Being the Arthurian freak that I am, I could not help picking up Merlin’s Book of Magick and Enchantment by Nevill Drury when I saw it sitting on a discount table at some airport book store or another. I had expected a tale of Merlin and Arthur, but that is not what this is at all. It is not a novel, it is a book of spells with a little bit of background on Merlin tossed in for good measure.
This is a very ornately hard-bound book with the lettering embossed in copper and very thick, glossy pages which resemble parchment in color. It presents as a wonderfully magical piece, a fine addition to any fantasy library. Indeed, the quality bekons to you as you pick it up.
Here Beginneth This Book of Magic
The first chapter lived up to my rather high expectations. It’s written as if Merlin himself penned this tome.
“Here before you now is my book of magick and wonderment – a tract of mysteries and spells and secrets, whereof some hath spoken but few have taken unto their hearts and souls. And I leave this book with you lest my learning upon the mystic Path of Magick be lost forever”
The entire book is written in that Medieval style. Not overbearing, but just enough to be very mood-setting. We begin with Merlin becoming entranced with a woman who tricks him into imprisonment in her tower. This is how he came to sit and write the rest of the book, which goes rapidly downhill.
Now, if you have never researched earth religions (Druids, Witches, etc..) then you may just find this very interesting. However, if you are well versed in the working of the various deities then you will become rapidly bored. What Drury basically did is rehash basic magic tenets and attribute them to Merlin.
For instance, he describes how to make a magic circle, goes on to the elements such as fire and water… moon cycles, athames, wands & besomes, all that stuff. The stuff of beginner magick books. Later in the book he tosses in a few spells including what you need to work the spell and the words to invoke it.
Yawn.
What I did like, besides the over-all look of Merlin’s Book of Magick and Enchantment, are the illustrations throughout. They are in full color and very appealing. Linda Garland is someone I’m going to research further as I think I would very much like to try to purchase some of her work. She’s that good. Apparently her and her husband, an illustrator himself, have a book called Garlands of Fantasy. I need to find that…
So. Should I recommend Merlin’s Book of Magick and Enchantment? I’m really torn. It’s a beautifully done book, and the illustrations are wonderful, but… well, I’ll recommend it to Aruthurian folks who aren’t up on the theories of the old ways, and to folks who would like to know more about the same… but if you’re looking for a tale of Camelot, do not look here.
