Merlin: the very name summons up images of the wizard of Camelot magician, prophet, and counselor to Arthur. The legend is famous but the truth is less well known: Merlin was a real historical figure, a champion of the old way of the Druids, a British man who hailed not from England or Wales, as traditional wisdom would have it, but from Scotland.

Adam Ardrey, who stumbled upon some of the hidden sources of Merlin s life while researching the history of a Scottish clan, offers compelling evidence that links a very real Merlin figure into the histories of other real and prominent 6th century figures. Ardrey brings back to life Merlin s role in the cataclysmic battles between reason and religion in 6th century Britain battles that Merlin would ultimately lose. From the time of his death up until the present day, historical records relating to Merlin have been suppressed or altered by Christian writers, his true provenance and importance obscured, and his real power and influence undermined by slurs that he was a madman. Meanwhile, Merlin s twin sister, Languoreth, as intelligent and powerful as her brother but, as a woman, a greater threat to the power of church and state, was all but written out of history. Languoreth s existence was practically obliterated and her story lost until now.

Finding Merlin uncovers new evidence and re-examines the old. The places where Merlin was born, lived, died, and was buried are identified, as are the people surrounding him his nemesis, the fanatic Mungo, and his friend, the hero Arthur. In this impressively researched and accessibly written book, Merlin walks from the pages of legend into history.

Adam Ardrey is a writer and human rights advocate. He is the author of Finding Arthur and Finding Camelot, soon to be available in the United States. He lives in Scotland with his wife and three children.