The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well

by Ann Chamberlin

Overview

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.



At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466838246
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	11/04/2000
Series:	Joan of Arc , #1
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	1 MB

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.

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.

What People are Saying About This

Diana Gabaldon

Wonderful! Every word is-literally-magic, evoking another world, an older time-and the echoes of the Old Ways that live on in us, unseen.

Editorial Reviews

A rich weaving of fantastic elements with accurate historical detail and imaginative reinterpretation, this series launch covers the years 1404-1415. Yann, a Breton merchant's three-year-old son prone to fits and visions, is accidentally wounded with an arrow lofted by Sire Guy de Rais near the shrine of St. Gilles. The Hermit of St. Gilles, a clandestine practitioner of the pagan Old Religion, saves the child's life and recognizes his prophetic/clairvoyant gift. Yann's mother, Gulliamette, becomes the confidante of Madame Marie de Rais and wet nurse to Marie's son Gilles, while Yann is raised with the young lord. Guided by the Hermit and Michel, another Master of the magical almost-forgotten ways, Yann has a vision that France's salvation lies in the form of La Pucelle, an as-yet-unborn maid from Lorraine, whom he must someday assist. As Yann is trained to use his Sight, Gilles, destined to be a warrior, is also introduced to the old beliefs. Both must play a role in trying to bring balance to their land and people, a balance that requires sacrifice. The underlying theme--that good and evil are a jumble and for every dazzle there must be a shadow--should prove particularly intriguing as future volumes elaborate more of this fictional version of the historical lives of Joan of Arc and the much-maligned Gilles de Rais, as well as of the imaginary but compelling Yann. Though this volume bogs down in a predictable pagan ritual, then comes rapidly to a stopping point, it offers an expertly tailored historic setting and plausible extrapolation to support sound storytelling. Obviously meant to represent an alternative to standard history and religion, to challenge perceptions of gender roles and to comment by analogy upon modern equivalents of witch-hunting, demon seeking, hypocrisy and ignorant condemnation, this first fantasy from the author of several well-received historicals, including Sofia, the Sultan's Daughter, edifies as it entertains. (Sept.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

First historical fantasy from Chamberlin (The Sultan's Daughter, 1997, etc.). In early 15th-century France, Guy de Rais hunts deer in the vicinity of St. Gilles' Well, even though it's taboo. Instead of his quarry, Rais's arrow strikes three-year-old peasant boy and narrator Yann—he's subject to fits and visions—with a wound that cripples the child's hand. The shrine's hermit, a secret practitioner of Merlin's magic-infused Old Religion, orders Rais to raise and educate Yann as his own. Later, Yann's mother wet-nurses Rais's son Gilles. Tutored by the hermit, Yann foresees the advent of France's salvation, Joan of Arc, and, clairvoyantly, observes the murder of the Duke of Orléans by the Duke of Burgundy: a treacherous act that precipitates civil war. The king is powerless to intervene: an adherent of the Old Religion, Charles swore to sacrifice himself if required, but then balked and was driven mad. Eventually, when Yann and Gilles are initiated into the ancient mysteries, Gilles ("bluebeard") tattoos his chin blue. But during the orgiastic midsummer fertility rites, straitlaced Guy de Rais and his henchmen attack the celebrants and grievously wound the hermit. Yann curses the perpetrators (all will die within months) and prophesies the extinction of the house of Rais (Gilles, though, survives, ready to assist Joan of Arc). Finally, Yann inherits the shrine from the hermit. Persuasive fantasy elements are seamlessly integrated into a richly detailed historical backdrop: a compelling series opener.

Kirkus Reviews