The Old Magic

The novel to coincide with the phenomenal mini-series MERLIN on Channel 4 this autumn -- the Arthurian legend told on a grand and epic scale! MERLIN is the Arthurian legend with a difference -- this time, the famous myth is told from Merlin's point of view. It is above all a love story, following the wizard's quest for the enchantress Nimue. He must use sorcery to battle the evil Queen Mab, cunning Morgan Le Fey, and tyrannical Lord Vortigern, seeking ways to end the bloodshed which has plagued England since the Christians first clashed with the followers of the old ways. The traditional elements of the legend -- the incestuous conception of Mordred, the founding of the Round Table, Queen Guinivere's infidelity with Lancelot, the quest for the Holy Grail -- all contribute to the emerging struggle between Merlin and the dark forces which threaten all of England. Ultimately, Merlin must choose between his love for Nimue and his sworn loyalty to Arthur and Camelot. This 4-part mini-series which took the US by storm will hit UK TV screens this autumn, and with what a cast: Sam Neill, Sir John Gielgud, Isabella Rossellini, Miranda Richardson, Rutger Hauer, Helena Bonham-Carter, Martin Short and James Earl Jones.