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The Book of Dragons
"Next day the Dragon was still quiet, though the more poetic of Lionel's subjects could see the redness of the Dragon shining through the green trees quite plainly. So Lionel put on his crown and sat on his throne and said he wanted to make some laws."
"The Book of Dragons" penned by a beloved author hailed as “the first modern writer for children” ( Julia Briggs): First published in 1899, this collection of eight whimsical short stories and fairy tales featuring dragons of all shapes and sizes with tongue in cheek morals and a delightful balance between imagination, nonsense and social commentary. It is perfect for the whole family! A magical read with over 1,000 five-star ratings.
The Book of Dragons is a collection of children’s stories by English writer Edith Nesbit, who wrote under the name E. Nesbit in order to obscure her gender.
Comprising eight stories originally published in 1899 in The Strand magazine, The Book of Dragons is a work that explores the magic and wonder of mythical beasts for children and adults alike.
The dragons are hardly ever nice, but E. Nesbit’s children are undeterred. Always in favor of “valuing their opinions, honoring the realities of their inner lives, and giving them the freedom to explore and build worlds of their own,”* Edith Nesbit portrays her children to be great problem-solvers.
✳The New Yorker Magazine: Jessica Winter, September 28, 2022
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1899
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4947 people want to read
About the author
E. Nesbit
1,030 books996 followers
Edith Nesbit
(married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
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December 6, 2019
If I told you that E. Nesbit dedicated this book to one of her husband's many illegitimate children, would you be more inclined to read it?
Of course you would.
You'd probably also love to know that E. Nesbit (Edith) was so enamored with her “main man,” one Mr. Bland, that she put on her man pants and made a career out of her writing (at a time when women could barely eke out a living doing anything), and took one for the team.
Her husband was apparently in ill health, and couldn't work, yet every time a widow in the village hollered out that she needed someone to come trim the wick on her candles, Mr. Bland could never mind his own beeswax. He never understood the concept of trimming the candles, but he certainly mastered dipping the wick and nine months after every helpful visit, he would arrive back at the Nesbit/Bland cottage with another bundle of illegitimate joy.
Boy, is there a story there.
So, off would go Ms. Nesbit, off to bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan, cause boy oh boy, she could never forget he was a man.
And, even though Ms. Nesbit wanted to write for adults, she kept being steered toward writing for children, but I think she found her compromise by writing in a way that satisfied both parties. The writing in this particular collection is definitely for the 10+ crowd, and, let me tell you, it was the mother of this household who was doing all of the laughing.
Because, presumably, this is a collection of nine stories about dragons, (with almost all dragon's sketched heads resembling giant phalluses, by the way), but peppered throughout are clues from Ms. Nesbit that she loved writing, but she could give a damn about the “dragon” details. (Reminds me a bit of Ray Bradbury. . . he offers the colors, the images, the amazing words, but he asks you, kindly, to surrender your disbelief when it comes to the tedious details).
My favorite example of this is from story #5 of this collection, “The Island of the Nine Whirlpools,” where Ms. Nesbit tells us that the princess lived under a curse for “more scores of years than you would like to add up on your slate,” but as to what the princess did or what the princess ate on a remote deserted island, she can only offer:
I have no doubt that you will wish to know what the princess lived on during the long years when the dragon did the cooking. My dear, she lived on her income—and that is a thing that a great many people would like to be able to do.
Ba-dum-bum!
This is a sweet collection, but consider me more interested in Ms. Nesbit than dragons, and my next biography will surely be hers, because, lady, I am smitten with your sumptuous story!
However, given that she was a contemporary of George MacDonald's, a Scottish writer who had a career similar to hers, (though his was more spiritual in nature), I can not help but give a greater nod here to Mr. MacDonald's superior writing, and his greater success in writing to children and adult audiences, at the same time.
If you have never read George MacDonald's “The Light Princess,” may I recommend it with every cell of my being? It is 43 pages of some of the most stunning prose ever written and it brings me, almost literally, to my knees in awe.
Adults need fairy tales, too, and it may be the best one ever written.
Of course you would.
You'd probably also love to know that E. Nesbit (Edith) was so enamored with her “main man,” one Mr. Bland, that she put on her man pants and made a career out of her writing (at a time when women could barely eke out a living doing anything), and took one for the team.
Her husband was apparently in ill health, and couldn't work, yet every time a widow in the village hollered out that she needed someone to come trim the wick on her candles, Mr. Bland could never mind his own beeswax. He never understood the concept of trimming the candles, but he certainly mastered dipping the wick and nine months after every helpful visit, he would arrive back at the Nesbit/Bland cottage with another bundle of illegitimate joy.
Boy, is there a story there.
So, off would go Ms. Nesbit, off to bring home the bacon, and fry it up in a pan, cause boy oh boy, she could never forget he was a man.
And, even though Ms. Nesbit wanted to write for adults, she kept being steered toward writing for children, but I think she found her compromise by writing in a way that satisfied both parties. The writing in this particular collection is definitely for the 10+ crowd, and, let me tell you, it was the mother of this household who was doing all of the laughing.
Because, presumably, this is a collection of nine stories about dragons, (with almost all dragon's sketched heads resembling giant phalluses, by the way), but peppered throughout are clues from Ms. Nesbit that she loved writing, but she could give a damn about the “dragon” details. (Reminds me a bit of Ray Bradbury. . . he offers the colors, the images, the amazing words, but he asks you, kindly, to surrender your disbelief when it comes to the tedious details).
My favorite example of this is from story #5 of this collection, “The Island of the Nine Whirlpools,” where Ms. Nesbit tells us that the princess lived under a curse for “more scores of years than you would like to add up on your slate,” but as to what the princess did or what the princess ate on a remote deserted island, she can only offer:
I have no doubt that you will wish to know what the princess lived on during the long years when the dragon did the cooking. My dear, she lived on her income—and that is a thing that a great many people would like to be able to do.
Ba-dum-bum!
This is a sweet collection, but consider me more interested in Ms. Nesbit than dragons, and my next biography will surely be hers, because, lady, I am smitten with your sumptuous story!
However, given that she was a contemporary of George MacDonald's, a Scottish writer who had a career similar to hers, (though his was more spiritual in nature), I can not help but give a greater nod here to Mr. MacDonald's superior writing, and his greater success in writing to children and adult audiences, at the same time.
If you have never read George MacDonald's “The Light Princess,” may I recommend it with every cell of my being? It is 43 pages of some of the most stunning prose ever written and it brings me, almost literally, to my knees in awe.
Adults need fairy tales, too, and it may be the best one ever written.
August 5, 2019
Delightful and entertaining!
The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit is a book full of fun and entertaining short stories surrounding the world's mysterious dragons. Being a dragon lover myself, I enjoyed all the unique and delightful stories, finding myself lost in a magical world, far away from the tension filled murder and crime novels and the psychological thrillers I take in on a daily bases. It was a nice break.
Dragon lovers of all ages will be lost in the magic found in this book!
The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit is a book full of fun and entertaining short stories surrounding the world's mysterious dragons. Being a dragon lover myself, I enjoyed all the unique and delightful stories, finding myself lost in a magical world, far away from the tension filled murder and crime novels and the psychological thrillers I take in on a daily bases. It was a nice break.
Dragon lovers of all ages will be lost in the magic found in this book!
March 1, 2016
This book, published in 1901, is described as a fantasy classic for children of middle school age, as well as something that will enchant people of all ages. It has eight stories featuring youngsters and dragons who come to cross purposes and clash. And how it ends depends on courage, luck, and much help from the author.
I chose this book because I wanted to read something light after a string of heavier books, and because I like imaginative stories with dragons in them. But I failed to see the charm in these stories. And it had nothing to do with this being a children's book and me being an adult. I enjoy reading children's books that are well written and have memorable characters. These stories did not fit that description. They were juvenile and nonsensical, with undeveloped characters in stories that changed direction on a whim, leaving big plot holes in their wake. The girls, for the most part, were written as pretty and sweet, but silly or helpless, and either less than intelligent or treated as if they were. The dragons were mostly rampaging creatures wanting to feed on whatever got in their way with the children bent on stopping them to win the day. And if the children were lucky, they lived happily ever after, after much killing was done, while learning a lesson or two along the way.
The biggest problem was, I couldn't find anything magical about most of these stories which I feel might have been written as intentionally silly. But whatever it was that was supposed to be amusing about them was lost on me. Plus, I have my doubts about middle school children finding these stories satisfying or memorable. And there was a lot of violence treated casually in this book, as there often is in fairy tales.
Did I enjoy anything about this book? I enjoyed the concepts behind some of the stories, such as in the first tale called "The Book of Beasts" where a young boy finds a magical and potentially dangerous book that was better left closed. But the resolution to the story undid everything good that led up to it, as was the case with so many of these stories. Another story that was very close to a classic fairy tale was "The Island of the Nine Whirlpools." It was my favorite in the bunch. It was about a queen who, more than anything, wanted a baby. So she made a deal with a witch to have one, despite the witch's warning that sorrow would accompany the joy, which indeed it did in a way she never could have imagined.
I wish I could recommend this book, but I can't. Classic children's books are wonderful. Winnie the Pooh books are a great example. I'll remember those tales always, unlike those in this book.
I chose this book because I wanted to read something light after a string of heavier books, and because I like imaginative stories with dragons in them. But I failed to see the charm in these stories. And it had nothing to do with this being a children's book and me being an adult. I enjoy reading children's books that are well written and have memorable characters. These stories did not fit that description. They were juvenile and nonsensical, with undeveloped characters in stories that changed direction on a whim, leaving big plot holes in their wake. The girls, for the most part, were written as pretty and sweet, but silly or helpless, and either less than intelligent or treated as if they were. The dragons were mostly rampaging creatures wanting to feed on whatever got in their way with the children bent on stopping them to win the day. And if the children were lucky, they lived happily ever after, after much killing was done, while learning a lesson or two along the way.
The biggest problem was, I couldn't find anything magical about most of these stories which I feel might have been written as intentionally silly. But whatever it was that was supposed to be amusing about them was lost on me. Plus, I have my doubts about middle school children finding these stories satisfying or memorable. And there was a lot of violence treated casually in this book, as there often is in fairy tales.
Did I enjoy anything about this book? I enjoyed the concepts behind some of the stories, such as in the first tale called "The Book of Beasts" where a young boy finds a magical and potentially dangerous book that was better left closed. But the resolution to the story undid everything good that led up to it, as was the case with so many of these stories. Another story that was very close to a classic fairy tale was "The Island of the Nine Whirlpools." It was my favorite in the bunch. It was about a queen who, more than anything, wanted a baby. So she made a deal with a witch to have one, despite the witch's warning that sorrow would accompany the joy, which indeed it did in a way she never could have imagined.
I wish I could recommend this book, but I can't. Classic children's books are wonderful. Winnie the Pooh books are a great example. I'll remember those tales always, unlike those in this book.
August 24, 2015
Another Literary Birthday Challenge title, The Book of Dragons is a delightful collection of eight short stories by E. Nesbit. I know many people have read and loved her work for years, but this is only the second title of hers I have ever seen. I still find it hard to believe I never discovered her in my youth, but I can always make up for lost time.
To paraphrase what used to be written in the unexplored areas of ancient maps, Here There Be Dragons: a red dragon who escapes from a book, a purple dragon who changes life forever in Rotundia, a plague of green dragons with yellow wings, a dragon made of ice, an old white dragon with a beard, a rust-red armored dragon with a furry secret, a shining fiery dragon, and a huge yellow dragon. A couple of these were described as
looking more like worms or centipedes, but they were all called dragons so we shall cut Ms. Nesbit a little slack and accept that they really were all dragons.
Competing against the various dragons were such clever children as Edmund (he is a boy who likes to find things out, which is not the same as learning things), Lionel (who really should never have opened that lovely book he found), and more than one Princess: Mary Ann (who loved her little pet rhinos, but most especially loved her tiny elephant), and Sabrinetta (who had a heart of gold).
I completely enjoyed these stories: Nesbit's wonderful imagination tickled me more than once. A Prince with a pack of hunting hippos! The real reason for England's famous wet weather! (Which I refuse to reveal even as a spoiler, you'll just have to read it for yourself) The true beginnings of all cats! (Ditto.)
If you need to read something light that will make you laugh, cheer, maybe say 'Ick' a time or two, then curl up with your pet elephant (doesn't everyone have one?!) and take a little safari off the edge of the map into Nesbit's dragon lands. And don't be afraid of anything during your journey. Remember the words of our hero Nigel: "My Princess," he said tenderly, "two great powers are on our side: the power of Love and the power of Arithmetic. Those two are stronger than anything else in the world."
To paraphrase what used to be written in the unexplored areas of ancient maps, Here There Be Dragons: a red dragon who escapes from a book, a purple dragon who changes life forever in Rotundia, a plague of green dragons with yellow wings, a dragon made of ice, an old white dragon with a beard, a rust-red armored dragon with a furry secret, a shining fiery dragon, and a huge yellow dragon. A couple of these were described as
looking more like worms or centipedes, but they were all called dragons so we shall cut Ms. Nesbit a little slack and accept that they really were all dragons.
Competing against the various dragons were such clever children as Edmund (he is a boy who likes to find things out, which is not the same as learning things), Lionel (who really should never have opened that lovely book he found), and more than one Princess: Mary Ann (who loved her little pet rhinos, but most especially loved her tiny elephant), and Sabrinetta (who had a heart of gold).
I completely enjoyed these stories: Nesbit's wonderful imagination tickled me more than once. A Prince with a pack of hunting hippos! The real reason for England's famous wet weather! (Which I refuse to reveal even as a spoiler, you'll just have to read it for yourself) The true beginnings of all cats! (Ditto.)
If you need to read something light that will make you laugh, cheer, maybe say 'Ick' a time or two, then curl up with your pet elephant (doesn't everyone have one?!) and take a little safari off the edge of the map into Nesbit's dragon lands. And don't be afraid of anything during your journey. Remember the words of our hero Nigel: "My Princess," he said tenderly, "two great powers are on our side: the power of Love and the power of Arithmetic. Those two are stronger than anything else in the world."
December 4, 2013
I first read this book as a little girl-- I think I received it as a birthday present for my 7th birthday, possibly my 8th. It was love, pure and simple. I read it and re-read it, and puzzled over all the strange British details (St. George? Bath buns? Guy Fawkes night???), and just ate it up like it was ice cream. And then I went and grew up and became a normal (ok, normal-ish) person, except that every once in a while, something --a bowl of soggy cereal; a fresh fall of snow as pretty and sparkling as a frosted cake; the shadows cast by a streetlight on a garden at night-- would trigger a memory of that book, and I would be utterly transported back to those first vivid images it planted in my brain ages and ages ago.
Not every book I loved as a kid still holds up to rereading as an adult. Surprise surprise, right? But this one does. I first rediscovered it about 5 years ago, and it was like, I don't even know. Like I'd found that girl I was best friends with in kindergarden, but she moved to Georgia and I never got her address, and so I thought I'd never see her again, but then I DID, and she was even cooler than I remembered, and we became best friends all over again. It was like that. I can't even write about this book without wanting to read it all over again.
Not every book I loved as a kid still holds up to rereading as an adult. Surprise surprise, right? But this one does. I first rediscovered it about 5 years ago, and it was like, I don't even know. Like I'd found that girl I was best friends with in kindergarden, but she moved to Georgia and I never got her address, and so I thought I'd never see her again, but then I DID, and she was even cooler than I remembered, and we became best friends all over again. It was like that. I can't even write about this book without wanting to read it all over again.
October 20, 2016
I reread this every decade or so, and love it every time. Yay, it's now on Project Gutenberg so I can reread it again any time, and pass on my paperback to another reader.
Yes it's old-fashioned, but free from the pretensions and stuffiness that one tends to associate with that word. Yes, it's charming, almost twee - but, like the tales of Beatrix Potter, for example The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, it's got plenty of mischief and satire.
Far and away my favorite Nesbit, and probably my favorite depictions of dragons.
"The nine rubies were used afterwards in agriculture. You had only to throw them out into a field if you wanted it plowed. Then the whole surface land turned itself over in its anxiety to get rid of something so wicked, and in the morning the field was found to plowed as thoroughly as any young man at Oxford."
Yes it's old-fashioned, but free from the pretensions and stuffiness that one tends to associate with that word. Yes, it's charming, almost twee - but, like the tales of Beatrix Potter, for example The Tale of Ginger and Pickles, it's got plenty of mischief and satire.
Far and away my favorite Nesbit, and probably my favorite depictions of dragons.
"The nine rubies were used afterwards in agriculture. You had only to throw them out into a field if you wanted it plowed. Then the whole surface land turned itself over in its anxiety to get rid of something so wicked, and in the morning the field was found to plowed as thoroughly as any young man at Oxford."
October 29, 2018
The Book of Dragons is a children’s book of eight stories about, you guessed it, dragons. The book was written over a century ago but holds up surprisingly well.
Edith Nesbitt is one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. She is a master storyteller and her books have a good deal of humor, wit and rarely take things too seriously. CS Lewis is said to have read her books when he was a child. I couldn’t find anything about Tolkien reading Nesbitt when he was a child but the story of Smaug under the mountain in The Hobbit is similar to several of Nesbitt’s stories in this book, dragons living on their pile of gold under the mountain and then out of spite they go scorching towns.
Back to the book. There were four stories that my kids and I thought especially notable.
1. Uncle James - Evil Uncle James the magician runs Rotundia a world where big creatures are little and little creatures are big because the world spins the wrong way. When the evil uncle wants to sacrifice his niece the princess to the dragon, the niece’s lover fools the dragon and the uncle and fixes the world in the process.
2. The Island of Nine Whirlpools - princess is locked away on a remote island guarded by a dragon and nine whirlpools all arranged by her vindictive magician father. She stays alive on the island for generations without aging and her legend attracts suitors, usually sailors, who fail until a very clever boy arrives.
3. The Dragon Tamers - this story has a very weird twist at the end but involves a dragon in a dungeon who wants to eat the townspeople but is repeatedly tricked into captivity.
4. Kind Little Cockatrice - this one is a moral tale where an inventive but disobedient Edmund finally learns to listen to his elders when he befriends a cockatrice and needs to defeat a marauding dragon.
These last two stories reminded me of Tolkien (dragons) and CS Lewis (very similar writing style) although much more light hearted.
Edith Nesbitt is one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. She is a master storyteller and her books have a good deal of humor, wit and rarely take things too seriously. CS Lewis is said to have read her books when he was a child. I couldn’t find anything about Tolkien reading Nesbitt when he was a child but the story of Smaug under the mountain in The Hobbit is similar to several of Nesbitt’s stories in this book, dragons living on their pile of gold under the mountain and then out of spite they go scorching towns.
Back to the book. There were four stories that my kids and I thought especially notable.
1. Uncle James - Evil Uncle James the magician runs Rotundia a world where big creatures are little and little creatures are big because the world spins the wrong way. When the evil uncle wants to sacrifice his niece the princess to the dragon, the niece’s lover fools the dragon and the uncle and fixes the world in the process.
2. The Island of Nine Whirlpools - princess is locked away on a remote island guarded by a dragon and nine whirlpools all arranged by her vindictive magician father. She stays alive on the island for generations without aging and her legend attracts suitors, usually sailors, who fail until a very clever boy arrives.
3. The Dragon Tamers - this story has a very weird twist at the end but involves a dragon in a dungeon who wants to eat the townspeople but is repeatedly tricked into captivity.
4. Kind Little Cockatrice - this one is a moral tale where an inventive but disobedient Edmund finally learns to listen to his elders when he befriends a cockatrice and needs to defeat a marauding dragon.
These last two stories reminded me of Tolkien (dragons) and CS Lewis (very similar writing style) although much more light hearted.
August 28, 2019
قصص لطيفة جداً عن التنانين.
استمعت إليها قبل النوم ❤️
استمعت إليها قبل النوم ❤️
June 11, 2019
Büyük-çok büyük, görkemli, renkli, korkutucu.. Ejderhalar hayatlarımıza çocukluklarımızda giriyorlar. Kimimizi alevleriyle ürpertiyor, kimimizi büyülüyor.
Ben ejderhalar hakkında çok düşünmemiştim.. Ta ki Targaryen Hanesi'nden İsminin Birincisi Daenerys Fırtınadoğan, Büyük Çöl Deniz'in Khaleesi'si, Ejderhaların Annesi, Zincir Kıran, Andallar'ın ve İlk İnsanların Kraliçesi, Yedi Krallık'ın Hükümdarı, Diyarın Koruyucusu’na kadar. Ve kendimi büyülenen yetişkin-çocuklar tarafında buldum.
Edith Nesbith ejderhaların kanatlarının altında masallar anlatıyor, zorluklar karşısındaki cesaret örneklerini. Çok canlı karakterleri. Diğer eserlere ilham verecek denli..
*
Yazdığı çocuk kitapları ile birlikte yaşam öyküsüyle de dikkat çekiyor Nesbith. Durmadan çalışan- üreten ve çokça düşünen bir kadın o. Dili samimi, sade ancak düşündürücü de..
Ben ejderhalar hakkında çok düşünmemiştim.. Ta ki Targaryen Hanesi'nden İsminin Birincisi Daenerys Fırtınadoğan, Büyük Çöl Deniz'in Khaleesi'si, Ejderhaların Annesi, Zincir Kıran, Andallar'ın ve İlk İnsanların Kraliçesi, Yedi Krallık'ın Hükümdarı, Diyarın Koruyucusu’na kadar. Ve kendimi büyülenen yetişkin-çocuklar tarafında buldum.
Edith Nesbith ejderhaların kanatlarının altında masallar anlatıyor, zorluklar karşısındaki cesaret örneklerini. Çok canlı karakterleri. Diğer eserlere ilham verecek denli..
*
Yazdığı çocuk kitapları ile birlikte yaşam öyküsüyle de dikkat çekiyor Nesbith. Durmadan çalışan- üreten ve çokça düşünen bir kadın o. Dili samimi, sade ancak düşündürücü de..
February 25, 2023
"نعيش في عالم غـريب يجعـل من وجـود التنانين فكرة مقبولة"
تأخذنا إيديث في رحلة مشوقة لعوالم خيالية مختلفة في إنجلترا.. لنعيش مغامرات عديدة ونخوض تجارب فريدة ضمن أساطير التنانين المختلفة.
الكتاب عبارة عن مجموعة قصصية قصيرة عن التنانين، أبطاله أمراء وأميرات صغار ملائم للفئة العمرية الصغيرة أيضاً.
جذبني جداً جداً غلاف الكتاب فأنا أحب التنانين كثيراً وقد أبدعت منشوارت @cemetery.of.books كالعادة بتصميم الغلاف وأردت قراته وإضافته لأزين به مكتبتي المتواضعة.. رغم خيبة أملي الشديدة بأن جميع التنانين كانت شريرة😅
تأخذنا إيديث في رحلة مشوقة لعوالم خيالية مختلفة في إنجلترا.. لنعيش مغامرات عديدة ونخوض تجارب فريدة ضمن أساطير التنانين المختلفة.
الكتاب عبارة عن مجموعة قصصية قصيرة عن التنانين، أبطاله أمراء وأميرات صغار ملائم للفئة العمرية الصغيرة أيضاً.
جذبني جداً جداً غلاف الكتاب فأنا أحب التنانين كثيراً وقد أبدعت منشوارت @cemetery.of.books كالعادة بتصميم الغلاف وأردت قراته وإضافته لأزين به مكتبتي المتواضعة.. رغم خيبة أملي الشديدة بأن جميع التنانين كانت شريرة😅
March 4, 2014
I discovered this book on Kindle but unfortunately let it sit on my digital bookshelf for 18 months gathering bytedust (if there is such a thing). When I finally made the time to read it, I was very glad I did. Granted, I had thought it was a non-fiction book outlining all the various dragon myths of the world, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it was much more.
The Book of Dragons is a fun series of kid-friendly and humorous short stories about children and their misadventures with large, cumbersome, and problematic dragons. The book has been around for some time (over 100 years), but it contains a timeless quality that both engages the imagination and creates a sense of wonder. The writing is wonderful, and the sentiments, refreshing.
I wish I had read the Book of Dragons as a Child (or had it read to me), and I plan to share it with parents of youngsters I know, as well as my own children should I have them some day.
The Book of Dragons is a fun series of kid-friendly and humorous short stories about children and their misadventures with large, cumbersome, and problematic dragons. The book has been around for some time (over 100 years), but it contains a timeless quality that both engages the imagination and creates a sense of wonder. The writing is wonderful, and the sentiments, refreshing.
I wish I had read the Book of Dragons as a Child (or had it read to me), and I plan to share it with parents of youngsters I know, as well as my own children should I have them some day.
January 4, 2022
As a child I was a big fan of Edith Nesbit's books, but those included 'Phoenix and the Carpet', 'The Wouldbegoods', 'Five Children and It' and so on. I can't recall if I ever read this one, which would have been a library borrow if I did. It came across as written for a younger age group than the Nesbit novels I loved, and as a lifelong dragon fan it was quite galling that the dragons were bad and ended up dead, usually killed by people - sometimes in the most casual of ways as in the story where the country is beset by hundreds of dragons of all sizes.
For info, this edition, which has been on my Kindle for years, and which I can't recall downloading but must have come from a public domain site such as Project Gutenberg, was not illustrated.
I wasn't a big fan of this and can only award 2 stars.
For info, this edition, which has been on my Kindle for years, and which I can't recall downloading but must have come from a public domain site such as Project Gutenberg, was not illustrated.
I wasn't a big fan of this and can only award 2 stars.
February 11, 2017
*I received an audio copy of this book through Audioboom. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I don't know what didn't work for me in this. Some of the ideas were interesting, I just wasn't that thrilled by how things were handled. This was intended for children, I believe, so some of the issues with story telling might just be that I prefer stories written for an older audience.
Each story deals with a dragon. Usually the characters have to kill the dragon to escape or trick the dragon into being locked away. It has a lighthearted fairy tale feel in most of the stories. Wven when bad things happen (like getting turned to stone or having your hands burned off) there is always a way to fix it.
The audio was well done, the stories just didn't work that well for me.
I don't know what didn't work for me in this. Some of the ideas were interesting, I just wasn't that thrilled by how things were handled. This was intended for children, I believe, so some of the issues with story telling might just be that I prefer stories written for an older audience.
Each story deals with a dragon. Usually the characters have to kill the dragon to escape or trick the dragon into being locked away. It has a lighthearted fairy tale feel in most of the stories. Wven when bad things happen (like getting turned to stone or having your hands burned off) there is always a way to fix it.
The audio was well done, the stories just didn't work that well for me.
May 10, 2023
The writing is the best part of this book - Nesbit has a way with a phrase that is utterly delightful to read, from her statements about cats to her sly comments about the lack of motivation in little boys who don't want to go to school. The stories themselves are interesting, particularly for the way that they differ from modern dragon tales; dragons, even if they're reasonable, are always evil. The one exception is a dragon who later turns into a cat once he's domesticated. There's some of the usual sexism and racism found in works of this era, but not nearly as many as in others I've read. It's simply a nice little book of literary fairy tales.
July 17, 2016
Considering the fact that this book came out nealry a century ago, it wasn't a bad read. In fact I'm pretty impressed with the simplicity of the language which makes it easy for the reader to follow the stories.
Kids who love fantasy ie. Dragons, Princess and stuff would find this book to be amusing.
Kids who love fantasy ie. Dragons, Princess and stuff would find this book to be amusing.
May 1, 2023
Yazıldığı yıla göre değerlendirmek gerekirse gerçekten büyük ve renkli bir hayal gücünün ürünü olduğunu söylemek ve yazarı takdir etmek gerekir bence. Çocuklara yönelik olduğunu bile bile okumak istedim aslında, belki yetişkinlerin de keyifle okudukları çocuk kitapları gibidir diye düşündüm ama okurken epey sıkıldım. Gerçekten de çocukların keyif alarak okuyabileceği ama yetişkinlere pek de hitap etmeyen bir kitap bence. Keşke çocukken okusaydım.
February 10, 2022
Eight fantastic fantastical short stories!
Edith Nesbit {author} makes dragons as fun as they should be, for the reading children and the parents reading to their children.
She is in many respects the better Roald Dahl.
Edith Nesbit {author} makes dragons as fun as they should be, for the reading children and the parents reading to their children.
She is in many respects the better Roald Dahl.
March 21, 2022
One or two of the stories fell a little flat for me, but on the whole, Nesbit's imaginativeness with the elements of fantasy and playfulness with the English language are a delight.
Reader was very good by LibriVox standards and not even half bad by general standards.
Reader was very good by LibriVox standards and not even half bad by general standards.
March 17, 2022
Fantastic! Nesbit at her best. I will be reviewing this book for Concordis Education Partners's quarterly magazine, but suffice it to say this is a great book where Nesbit's dry English sense of humor fits like a kiddy-glove into the fairy tale setting. You feel the nuisance that dragons would be in our world, if they ever came, and you can never quite predict what Nesbit is going to do to get her children out of a tight spot. She also isn't too sentimental. Sure, there's some stuff at the beginning, but the last story is the opposite of sentimental and actually makes the point that not all grown-ups are foolish: "The master was ignorant and unbelieving: but I am told that some schoolmasters are not like that."
October 14, 2022
Top notch fairy tales. Loved the nonchalant touches of macabre too.
August 28, 2019
Yüzüklerin Efendisi ve Harry Potter serilerine ilham olduğu söylenilen kitap sekiz adet öyküden oluşuyor. Sekiz adet öykünün hepsi de farklı farklı ejderhaların hikayesini anlatıyor. Genel olarak baktığımızda başarılı bir çocuk kitabı olarak görüyorum. Ejderha seven ve çocuk kalan yetişkinlerin de okumasında sakınca yok. Hitap ettiği kitle düşünülürse kapağın biraz ağır kaldığını düşünüyorum.
Öyküler:
1. Canavarlar Kitabı: Büyük büyük büyük büyük büyük… babası kral olan bir çocuğun büyük büyük büyük büyük… babasının ölmesi üzerine kral olmasının hikayesi anlatılıyor. Kral olduktan sonra büyük büyük - neyse bu faslı geçiyorum- babasının çok kitap okuduğunu öğrenen çocuk kral bu kitaplara bakma aşkıyla yanıp tutuşur ve karşısına Canavarlar Kitabı çıkar fakat bu kitap yüzünden başına bir sürü iş açılır.
2. James Dayı: Dünyanın çorba gibi döndüğü zamanlarda bir talihsizlik sonucu ters yöne dönmeye başlayan bir çamur kütlesinin oluşturduğu Rotundia ülkesini konu alıyor. Tabii bu talihsizlik sonucunda hayvanların boyutları da bilindiğinden daha farklıdır. Akıllı Tom ve prenses Mary Ann burada çok iyi arkadaştırlar. Bir gün Rotundia ülkesine mor bir ejderha gelir. Bu arada bu ülkedeki herkes inanılmaz kibar ve iyi yüreklidir; bir kişi hariç.
3. Ülkenin Kurtarıcıları: Bir gün küçük bir kız olan Effie’nin sürekli olduğu gibi gözüne bir şey kaçar. Bilimle uğraşan babası gözündeki şeyi çıkartıp dikkatli bakınca yeni bir türle karşılaşır. Effie’nin gözünden çıkan minicik bir ejderhadır. Buna çok heyecanlanır fakat kısa süre sonra ülkenin her yerini irili ufaklı ejderhalar kaplar. O kadar çok ejderha olur ki ülke bir kaosa sürüklenir. Birilerinin ülkeyi kurtarması gerekmektedir.
4. Buz Ejderhası: Aralık ayının on birinci günün iki çocuk ailelerinin yapmamalarını istedikleri bir şeyi yapmaya karar verdiklerinde hikaye başlar. Bu iki çocuk kuzey ışıklarını merak ederek nasıl oluştuklarını merak eder ve bu yolda ilerledikçe bir kaydırak bulurlar. Kaydıraktan kayarken birkaç kişiyle karşılaşırlar fakat geri dönmek mümkün olmadığından kaymaya devam ederler. Sonunda kuzey ışıklarına ulaştıklarında garip bir manzarayla karşılaşırlar. Buzdan bir ejderha kaydırağın sonunda onları beklemektedir.
5. Dokuz Girdaplı Ada: Bu ülkede kraliçeler ve krallar çocuk istediklerinde Cadı’ya gitmek zorundadırlar. Kraliçelerden birisi bu istekle Cadı’nın mağarasına ulaşır. Çocuk sahibi olabilmek için varını yoğunu Cadı’ya verir. Cadı eve gittiğinde çocuğunu sarayda bulacağını, keder yılları geldiğinde ise kendisini ziyaret etmesini söyler. Kraliçe saraya gittiğinde tatlı bir kız çocuğu ile karşılaşır fakat bundan hoşnut değildir. Prenses büyüdüğünde aynı zamanda büyücü olan kral, prensesi bir adadaki kuleye hapseder. “Benim büyülerimden daha iyi yapan ve benden daha zeki olan birisi çıkınca prensesle evlenebilir.” der. Kraliçe kahrolur ve Cadı’ya gider.
6. Ejderha Terbiyecileri: Düzenbaz bir kralın ülkesinde, şehre çok az uzak bir kasabada yaşayan demirci John ve ailesi bir gün ne kadar inkar etseler de zindandan gelen sesi duyarlar. Zindana indiğinde ise vahşi ejderhanın kendisini beklediğini ve zırhını perçinlemesi karşısında John’u en son yutacağını söyler. John durumu idare etmeye çalışır fakat ejderhayı bağlaması karşılığında bebeğini de ona rehin olarak bırakır. Yaşanan birtakım olaylar sonunda vahşi ejderha gittikçe evcilleşir.
7. Öfkeli Ejderha: Yalancı ve güvenilmez bir krala sarayını kaptıran prensesin ejderha geçirmez bir kuledeki yaşantısının hikayesi. Bir gün prenses kuledeyken ormanın sınırında bir ejderha görür. Düzenbaz kral ejderhayı yakalamak için ava çıkar. İlk önce başarılı olamaz ve canını zor kurtarır fakat aynı gece bir domuzları olan bir adama rastlar. Son olarak onu da kandırarak ejderhayı yakalamayı başardığını düşünür fakat yanılıyordur.
8. Nazik, Minik Edmund: Öğrenmeyi çok seven fakat bunu okulda değil de deneyimlemeyi benimsemiş bir çocuk Edmund. Evdeki saatleri, tarakları vb. şeyleri sökerek nasıl işlediklerini öğrenmekten keyif alır. Okulu sürekli asan Edmund son derece nazik olmasının yanında çok soru sormaktadır. Bir gün kasabanın asla gitmediği, garip gürültülerin geldiği tarafa doğru gitmeye karar verir çünkü orada ne olduğunu merak etmektedir.
Öyküler:
1. Canavarlar Kitabı: Büyük büyük büyük büyük büyük… babası kral olan bir çocuğun büyük büyük büyük büyük… babasının ölmesi üzerine kral olmasının hikayesi anlatılıyor. Kral olduktan sonra büyük büyük - neyse bu faslı geçiyorum- babasının çok kitap okuduğunu öğrenen çocuk kral bu kitaplara bakma aşkıyla yanıp tutuşur ve karşısına Canavarlar Kitabı çıkar fakat bu kitap yüzünden başına bir sürü iş açılır.
2. James Dayı: Dünyanın çorba gibi döndüğü zamanlarda bir talihsizlik sonucu ters yöne dönmeye başlayan bir çamur kütlesinin oluşturduğu Rotundia ülkesini konu alıyor. Tabii bu talihsizlik sonucunda hayvanların boyutları da bilindiğinden daha farklıdır. Akıllı Tom ve prenses Mary Ann burada çok iyi arkadaştırlar. Bir gün Rotundia ülkesine mor bir ejderha gelir. Bu arada bu ülkedeki herkes inanılmaz kibar ve iyi yüreklidir; bir kişi hariç.
3. Ülkenin Kurtarıcıları: Bir gün küçük bir kız olan Effie’nin sürekli olduğu gibi gözüne bir şey kaçar. Bilimle uğraşan babası gözündeki şeyi çıkartıp dikkatli bakınca yeni bir türle karşılaşır. Effie’nin gözünden çıkan minicik bir ejderhadır. Buna çok heyecanlanır fakat kısa süre sonra ülkenin her yerini irili ufaklı ejderhalar kaplar. O kadar çok ejderha olur ki ülke bir kaosa sürüklenir. Birilerinin ülkeyi kurtarması gerekmektedir.
4. Buz Ejderhası: Aralık ayının on birinci günün iki çocuk ailelerinin yapmamalarını istedikleri bir şeyi yapmaya karar verdiklerinde hikaye başlar. Bu iki çocuk kuzey ışıklarını merak ederek nasıl oluştuklarını merak eder ve bu yolda ilerledikçe bir kaydırak bulurlar. Kaydıraktan kayarken birkaç kişiyle karşılaşırlar fakat geri dönmek mümkün olmadığından kaymaya devam ederler. Sonunda kuzey ışıklarına ulaştıklarında garip bir manzarayla karşılaşırlar. Buzdan bir ejderha kaydırağın sonunda onları beklemektedir.
5. Dokuz Girdaplı Ada: Bu ülkede kraliçeler ve krallar çocuk istediklerinde Cadı’ya gitmek zorundadırlar. Kraliçelerden birisi bu istekle Cadı’nın mağarasına ulaşır. Çocuk sahibi olabilmek için varını yoğunu Cadı’ya verir. Cadı eve gittiğinde çocuğunu sarayda bulacağını, keder yılları geldiğinde ise kendisini ziyaret etmesini söyler. Kraliçe saraya gittiğinde tatlı bir kız çocuğu ile karşılaşır fakat bundan hoşnut değildir. Prenses büyüdüğünde aynı zamanda büyücü olan kral, prensesi bir adadaki kuleye hapseder. “Benim büyülerimden daha iyi yapan ve benden daha zeki olan birisi çıkınca prensesle evlenebilir.” der. Kraliçe kahrolur ve Cadı’ya gider.
6. Ejderha Terbiyecileri: Düzenbaz bir kralın ülkesinde, şehre çok az uzak bir kasabada yaşayan demirci John ve ailesi bir gün ne kadar inkar etseler de zindandan gelen sesi duyarlar. Zindana indiğinde ise vahşi ejderhanın kendisini beklediğini ve zırhını perçinlemesi karşısında John’u en son yutacağını söyler. John durumu idare etmeye çalışır fakat ejderhayı bağlaması karşılığında bebeğini de ona rehin olarak bırakır. Yaşanan birtakım olaylar sonunda vahşi ejderha gittikçe evcilleşir.
7. Öfkeli Ejderha: Yalancı ve güvenilmez bir krala sarayını kaptıran prensesin ejderha geçirmez bir kuledeki yaşantısının hikayesi. Bir gün prenses kuledeyken ormanın sınırında bir ejderha görür. Düzenbaz kral ejderhayı yakalamak için ava çıkar. İlk önce başarılı olamaz ve canını zor kurtarır fakat aynı gece bir domuzları olan bir adama rastlar. Son olarak onu da kandırarak ejderhayı yakalamayı başardığını düşünür fakat yanılıyordur.
8. Nazik, Minik Edmund: Öğrenmeyi çok seven fakat bunu okulda değil de deneyimlemeyi benimsemiş bir çocuk Edmund. Evdeki saatleri, tarakları vb. şeyleri sökerek nasıl işlediklerini öğrenmekten keyif alır. Okulu sürekli asan Edmund son derece nazik olmasının yanında çok soru sormaktadır. Bir gün kasabanın asla gitmediği, garip gürültülerin geldiği tarafa doğru gitmeye karar verir çünkü orada ne olduğunu merak etmektedir.
August 19, 2024
Kitab Naga-Naga berisi tentang … naga, tentu saja. Buku yang terbit pertama kali pada tahun 1901 ini (atau 123 tahun yang lalu—Indonesia masih dikuasai Kolonial Belanda weh) ini berkonsep kumpulan cerita anak dengan mengangkat sosok naga dalam setiap ceritanya. Ada 8 kisah naga tetapi hampir semuanya menggambarkan sosok naga sebagai entitas yang jahat dan kejam. Mengingat waktu ditulisnya buku ini, wajar karena kala itu naga ala Eropa dipandang sebagai sosok yang kejam. Penggambaran naga di sini pun mirip dengan naga-naga ala barat, yang bersayap, bersisik keras, menyemburkan api, punya kekuatan magis, dan kejam. Ia digambarkan menelan kota, memakan manusia, melahap binatang, dan camilannya api. Para pecinta naga pasti bakal suka dengan buku ini sebagai salah satu karya awal yang mempioniri karya-karya fiksi fantasi tentang naga di Eropa.
1. Kitab Binatang
Seorang bocah mendadak ditunjuk menjadi raja sebuah negeri yang tadinya republik. Para sejarahwan kerajaan melacak garis keturunan kakek buyut dari kakek buyutnya sehingga sampailah mereka pada Lionel, pewaris terakhir. Selain mewarisi kerajaan, Lionel juga mewarisi perpustakaan istana. Dan dia suka membaca. Hanya saja, dia membaca buku yang salah, Kitab Binatang. Sebuah kitab sihir bergambar yang bisa menghidupkan dan mengeluarkan binatang di dalamnya. Aman jika yang keluar kupu-kupu atau burung berwarna cerah. Tapi bagaimana kalau yang keluar adalah naga? Lionel harus membuktikan dirinya layak dengan mengembalikan naga itu ke Kitab Binatang. Bagaimana Lionel yang kecil bisa mengalahkan naga yang raksasa dan bisa memakan kota? Kadang kala, otak lebih dibutuhkan daripada otot.
2. Paman James atau Mahkluk Asing Ungu
Kisah khas kerajaan, seorang putri pewaris sah dengan seorang paman jahat yang hendak merebut takhta. Tapi, si putri terlalu polos. Gawatnya, si paman juga seorang penyihir. Dia lalu mengatur agar putri dikorbankan kepada naga agar negerinya selamat. Sang putri tentu saja bersedia (kalian tahu kan kalau si putri berhati emas). Endingnya seperti yang sudah-sudah, kebajikan mengalahkan kejahatan dan naga!
3. Para Penyelamat Negeri
Kisah favorit di buku ini. Spesies naga mendadak muncul di kehidupan nyata. Bentuknya bermacam-macam, dari awalnya sebesar lalat (yang lalu menjadi perhatian pada ilmuwan, karena ada spesies baru) hingga sebesar rumah. Awalnya naga-naga ini hanya sekadar mengigit saat terusik, mirip serangga. Tapi, lama-lama naga semakin besar dan bervariasi hingga akhirnya mereka menguasai seluruh negeri. Naga di sini jadi mirip dinosaurus yang pernah menguasai bumi. Manusia terpaksa berdiam diri di dalam rumah saat siang hari dan baru beraktivitas ketika malam hari, saat naga tidur. Kalau tidak, naga akan memakan mereka. Keselamatan seluruh negeri bergantung pada dua anak kecil pemberani. Mereka harus menemukan kran yang tepat untuk bisa mengusir naga-naga itu selamanya dan merebut kembali siang hari mereka.
4. Naga Es, atau Lakukan Apa yang Diperintahkan
Dua anak menemukan jalan pintas menuju kutub utara. Mereka mendapati seluncuran ajaib yang bisa membawa seseorang (dan naga) langsung dari Inggris menuju pusat Kutub Utara. Awalnya hanya untuk melihat Cahaya Utara (Aurora Borealis), dan akhirnya berujung bertemu naga es. Lewat kisah ini, penulis hendak menunjukkan betapa kadang impian anak-anak tidaklah seindah kenyataan. Kutub utara sedemikian dinginnya dan tempat itu sangat berbahaya. Ini perlambang bahwa rasa penasaran tetap harus ada batasnya. Dan jika menurut rang dewasa sesuatu itu berbahaya, maka turutilah. Jadi buat anak-anak: Jangan ya dek ya, jangaaannnn!
5. Pulau Sembilan Pusaran Air
Kisah seorang putri yang dikurung di Menara oleh ayahnya, yang penyihir. Selain dikurung, ayahnya juga membuat pusaran air di sekeliling pulau, plus menambahkan naga sebagai penjaga. Siapa pembebas sang putri: tentu saja seorang pangeran atau calon pangeran. Metode mengalahkan naga di kisah ini pake perhitungan (yang lumayan rumit). Waktu yang tepat selalu menciptakan peluang yang harus digunakan. Hal menarik di kisah ini, 9 pusaran air timbul dari 9 tetes darah si raja. Karena darah si raja penyihir sedemikian jahatnya, laut berusaha menolaknya dengan membentuk pusaran air.
6. Para Penjinak Naga
Beberapa politisi dan pejabat kok kelakuannya nggak jauh beda ya, baik sekarang atau dulu. Mereka hanya mau dapat nama baik tapi tidak mau berkarya. Ketika ada seseorang yang berhasil memenangkan medali emas, atau menangkap seekor naga buas, para pejabat kerajaan berebutan ikut tampil. Mereka ingin dianggap berjasa juga. Mirip dengan kisah ke enam ini. Pada akhirnya, keberanian sejati tetap akan menampilkan diri. Mereka yang pengecut akan kelihatan aslinya.
7. Naga Api, atau Hati Batu dan Hati Emas
Putri yang dikurung di Menara oleh sepupunya yang ingin merebut kerjaan. Tema ini lagi! Tapi, ini di Menara antinaga, lengkap dengan segala peralatan anti naga. Sayangnya si putri begitu polosnya sehingga …ya manut-manut saja dikibulin. Tetapi, sekali lagi, hati yang murni akan mengalahkan hati yang jahat. Bahkan mahkluk naga pun tahu siapa yang hatinya jahat dan dengan demikian, bisa dimakannya.
8. Edmund Kecil yang Baik, atau Gua-Gua dan Cockatrice
Mengingatkan pada Edmund di kisah Narnia, rasa penasaran berujung pada kemalangan. Edmund ini bocah yang selalu ingin tahu, dia suka membolos karena sekolah terasa tidak cocok untuknya. Dia adalah tipe perintis, penjelajah, dan penemu. Tetapi oleh pengarang digambarkan seorang anak tidak boleh terlalu bersikap seperti itu kalau tidak mau celaka. Bahkan ketika Edmund berhasil menyelamatkan seisi kota dari naga, dia tetap dihukum. Orang lebih memilih mempercayai apa yang ingin dia dipercayai ketimbang apa yang harusnya dia percayai.
Kisah-kisah di buku ini sedikit banyak mengingatkan saya pada seri Narnia. Wanita yang anggun dan berhati bersih serta pria yang pahlawan dan pemberani. Setelah baca profil penulis di belakang buku, baru paham kalau E.Nesbit ini memang salah satu pengarang yang punya dampak besar terhadap karya-karya bertema anak di Inggris pada era-era berikutnya. Salah satunya, tentu saja C.S. Lewis. Pantas jika terasa aroma Narnia saat membaca buku ini, karena memang buku ini ditulis jauh sebelum seri Narnia muncul.
Kehati-hatian, kebaikan budi, keberanian, kebaikan mengalahkan kejahatan; hampir seluruh cerita digerakkan oleh tema-tema ini. Jatuhnya mungkin membosankan kadang, bahkan beberapa kali pengarang juga terasa mengurui saat menyampaikan petuahnya. Tetapi pembaca juga harus mempertimbangkan masa ketika buku ini ditulis, yakni akhir abad ke-19. Bukunya sendiri terbit 1901, di Inggris. Jadi wajar jika kondisi, situasi, dan sosial politik saat itu jauh berbeda di banding pertengahan abad ke-20 misalnya. Bagian "saling berciuman" ini juga agak gimana gitu. Walau masih ada yang tetap sama, misalnya bahwa dengan belajar kau akan pintar, dengan berani kau akan jadi mumpuni, dan dengan berkorban kau akan dapat kawan serta teman. Eh ada satu lagi yang tidak berubah: beberapa pejabat yang suka nebeng kesuksesan warganya …eh.
Untuk penggemar naga, baca buku ini, harus.
1. Kitab Binatang
Seorang bocah mendadak ditunjuk menjadi raja sebuah negeri yang tadinya republik. Para sejarahwan kerajaan melacak garis keturunan kakek buyut dari kakek buyutnya sehingga sampailah mereka pada Lionel, pewaris terakhir. Selain mewarisi kerajaan, Lionel juga mewarisi perpustakaan istana. Dan dia suka membaca. Hanya saja, dia membaca buku yang salah, Kitab Binatang. Sebuah kitab sihir bergambar yang bisa menghidupkan dan mengeluarkan binatang di dalamnya. Aman jika yang keluar kupu-kupu atau burung berwarna cerah. Tapi bagaimana kalau yang keluar adalah naga? Lionel harus membuktikan dirinya layak dengan mengembalikan naga itu ke Kitab Binatang. Bagaimana Lionel yang kecil bisa mengalahkan naga yang raksasa dan bisa memakan kota? Kadang kala, otak lebih dibutuhkan daripada otot.
2. Paman James atau Mahkluk Asing Ungu
Kisah khas kerajaan, seorang putri pewaris sah dengan seorang paman jahat yang hendak merebut takhta. Tapi, si putri terlalu polos. Gawatnya, si paman juga seorang penyihir. Dia lalu mengatur agar putri dikorbankan kepada naga agar negerinya selamat. Sang putri tentu saja bersedia (kalian tahu kan kalau si putri berhati emas). Endingnya seperti yang sudah-sudah, kebajikan mengalahkan kejahatan dan naga!
3. Para Penyelamat Negeri
Kisah favorit di buku ini. Spesies naga mendadak muncul di kehidupan nyata. Bentuknya bermacam-macam, dari awalnya sebesar lalat (yang lalu menjadi perhatian pada ilmuwan, karena ada spesies baru) hingga sebesar rumah. Awalnya naga-naga ini hanya sekadar mengigit saat terusik, mirip serangga. Tapi, lama-lama naga semakin besar dan bervariasi hingga akhirnya mereka menguasai seluruh negeri. Naga di sini jadi mirip dinosaurus yang pernah menguasai bumi. Manusia terpaksa berdiam diri di dalam rumah saat siang hari dan baru beraktivitas ketika malam hari, saat naga tidur. Kalau tidak, naga akan memakan mereka. Keselamatan seluruh negeri bergantung pada dua anak kecil pemberani. Mereka harus menemukan kran yang tepat untuk bisa mengusir naga-naga itu selamanya dan merebut kembali siang hari mereka.
4. Naga Es, atau Lakukan Apa yang Diperintahkan
Dua anak menemukan jalan pintas menuju kutub utara. Mereka mendapati seluncuran ajaib yang bisa membawa seseorang (dan naga) langsung dari Inggris menuju pusat Kutub Utara. Awalnya hanya untuk melihat Cahaya Utara (Aurora Borealis), dan akhirnya berujung bertemu naga es. Lewat kisah ini, penulis hendak menunjukkan betapa kadang impian anak-anak tidaklah seindah kenyataan. Kutub utara sedemikian dinginnya dan tempat itu sangat berbahaya. Ini perlambang bahwa rasa penasaran tetap harus ada batasnya. Dan jika menurut rang dewasa sesuatu itu berbahaya, maka turutilah. Jadi buat anak-anak: Jangan ya dek ya, jangaaannnn!
5. Pulau Sembilan Pusaran Air
Kisah seorang putri yang dikurung di Menara oleh ayahnya, yang penyihir. Selain dikurung, ayahnya juga membuat pusaran air di sekeliling pulau, plus menambahkan naga sebagai penjaga. Siapa pembebas sang putri: tentu saja seorang pangeran atau calon pangeran. Metode mengalahkan naga di kisah ini pake perhitungan (yang lumayan rumit). Waktu yang tepat selalu menciptakan peluang yang harus digunakan. Hal menarik di kisah ini, 9 pusaran air timbul dari 9 tetes darah si raja. Karena darah si raja penyihir sedemikian jahatnya, laut berusaha menolaknya dengan membentuk pusaran air.
6. Para Penjinak Naga
Beberapa politisi dan pejabat kok kelakuannya nggak jauh beda ya, baik sekarang atau dulu. Mereka hanya mau dapat nama baik tapi tidak mau berkarya. Ketika ada seseorang yang berhasil memenangkan medali emas, atau menangkap seekor naga buas, para pejabat kerajaan berebutan ikut tampil. Mereka ingin dianggap berjasa juga. Mirip dengan kisah ke enam ini. Pada akhirnya, keberanian sejati tetap akan menampilkan diri. Mereka yang pengecut akan kelihatan aslinya.
7. Naga Api, atau Hati Batu dan Hati Emas
Putri yang dikurung di Menara oleh sepupunya yang ingin merebut kerjaan. Tema ini lagi! Tapi, ini di Menara antinaga, lengkap dengan segala peralatan anti naga. Sayangnya si putri begitu polosnya sehingga …ya manut-manut saja dikibulin. Tetapi, sekali lagi, hati yang murni akan mengalahkan hati yang jahat. Bahkan mahkluk naga pun tahu siapa yang hatinya jahat dan dengan demikian, bisa dimakannya.
8. Edmund Kecil yang Baik, atau Gua-Gua dan Cockatrice
Mengingatkan pada Edmund di kisah Narnia, rasa penasaran berujung pada kemalangan. Edmund ini bocah yang selalu ingin tahu, dia suka membolos karena sekolah terasa tidak cocok untuknya. Dia adalah tipe perintis, penjelajah, dan penemu. Tetapi oleh pengarang digambarkan seorang anak tidak boleh terlalu bersikap seperti itu kalau tidak mau celaka. Bahkan ketika Edmund berhasil menyelamatkan seisi kota dari naga, dia tetap dihukum. Orang lebih memilih mempercayai apa yang ingin dia dipercayai ketimbang apa yang harusnya dia percayai.
Kisah-kisah di buku ini sedikit banyak mengingatkan saya pada seri Narnia. Wanita yang anggun dan berhati bersih serta pria yang pahlawan dan pemberani. Setelah baca profil penulis di belakang buku, baru paham kalau E.Nesbit ini memang salah satu pengarang yang punya dampak besar terhadap karya-karya bertema anak di Inggris pada era-era berikutnya. Salah satunya, tentu saja C.S. Lewis. Pantas jika terasa aroma Narnia saat membaca buku ini, karena memang buku ini ditulis jauh sebelum seri Narnia muncul.
Kehati-hatian, kebaikan budi, keberanian, kebaikan mengalahkan kejahatan; hampir seluruh cerita digerakkan oleh tema-tema ini. Jatuhnya mungkin membosankan kadang, bahkan beberapa kali pengarang juga terasa mengurui saat menyampaikan petuahnya. Tetapi pembaca juga harus mempertimbangkan masa ketika buku ini ditulis, yakni akhir abad ke-19. Bukunya sendiri terbit 1901, di Inggris. Jadi wajar jika kondisi, situasi, dan sosial politik saat itu jauh berbeda di banding pertengahan abad ke-20 misalnya. Bagian "saling berciuman" ini juga agak gimana gitu. Walau masih ada yang tetap sama, misalnya bahwa dengan belajar kau akan pintar, dengan berani kau akan jadi mumpuni, dan dengan berkorban kau akan dapat kawan serta teman. Eh ada satu lagi yang tidak berubah: beberapa pejabat yang suka nebeng kesuksesan warganya …eh.
Untuk penggemar naga, baca buku ini, harus.
July 3, 2020
The stories here are cute and the style enjoyable, but so many things don't mesh with our way of life anymore. A lot of the notions are super old fashioned and pretty much in a harmful way (girls being sillier than boys, goodness being equated with being white and blonde, girls needing to be saved all the time... And all the animal killing, omg. Save the dragons.)
May 29, 2017
Ohhh, while reading this, I could imagine a gentle grandma from the ~20s UK telling her grandchild/grandchildren nice little dragon stories, punctuated with teachings and (English) humor.
It definitely stroke a chord with me (even if the stories are - naturally! - childish).
It definitely stroke a chord with me (even if the stories are - naturally! - childish).
April 12, 2017
These stories are written in classic fairytale style and wrapped up in Wonderland hijinx with a side of Gulliver's adventures. I listened to the audiobook.
I was supplied with a review audiobook via Audiobook Boom.
I was supplied with a review audiobook via Audiobook Boom.
January 21, 2020
O kadar güzel, o kadar tatlı ve sevimli ki hikâyeler, okurken çocukluğuma döndüm ve zaman zaman kahkahalarla güldüm. Çok keyifli vakit geçirdim.
October 24, 2019
I'm not sure how I went my entire childhood without ever experiencing any of these. But as it is, this is a fantastic collection of short dragon-centric stories.
Karen Krause does an excellent job narrating the audiobook. Her voices are top notch, with even her male voices being varied and believable. Her vocal inflections are excellent and her tempo shifts throughout border on perfection.
Each of the 8 included stories are very different, from tone to theme to character and even setting.
All have rather bold-faced messages for the young ones, but even those are presented in entertaining and often comedic ways.
The characters are mostly good-hearted folk who manage to get themselves out of the troubles they often create for themselves in ways that are both touching and hilarious.
I can't recommend this book enough, whether you happen to be young or just young at heart. Or even just if you need a break from all the more serious fantasy stories you might have been reading recently.
Karen Krause does an excellent job narrating the audiobook. Her voices are top notch, with even her male voices being varied and believable. Her vocal inflections are excellent and her tempo shifts throughout border on perfection.
Each of the 8 included stories are very different, from tone to theme to character and even setting.
All have rather bold-faced messages for the young ones, but even those are presented in entertaining and often comedic ways.
The characters are mostly good-hearted folk who manage to get themselves out of the troubles they often create for themselves in ways that are both touching and hilarious.
I can't recommend this book enough, whether you happen to be young or just young at heart. Or even just if you need a break from all the more serious fantasy stories you might have been reading recently.
September 25, 2025
"Well, I shall read them all. I love to read. I am so glad I learned to read."
Read for the Back to Hogwarts Readathon 2025 challenge. The subject, Care of Magical Creatures, required to read a book with a dragon on the cover or in the title, so E. Nesbit's The Book of Dragons was perfect for this prompt!
The short stories were quite fun and entertaining, and there is a very good chance I will revisit this book again and again in the future.
Read for the Back to Hogwarts Readathon 2025 challenge. The subject, Care of Magical Creatures, required to read a book with a dragon on the cover or in the title, so E. Nesbit's The Book of Dragons was perfect for this prompt!
The short stories were quite fun and entertaining, and there is a very good chance I will revisit this book again and again in the future.
April 8, 2025
This is such a fun little book! I’m so thankful how she mostly follows the model of a boy needing to become brave so he can kill the evil dragon to save the girl. I can’t wait to share this with my boys!
April 10, 2020
Yetişkinlerden ziyade çocuklar için yazılmış kısa öykülerden oluşan hoş bir kitaptı.
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