What do you think?
Rate this book
Myths and Legends #2
Dragonslayers: From Beowulf to St. George
From legend and mythology to The Hobbit and A Game of Thrones, the dragon is a perennial favorite in the fantasy genre.
With its fiery breath, scaly armour, and baleful, malevolent stare, the dragon became the ultimate symbol of evil and corruption in European folklore and mythology. Often serving as a stand-in for Satan, or the power of evil gods, dragons spread death and hopelessness throughout the land. Only heroes of uncommon valour, courageousness, and purity could hope to battle these monsters and emerge victorious. Those that did became legends. They became dragonslayers. The list of dragonslayers is small, but it is filled with great and legendary names. Hercules, Beowulf, Cuchulain, Sigfried, Lancelot, and Saint George all battled to the death with dragons. Other heroes such as the Danish King Frotho, the French Saint Mercurialis, the Polish champion Krak, and the Russian warrior Dobrynya Nikitch might be less well known to western readers, but also fought and defeated dragons. This book will retell the greatest legends of this select group of warriors, while examining the myth of the dragonslayer in a historical, mythological, and even theological context.
With its fiery breath, scaly armour, and baleful, malevolent stare, the dragon became the ultimate symbol of evil and corruption in European folklore and mythology. Often serving as a stand-in for Satan, or the power of evil gods, dragons spread death and hopelessness throughout the land. Only heroes of uncommon valour, courageousness, and purity could hope to battle these monsters and emerge victorious. Those that did became legends. They became dragonslayers. The list of dragonslayers is small, but it is filled with great and legendary names. Hercules, Beowulf, Cuchulain, Sigfried, Lancelot, and Saint George all battled to the death with dragons. Other heroes such as the Danish King Frotho, the French Saint Mercurialis, the Polish champion Krak, and the Russian warrior Dobrynya Nikitch might be less well known to western readers, but also fought and defeated dragons. This book will retell the greatest legends of this select group of warriors, while examining the myth of the dragonslayer in a historical, mythological, and even theological context.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 16, 2013
Dragonslayers is part of the Myths and Legends series. The book is beautifully illustrated and a pleasure to look at. It covers all the different dragonslayers from early history onwards with chapters focusing on ancient dragonslayers, Norse dragonslayers, Holy dragonslayers, Medieval dragonslayers, and dragonslayers from around the world.
I loved looking at this book. The pictures were fascinating and I was amazed at all the different dragonslayer stories from around the world.
The book would appeal to readers from middle school and up. If you are interested in learning more about dragons and those who battled them, this book is a good resource.
Thank you to Random House Books for a review copy of this book.
I loved looking at this book. The pictures were fascinating and I was amazed at all the different dragonslayer stories from around the world.
The book would appeal to readers from middle school and up. If you are interested in learning more about dragons and those who battled them, this book is a good resource.
Thank you to Random House Books for a review copy of this book.
May 15, 2013
Dragonslayers has continued the trend started by Jason and the Argonauts in providing a highly accessible and succinctly written collection of mythological tales that serve as a fantastic entry point into the topic without scaring away non-academics. Short but brilliant.
Read the full review at Mithril Wisdom.
Read the full review at Mithril Wisdom.
September 5, 2018
După cum îi spune și numele, cartea ne prezintă faptele legendare a câtorva ucigași de dragoni din diverse culturi: britanică, germanică, nativ-americană, japoneză, chiar și iudaică.
Fiind o carte Osprey suferă de toate minusurile și plusurile specifice: ilustrații bogate și deosebite, informații clare și concise, prezentare profesională dar abordabilă, însă și o dimensiune redusă a numărului de pagini.
Fiind o carte Osprey suferă de toate minusurile și plusurile specifice: ilustrații bogate și deosebite, informații clare și concise, prezentare profesională dar abordabilă, însă și o dimensiune redusă a numărului de pagini.
April 26, 2019
An exploration of the myth of the Dragonslayer in European (mostly western) culture and the truth in the underlying stories or history.
Featuring stories of 16 Dragon Slayers this is a good reference book as well as including many lovely full colour pictures by the artists of Osprey. A fun book for dipping into the stories, although they are by their nature very short.
Featuring stories of 16 Dragon Slayers this is a good reference book as well as including many lovely full colour pictures by the artists of Osprey. A fun book for dipping into the stories, although they are by their nature very short.
December 28, 2017
Like the other books in this series, the author examines the legends and the source materials. This one is a wealth of different legends of dragon slayers through different periods of history and cultures.
January 29, 2018
A brief story of the Dragonslayer topic. It is easy and straight forward but it could deliver a bit more.
Good research about the main legends but need to add more into the truly origins of the dragons.
Good research about the main legends but need to add more into the truly origins of the dragons.
March 31, 2025
The book inspires reflection on enduring virtues, with St. George’s lens turning myth into metaphor, highlighting how ancient legends guide the search for meaning.
March 27, 2013
Pros: interesting stories, historical grounding and commentary, gorgeous illustrations, necessary warnings with regards to reading historical documents and dealing with non-European stories about dragons
Cons: too short!
Myths and Legends is a new series by Osprey Publishing. If you've never heard of them, they publish a lot of short, detailed military history series: Men at Arms, Fortress, Campaigns, etc. Each volume is a crash course in a very specific aspect of history: Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen 925-1025, The Fall of English France 1449-53, M103 Heavy Tank 1950-74. The Myths and Legends series is part of their Osprey Adventures books, 'where fact and fiction meet'. The three volumes currently in print are: Jason and the Argonauts, Dragonslayers, and The War of Horus and Set.
Dragonslayers is specifically about the European tradition of serpentine monsters, how their legends evolved and who killed them. The book starts with an explanation of what a dragon is, historically speaking, and how the image of the dragon evolved into the creature we think of today. There are a lot of gorgeous illustrations throughout the book, both historical and ones commissioned for this book by Peter Dennis. Unlike the older images, Dennis places his subjects in period appropriate clothing. For example, Sigfried/Sigurd is often depicted in barbarian skins. In this case, Dennis paints him in the armour of a 6th C. Germanic warrior. Dennis also uses the actual descriptions of the dragons given by the texts for his images, rather than making up his own, as a lot of older artists did (so there are several sea serpents and crocodile-like creatures here).
I loved how McCullough placed each story in its historical context, explaining who the dragonslayers might have been and how each story has been modified and expanded upon. He also cautions against using a European lens when dealing with 'dragons' from other cultures. There are a few non-European stories mentioned at the end of the collection, but he emphasizes the fact that the dragonslayer is a European construct, though other cultures have similar creatures and heros (at least, when their stories are told by Europeans).
The stories are summarized concisely, which makes this a great introduction to European myths, even if it's not an in depth study. Each chapter only shares a few stories - the most famous - out of the numerous available. Some of the other stories are given boxed summaries, which helps flesh out the chapters.
Covered in the book are: Ancient, Norse, Holy, Medieval and Dragonslayers From Around the World. It's a great jumping off point for reading the stories themselves, though historians like me might prefer longer synopses here. My only real complaint with the book was its length. It's much too short. :) I was also surprised that the final chapter didn't mention Chinese dragons, which are famous. The author has a brief explanation for this, wherein he states that Asian dragons are generally gods or benign creatures, and so don't need slaying that often, which I was unaware of.
If you're interested in old stories about dragons and dragonslayers then pick this up. It's a fantastic introduction.
Cons: too short!
Myths and Legends is a new series by Osprey Publishing. If you've never heard of them, they publish a lot of short, detailed military history series: Men at Arms, Fortress, Campaigns, etc. Each volume is a crash course in a very specific aspect of history: Byzantine Imperial Guardsmen 925-1025, The Fall of English France 1449-53, M103 Heavy Tank 1950-74. The Myths and Legends series is part of their Osprey Adventures books, 'where fact and fiction meet'. The three volumes currently in print are: Jason and the Argonauts, Dragonslayers, and The War of Horus and Set.
Dragonslayers is specifically about the European tradition of serpentine monsters, how their legends evolved and who killed them. The book starts with an explanation of what a dragon is, historically speaking, and how the image of the dragon evolved into the creature we think of today. There are a lot of gorgeous illustrations throughout the book, both historical and ones commissioned for this book by Peter Dennis. Unlike the older images, Dennis places his subjects in period appropriate clothing. For example, Sigfried/Sigurd is often depicted in barbarian skins. In this case, Dennis paints him in the armour of a 6th C. Germanic warrior. Dennis also uses the actual descriptions of the dragons given by the texts for his images, rather than making up his own, as a lot of older artists did (so there are several sea serpents and crocodile-like creatures here).
I loved how McCullough placed each story in its historical context, explaining who the dragonslayers might have been and how each story has been modified and expanded upon. He also cautions against using a European lens when dealing with 'dragons' from other cultures. There are a few non-European stories mentioned at the end of the collection, but he emphasizes the fact that the dragonslayer is a European construct, though other cultures have similar creatures and heros (at least, when their stories are told by Europeans).
The stories are summarized concisely, which makes this a great introduction to European myths, even if it's not an in depth study. Each chapter only shares a few stories - the most famous - out of the numerous available. Some of the other stories are given boxed summaries, which helps flesh out the chapters.
Covered in the book are: Ancient, Norse, Holy, Medieval and Dragonslayers From Around the World. It's a great jumping off point for reading the stories themselves, though historians like me might prefer longer synopses here. My only real complaint with the book was its length. It's much too short. :) I was also surprised that the final chapter didn't mention Chinese dragons, which are famous. The author has a brief explanation for this, wherein he states that Asian dragons are generally gods or benign creatures, and so don't need slaying that often, which I was unaware of.
If you're interested in old stories about dragons and dragonslayers then pick this up. It's a fantastic introduction.
June 3, 2013
I’ve always been fascinated by dragons and have eagerly devoured any fantasy stories with them in. So this book really is the perfect book for a dragon lover like me. It explores in depth the myths and legends surrounding the beasts and their evolution throughout the ages in regards to their appearance and behaviour. It is an easy and quick read full to the brim with background stories and concise information. Each section also tells briefly the story of the particular Dragonslayer and his foe.
It begins with the tales of Ancient Dragonslayers such as Hercules and Cadmus. I particularly enjoyed reading about Cadmus, the founder of Thebes. I love Greek Mythology so enjoyed the references to the Greek Gods and how Cadmus fought and killed a great serpent. The book then goes on to discuss Norse Dragonslayers, Beowulf and Sigurd. Having recently studied Beowulf I appreciated re-reading about the dragon in that epic tale and how it greedily guarded a horde of treasure. As a lover of Tolkien it brought to mind the great dragon Smaug who sits upon a massive pile of gold and treasure in his story The Hobbit. My favourite tale of all within this book was Sigurd the Volsung. It is such a heart-wrenching tale of heroism and tragedy. It has made me want to read more about the epic tale and read Tolkien’s The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. The book moves on to discuss Holy Dragonslayers and Medieval Dragonslayers. I enjoyed reading these sections but loved hearing more about The Ancient and Norse Dragonslayers. The last section on Dragonslayers Around the World was an added bonus as it was so interesting hearing about dragons in regards to Native Americans and the Maori tribe of New Zealand. This book just fed me so much information I devoured it all and it has undoubtedly cemented my love for dragon mythology even more.
The illustrations and pictures in this book are truly beautiful especially the ones illustrated by Peter Dennis. They are so vivid, bright and detailed. Along with the fantastic legends and context within this book, the illustrations really do make it an enjoyable and thoroughly interesting book. I would definitely recommend this book to all lovers of mythology, fantasy and dragons.
It begins with the tales of Ancient Dragonslayers such as Hercules and Cadmus. I particularly enjoyed reading about Cadmus, the founder of Thebes. I love Greek Mythology so enjoyed the references to the Greek Gods and how Cadmus fought and killed a great serpent. The book then goes on to discuss Norse Dragonslayers, Beowulf and Sigurd. Having recently studied Beowulf I appreciated re-reading about the dragon in that epic tale and how it greedily guarded a horde of treasure. As a lover of Tolkien it brought to mind the great dragon Smaug who sits upon a massive pile of gold and treasure in his story The Hobbit. My favourite tale of all within this book was Sigurd the Volsung. It is such a heart-wrenching tale of heroism and tragedy. It has made me want to read more about the epic tale and read Tolkien’s The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun. The book moves on to discuss Holy Dragonslayers and Medieval Dragonslayers. I enjoyed reading these sections but loved hearing more about The Ancient and Norse Dragonslayers. The last section on Dragonslayers Around the World was an added bonus as it was so interesting hearing about dragons in regards to Native Americans and the Maori tribe of New Zealand. This book just fed me so much information I devoured it all and it has undoubtedly cemented my love for dragon mythology even more.
The illustrations and pictures in this book are truly beautiful especially the ones illustrated by Peter Dennis. They are so vivid, bright and detailed. Along with the fantastic legends and context within this book, the illustrations really do make it an enjoyable and thoroughly interesting book. I would definitely recommend this book to all lovers of mythology, fantasy and dragons.
January 13, 2014
This and more reviews, interviews etc are on Dark Matter Zine, an online magazine. http://www.darkmatterzine.com. This review was written by David Gibson for Dark Matter Zine.
Dragonslayers is the second book in the Myths and Legends series which aims to explore ancient myths in which heroes battled monstrous beasts we call Dragons.
Dragonslayers gives a good first impression with an excellent front cover. The cover maintains the design of the Myths and Legends series, getting straight to my heart – I have a soft spot for illustrated covers – with a picture of the Redcrosse Knight battling a dragon. This choice is reflective of the keen eye with which the art has been selected, images from paintings, engravings and films.
One of the major standouts for me was ‘Beowulf and the Fire Drake’, a two page spread on pages 34–35, depicting a crawling serpentine dragon blasting searing fire at the hero.
The book is divided into Ancient, Norse, Holy and Medieval dragonslayers, with a selection of non-European dragonslayers at the end. In each section there is a retelling of choice draconic myths combined with commentary describing how the people of different times and cultures saw dragons.
This structure works well, establishing the myth’s origins then describing how it evolved over time. The writing has a very insightful, almost discussion-like tone while examining each myth; this worked well for me.
The break-out boxes were frustrating. They are used to bring up stories without giving them close analysis like the focal myths. Some, such as the one on page 15, work very well by coming at the end of a main story. However, others interrupt the flow of the writing, with the most egregious example at the top of page 50 and across all of page 51. The content of the boxes is excellent but I wanted to bring it up as I see many books making the same choice to interrupt the main narrative, which I find very distracting.
That aside, Dragonslayers is an excellent introduction to this topic and a valuable resource for anyone interested in mythology. It is backed up by with excellent commentary and enriching art. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about dragons and the legends surrounding them.
Dragonslayers is the second book in the Myths and Legends series which aims to explore ancient myths in which heroes battled monstrous beasts we call Dragons.
Dragonslayers gives a good first impression with an excellent front cover. The cover maintains the design of the Myths and Legends series, getting straight to my heart – I have a soft spot for illustrated covers – with a picture of the Redcrosse Knight battling a dragon. This choice is reflective of the keen eye with which the art has been selected, images from paintings, engravings and films.
One of the major standouts for me was ‘Beowulf and the Fire Drake’, a two page spread on pages 34–35, depicting a crawling serpentine dragon blasting searing fire at the hero.
The book is divided into Ancient, Norse, Holy and Medieval dragonslayers, with a selection of non-European dragonslayers at the end. In each section there is a retelling of choice draconic myths combined with commentary describing how the people of different times and cultures saw dragons.
This structure works well, establishing the myth’s origins then describing how it evolved over time. The writing has a very insightful, almost discussion-like tone while examining each myth; this worked well for me.
The break-out boxes were frustrating. They are used to bring up stories without giving them close analysis like the focal myths. Some, such as the one on page 15, work very well by coming at the end of a main story. However, others interrupt the flow of the writing, with the most egregious example at the top of page 50 and across all of page 51. The content of the boxes is excellent but I wanted to bring it up as I see many books making the same choice to interrupt the main narrative, which I find very distracting.
That aside, Dragonslayers is an excellent introduction to this topic and a valuable resource for anyone interested in mythology. It is backed up by with excellent commentary and enriching art. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about dragons and the legends surrounding them.
July 12, 2013
Osprey's new myths and legends series is off to a strong start. Dragonslayers is a great overview of legendary killers of dragons, some well known and some obscure. Thankfully, it focuses on the social, literary and religious context rather than delving into pseudoscience surrounding dragons - as the History Channel might.
I was initially slightly disappointed by the focus on Europe and the Near East. However, dragons in East Asian legends are much different beast than their western counterparts and would not have fit into a book on heroic slayers of dragons.
I was initially slightly disappointed by the focus on Europe and the Near East. However, dragons in East Asian legends are much different beast than their western counterparts and would not have fit into a book on heroic slayers of dragons.
May 31, 2013
Just a fun easy read including a number of legends about dragonslayers; great introduction to this important study. And helped me learn a lot about medieval and Slavic heroes with whom I had been unfamiliar. Hadn't known that Slavic dragons tended to have three heads while some Christian dragon slayers used sharp-edged armor to tear into flesh of dragons who would attempt to coil around their pursuers. . .
February 7, 2017
Beautifully illustrated and written, this is a book for dragon fanatics and legend-lovers everywhere. This is a book I will keep!
July 5, 2015
Not sure what I was looking for in this book, but I was looking for more. It was a collection of myths with a bit of scholarship--not nearly enough--and a combination of historical and modern art.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews