The Book of Merlyn: The Unpublished Conclusion to The Once and Future King
by T.H. White
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Read in August, 2007
A favorite quote:
They discovered that he was furiously angry...
"I would not have minded," he burst out, "if they had been wicked--if they had wanted to be wicked. I would not have minded if they had chosen to be wicked for some reason, or for fun. But they did not know, they had not chosen. They--they--they did not exist!...
"The horrible creatures! It was like talking to minerals which could move, like talking to statues or to machines. If you said something wh...more
They discovered that he was furiously angry...
"I would not have minded," he burst out, "if they had been wicked--if they had wanted to be wicked. I would not have minded if they had chosen to be wicked for some reason, or for fun. But they did not know, they had not chosen. They--they--they did not exist!...
"The horrible creatures! It was like talking to minerals which could move, like talking to statues or to machines. If you said something wh...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
magicians, philosophers
The conclusion to The Once and Future King. It's the fifth of five volumes, and illustrates one last encounter between Arthur and Merlyn. If you've read The Once and Future King, you should read this for unity, but it can also be read as a stand-alone text. Some parts were taken from The Book of Merlyn and re-shaped into the first volume when the novel was published with only four. It works better as five, if only for the philosophical musings of this last (and short) book. Merlyn teaches A...more
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Read in July, 2007
It was a wise choice to leave this book out of the Once and Future King. White leaves behind the analysis and summation of Malory that made The Illmade Knight and The Candle in the Wind so wonderful. Instead he takes Arthur underground to be taught once again about the horrors of humanity by Merlin's animal friends. Pedantic and tedious retreads of Sword in the Stone with extra adult dread. A few good chapters in which Arthur contemplates the English countryside at night and then returns t...more
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Is this a sequel to The Once and Future King? Or is it the missing or deleted chapters? It doesn't really matter, it's a great companion/conclusion to the original classic work. It's Arthur's last night, the eve of his confrontation with Mordred, and he's getting one final lesson from Merlyn and his animal mentors. Listening to Merlyn's lectures, we learn a great deal about human nature and our warlike attitudes. I found this to be a logical and satisfying addition to White's Arthur legen...more
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Read in January, 2008
The Once and Future King is the version of the matter of Britain that I grew up on. It was the basis for both the Sword in the Stone and the musical Camelot. So I was elated to see that there was a little more to the story. In this book, Arthur returns to the animals with Merlyn the night before his final battle to learn something about war and humanity. And geese. A little preachy, but otherwise good.
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Read in April, 2008
It is quite clear from reading T.H. White that he didn't much care for women, or foreigners otherwise called savages. His examination of the human condition gets bogged down with Merlyn going off on long rants. I was left disappointed that White hadn't explored the implications of Merlyn existence. White certainly writes as a product of his time and sex and places these traits in Merlyn's character. Pity.
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Read in January, 1980
Largely enjoyed reading this, some playful writing. Not sure just what to make of it, though; it's largely light, but it's a playfully (that word again) self-conscious adaptation of Mythic High Tragedy. Nor do I feel it were justice to the author, to think overmuch on its Meaning. There's a feet-in-boots, head-in-clouds feel to it.
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The conclusion to The Once and Future King - Merlyn comes to visit Arthur on the night before his battle with Mordred. Arthur and Merlyn speak with Merlyn's animal friends to learn more about man, and perhaps glean some wisdom. A bit of a dark book.
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Now that I've read The Once and Future King I really want to read this, but my reading schedule is somewhat busy at the moment, so I'm not sure when I'll get to it.
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recommends it for:
anyone with a brain
The end of The Once And Future King the way TH White wanted it to be in the first place.
Check it out. It adds a whole new level of depth to the first four parts.
Check it out. It adds a whole new level of depth to the first four parts.
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Final chapter of T.H. White's "Once and Future King." Devolves into blatant philosophical discourse. Good thing this wasn't included in the original book.
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Read in March, 2008
It's good this ended up being left out of The Once and Future King. There's far too much ranting for its own good.
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The "Unpublished Conclusion" to a book I wasn't thrilled with. Big fucking whoop. Obviously, not impressed.
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Read in February, 2008
An old kingdom teaching of politics and human nature. Very insightful when you least expect it.
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Just happened upon this book, printed in 1978 and sort of crackly, but I'm enjoying the read.
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Read in January, 1996
terrible and pitiful ending to such a magnificent tale.
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