tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723077228948447528.post6320048093710892737..comments2024-03-27T19:07:19.133-04:00Comments on The Silver Key: Cimmerian sighting: The Book of Merlyn and its Howardian connectionBrian Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05563309422791320114noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723077228948447528.post-68246891666657187492009-11-09T08:44:35.610-05:002009-11-09T08:44:35.610-05:00Hi Eric, that's a great point. There are a few...Hi Eric, that's a great point. There are a few places where White basically says, "Malory wrote this beautifully already, and you know the story from here." But rather than weakening the story, that foreknowledge and expectation really makes The Once and Future King/The Book of Merlyn all the more tragic and more powerful.Brian Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05563309422791320114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723077228948447528.post-59182597562893092702009-11-07T11:18:24.879-05:002009-11-07T11:18:24.879-05:00Merlyn wrung his hands. “Well anyway,” he said, “...Merlyn wrung his hands. “Well anyway,” he said, “suppose they did not let you stand against all the evil in the world?” “I could ask,” said the Wart. “You could ask,” repeated Merlyn. He thrust the end of his beard into his mouth, stared tragically at the fire, and began to munch it fiercely.<br /><br />Great stuff. White assumes we KNOW the Arthur story before reading TOAFK, and plays with that expectation beautifully, giving some of the most heartbreaking moments in any version of the tale.Eric D. Lehmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06463816538253906019noreply@blogger.com