This collection features stories where dragons play central roles, spanning various cultures and traditions. The tales include themes of transformation, bravery, and magical adventures.
The collection opens with The Professor of Practical Jokes, where a king marries a woman with connections to a family of pranksters. In The Laidly Worm Of Spindleston Heugh, a witch’s spell transforms a princess into a dragon, with her brother breaking the curse through a series of trials.
The Old Woman Under A Hill * tells the story of a dragon whose lonely tears blight the land, only to be soothed through compassion. Meanwhile, The Reluctant Dragon features a young boy befriending a dragon who is reluctant to fight the knight that is sent to defeat him.
In St. George And The Dragon, a knight defeats a dragon after learning of his true heritage. The Jellyfish and the Monkey connects the sea dragon king to a quest for a magical cure, resulting in an encounter with a clever monkey who outsmarts a jellyfish.
Other notable stories in the collection include The Sea King and the Magic Jewels, where two princes reconcile after a series of misunderstandings, and The Lost Half Hour, where a hero uses time to save a princess from a dragon.
The theme of heroism recurs in The Three Princes and Their Animals, where three brothers battle a witch and a dragon to rescue a princess, and The Brave Princess and the Magic Forest, where a princess defeats a dragon to protect her kingdom.
Dragons also feature in stories of transformation and loyalty, such as Batcha and the Dragon, where a shepherd deals with a dragon’s treasure cave, and The Four Skillful Brothers, where brothers use their skills to defeat a dragon and save a princess.
This collection offers a diverse range of dragon-centric tales, each with unique themes and settings, highlighting the mythical creature’s enduring role in folklore.