The Little Book of Dragons

(Hardback)

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Description

Whether they breathe fire from above, spit poison on the land, or cause churning maelstroms in the sea, dragons can be found lurking in the margins of illuminated legend around the world. Their global ubiquity means they have many guises: primordial chaos-monsters to the ancients, wise and auspicious guardians in East Asian tradition, formidable foes to be slain by saints and knights, comic companions in 19th-century children's literature, and stand-ins for aerial warfare in modern fantasy.

The history of dragons is as slippery and twisting as their serpentine bodies; they are creatures constantly doubling back on themselves, shedding their dead skins for new, and coiling around our landscapes.

Featuring: Dragons of the Ancient World, Bestiary Dragons, Flying and Fiery Dragons, Creeping Dragons, Water Dragons and Sea-Serpents, Saints and Dragons, Dragons from Around the World, and Contemporary Dragons.

Author Bio

Carolyne Larrington is emerita professor of medieval European literature at the University of Oxford. She writes on Old Norse-Icelandic literature, myths and legends, folklore and popular medievalism. Her most recent books include All Men Must Die: Power and Passion in Game of Thrones and The Norse Myths that Shape the Way We Think.