Nikolai Tolstoy — The Quest for Merlin

London, Hamish Hamilton Ltd, 1985. First edition. Cloth. A first edition of this work on the mythological figure of Merlin, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. The first edition of this work in the publisher's original cloth binding, with the original unclipped dust wrapper. 27 illustrations. Collated complete. Count Nikolai Dmitrievich Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, known as Nikolai Tolstoy, is a British monarchist and historian. He has written a number of books about Celtic mythology. In this volume, he sets out to prove that Merlin did in fact exist, but not as a contemporary of King Arthur. Using literary sources, including early Welsh manuscripts, and his own study of the British countryside, he paints Merlin as an authentic prophet, a druid living in a pagan enclave of the North after the collapse of Christianized Roman Britain. In publisher's original cloth binding, with original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, cloth is in lovely condition. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are very bright and clean. A little spotting to the flaps of the dust wrapper, and some shelf wear to the upper extremities. Otherwise, dust wrapper remains bright. Fine . Ill.: Various. Fine/Very Good Indeed.