British Library Little Books The Book of Dragons

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. 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.