masterpieces!” Parodies of the Classics packaged as if for modern marketing. How can you explain humor – except to say this is one of the funniest books I ever read, especially since it basically predicted the re-hashing sequelitis that has come to plague popular culture.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Humor. Softcover.

Cvltvre Made Stvpid, Written and Illustrated by Tom Weller.

“A Misguided Tour of Illiterature, Fine & Dandy Arts, and the Subhumanities.” Hard to describe the charm of this book; it is a constant barrage of puns and parodies, that build up into such a wave of affectionate satire on the sacred cows of our culture that you can only marvel as you laugh at the laugh-a-minute delivery.

Ranking: Hi-larious!

File Code: Humor. Parody. Softcover.

Leonardo's Notebooks, by Leonardo Da Vinci (Edited by H. Anna Suh)

A huge art book, a present from Susan and Andy, and so complete as to replace all the other Leonardo art books I used to own. My obsession with the man began with a PBS series (which I now own on VHS) back in middle school: “The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci”.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Art. Hardback.

The Age of the Renaissance, by Denys Hay, Editor.

Perhaps the biggest book I own, and one of my favorites from high school. Full of color reproductions and woodcut drawings, a great and grand pageant displaying all the works and discoveries and scholarship of that great epoch. I got this copy at Half-Price. [My copy doesn't have the cover, but I wanted to show it.]

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: History. Art. Hardback (and how!)