The Book of Dragons

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

23661

Title

The Book of Dragons

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A whimsical fantasy tale where a young boy becomes King and accidentally releases magical beasts from a forbidden book. Blending humor, adventure, and gentle moral lessons, this story invites readers into a world where dragons, dwarfs, and talking birds solve problems with unexpected charm.

Summary up to 500 words

In E. Nesbit's *The Book of Dragons*, a collection of whimsical tales set in a world where magic is tangible and often chaotic, young Lionel is crowned King after his ancestor's death. Despite warnings from his Prime Minister and Chancellor that his predecessor was a 'wizard' and his books dangerous, Lionel discovers *The Book of Beasts*. Upon opening it, he accidentally releases a Red Dragon, which flies away, leaving the boy feeling guilty for endangering the kingdom he has just inherited. The story establishes that magic is real and that even a well-meaning child can unleash powerful forces. In a separate adventure, children George and Jane are captured by sealskin dwarfs and frozen at the North Pole by an Ice Dragon. Their rescue comes from unlikely allies: a polite white grouse and a swarm of Arctic moths. The grouse shares its feathers to keep the children warm, while the moths devour the dwarfs, who are made of sealskin. Once the dwarfs are eliminated, the Ice Dragon, previously frozen solid, thaws out. Realizing the children are frozen to his back, he carries them south, rattling like a chandelier, until they reach a bonfire that melts him into a pool of water, allowing the children to return home safely. Another tale involves a Queen seeking a child from a witch. The Queen trades her crown, jewels, and lilies for a perfect baby with golden hair and a soul as sweet as lilies. However, the witch reveals her true desire: she wishes for someone to love her, a sentiment the Queen cannot fulfill. This story explores the contrast between material wealth and emotional connection. The final narrative focuses on a kind boy named Edmund and a dragon who has swallowed a town. Edmund helps the dragon and her baby drakling, leading to a humorous resolution where the dragon eventually spits the town out onto a hillside. Edmund's honesty is tested when his prejudiced schoolmaster refuses to believe the magical events, caning him for arguing against reality. Despite the master's ignorance and the town's skepticism, Edmund remains true to his friends and the truth. Through these interconnected stories, the book celebrates kindness, courage, and the unexpected nature of magic, suggesting that even the most terrifying creatures can be friends if treated with respect and understanding.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23661.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg23661.epub

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2026-07-04 19:18 UTC

Categories

• Short Stories
• Children's stories
• Dragons