This book takes a comprehensive look at dragons, our most popular and beloved mythological creature, from a cultural and historical perspective. From Chinese Imperial dragons to the worms and wyverns of English folklore, dragons appear in myths and legends around the world and throughout history.

Follow the evolution of the dragon from creation myths through to Medieval and Viking dragons and on to our present-day love of this mythological beast. Across the globe, dragons appear in almost every culture but their appearance, stories and meaning differ. We will take a tour through time and look more closely at the myths, tales and legends of different cultures.

Throughout society and culture, dragons have played various roles alongside humans – as creators, enemies, treasure hoarders, and allies. They are part and parcel of the rich mythology and legends that are the backbone of any culture. They live in our imagination and our psyche. And while they have a long history of focusing in literature, they now also appear on our screens from treasure-hoarding dragons to cute, adorable creatures.

Packed with tales from around the world and illustrations and images of dragons through time, this is an essential guide for dragon lovers everywhere.

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 Origins of the World Dragon
• Chapter 2 Types of Dragons
• Chapter 3 Early Myths
• Chapter 4 From the Ancient World to Classical Civilisations
• Chapter 5 Viking Dragons
• Chapter 6 Christianity and the Dragon
• Chapter 7 The Medieval Dragon in Folklore and Literature
• Chapter 8 Dragon Tales from the West
• Chapter 9 Dragon Tales from the East
• Chapter 10 Dragons in Film and Fiction
• Epilogue
• References
• Illustration Credits
• Further Reading