Merlin: The Prophet and His History

I picked this up as part of a research project on Arthurian legends. Ashe is one of the foremost authorities on the subject, and his writings are entertaining and very approachable. This book is set against the backdrop of Geoffrey of Monmouth's The History of the Kings of Britain. Ashe traces Merlin's appearance in Geoffrey's work, and then takes the reader through historical records of secular and non-secular writings. Through it all, Ashe builds a case for the existence of Merlin (though not the magical being our current era has come to adopt) as a real person (or persons). Though a little academic (familiarity with the works of Wace, The Pearl Poet, and French lore is a plus, but not absolutely necessary)this book is entertaining enough for it to be a good primer for those looking for the history behind the legend.