I had completely forgotten about Merlin Dreams by Peter Dickinson until I came across it while Bookshelf Travelling in Insane Times, so I decided to make it my next read – before I forgot about it again! The book is illustrated by Alan Lee, I really like his work, you can see some of it here.
This isn’t really a book for children, or if it is then they are older children. It’s 167 pages long and was published in 1988.
If you know the Arthurian legends you’ll remember that Merlin was tricked by the young woman he was besotted with and the upshot was that he is entombed beneath rocks, unable to get out and there he dreams – medieval Celtic fantasies.
As you would expect the stories feature dragons, swords, unicorns, mermaids. knights – the usual Arthurian fare – entertaining reads and good for bedtime, no matter what your age, and there’s some poetry thrown in too.
Apparently the illustrator Alan Lee is well known for illustrating Tolkien books and the author Peter Dickinson is well known for his crime fiction as well as books for children.
I cannot believe that I missed the Bookshelf Traveling post that mentioned this Peter Dickinson book. I haven’t heard of the book, but Dickinson is a favorite author. I am a fan of his mysteries. I have read five since I started blogging and about the same number before that (of the ones I can remember). I have not read any of his fantasy books (mostly YA or children’s books I think).
Someday I will have to find a copy of this book.
tracybham,
I really must read some of his mysteries, especially as you like them. I think Merlin Dreams was marketed as a book for children but it would probably be better aimed at YA as they would say in the US, or even for adults.