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The Little Book of Dragons

Brief 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... Read More
Format: Hardback
$2999
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Illustrated with over 40 art pieces from the British Library's collections. An authoritative guide, written by a leading scholar in medieval literature and mythology.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! 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.

Series: British Library Little Books

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  • The Little Book of Dragons
    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...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Little Book of Trolls
    Trolls have escaped from the black lava wastes of Iceland and the dense pine forests of Scandinavia to take on a new life in the collective global imagination. They may not steal goats and eat people quite so much, but they remain disruptive and dangerous, even if their limited imaginations sometimes make them comic and even quite likeable. Emerging from...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712355582

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 04 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Illustration: 40+ colour illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 151.0mm

Height: 190.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 96

About the Author

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.

Also by Carolyne Larrington

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  • The Little Book of Trolls
    Trolls have escaped from the black lava wastes of Iceland and the dense pine forests of Scandinavia to take on a new life in the collective global imagination. They may not steal goats and eat people quite so much, but they remain disruptive and dangerous, even if their limited imaginations sometimes make them comic and even quite likeable. Emerging from...
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