Publisher's Synopsis
The greatest dragon myths from the depths of tradition, and from dragon-fearing countries all around the globe, are presented in a magnificently illustrated collectible edition. Each tale is punctuated with panels of dragon lore written by one of the world's leading dragon scholars, to explain the beliefs behind the fantastical best at its centre, and framed with historical and cultural explications to take the reader beneath the dragon's scales to its dark, impenetrable heart. To complete the quest for fully formed dragons, the myths are illustrated with a compendium of the most magnificent paintings from history, which show how the mere mention of dragons has inspired creativity in so many cultures. This is not merely a collection of dragon stories but a historical treasure trove of the finest dragon paintings, engravings, maps, sculptures, architecture, ornaments and jewels: the visual feast that any mythology adventurer would expect to find at the end of their dragon quest. Jonathan Evans, Associate Professor of English at the University of Georgia, has published extensively on the mythology of the dragon-slayer and the dragon myth, focusing primarily on dragon-lore in Beowulf, The Saga of the Volsungs and other early Germanic literature.
