The Death of Merlin: Arthurian Myth and Alchemy

Traces the origins of the story of King Arthur and the Grail in early Christianity and classical and Nordic mythology, and follows its development in medieval and modern times. This book explores the parallels between the quest for the Grail and the medieval alchemists search for the Philosophers Stone. The story of King Arthur and the Grail still holds a remarkable fascination for many people. In this classic work, Walter Johannes Stein traces its origins in early Christianity and classical and Nordic mythology, and follows its development in medieval and modern times. In particular, Stein explores the parallels between the quest for the Grail and the medieval alchemists search for the Philosophers Stone. This book is a collection of essays that were first published, or delivered as lectures, in the 1920s and 1930s. The first section of the book is Steins own Memoirs, which ground his research in the cultural background of the era.