What do you think?
Rate this book
The Complete Book of Dragons
Relates what happens to the very last dragon in Cornwall when the local princess and her prince decide, in a departure from tradition, to tame the dragon rather than fight him.
198 pages, Hardcover
Published October 26, 1972
120 people want to read
About the author
E. Nesbit
1,046 books1,004 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 21, 2015
Long before Pixar, Nesbit had mastered the adult wink. The last paragraph of "The Island of Nine Whirlpools": "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 which a great many people would like to be able to do." Indeed.
It's been a while since I read any Nesbit, and while this has undeniably dated - they're mostly from 1899 - it's interestingly dated, especially in its social detail (feeding the bear through the bars of its cage at the zoo?!). The various takes on the traditional fairy tale structure are assured and surprising. And often very, very funny.
It's been a while since I read any Nesbit, and while this has undeniably dated - they're mostly from 1899 - it's interestingly dated, especially in its social detail (feeding the bear through the bars of its cage at the zoo?!). The various takes on the traditional fairy tale structure are assured and surprising. And often very, very funny.
March 25, 2013
This was another book I read aloud with my kids. They love dragons for some reason, and they really enjoyed these stories. They have a fairy tale feel to them, with moral lessons, (somewhat) gruesome endings, and all. My children especially liked the baby that would cry and cry and cry whenever its mother was asleep. (No real surprise that my daughter felt a kinship with that particular character.) I especially liked that the princesses weren't all just waiting to be rescued and that so many of the dragons' scales clattered like metal. I like the idea that perhaps a dragon sounds a bit like a very large wind chime.
Maybe these stories will act as a gateway to other Edith Nesbit books that my children might finally allow me to read to them. Sure, I could read children's literature to myself, but it just feels more efficient to read it aloud to my kids since I read to them constantly anyway. It could also be a good introduction to The Hobbit.
Maybe these stories will act as a gateway to other Edith Nesbit books that my children might finally allow me to read to them. Sure, I could read children's literature to myself, but it just feels more efficient to read it aloud to my kids since I read to them constantly anyway. It could also be a good introduction to The Hobbit.
January 12, 2012
I can't stand Nesbit's writing. It's so twee and condescending. Some of these stories might actually have been fun had they not been written during a time when children were marginalized and considered stupid. Even as a child, I hated it when authors felt the need to talk down to young audiences, so this book annoyed the crap out of me.
June 7, 2022
I read the first 3 of the 9 stories with my 5 year old, before we had to return this book to the library. I appreciate Nesbit’s dry wit. I’d like to return to this book to finish it when my kids are a little older.
August 19, 2018
E. Nesbit alone is enough, but this has dragons too - it doesn't get much better. (I'm particularly fond of the Ice Dragon)
June 8, 2020
Dragons for days.
December 20, 2023
I picked this up purely by chance. I'd never read anything by E Nesbit, but I do love fantasy and dragons, which is why it caught my eye.
This book contains 9 stories for children about dragons. Now, they are a little old fashioned, given that they were written quite a while ago now, but they are full of life and character, much more than most modern childrens stories are.
There is something in this book for both boys and girls, as it's isn't just stories about a prince going to slay a dragon, there are stories about children befriending dragons, princesses fighting dragons, dragons so small they get stuck in your eye... this is truly a book to be cherished by children and adults alike.
It is the kind of book that is just perfect for reading to children at bedtime, and for them to read themselves when they get a little older. They aren't overly simple, so it doesn't feel like you are dumbing down children with them, but not so complicated that they would be bored because they didn't understand.
The illustrations are also wonderful, although there aren't many (2 per story approx.). But they really add a little extra to this book to make it really special.
So I'm really glad i picked this up at random, and would recommend it to anyone who likes dragon stories, no matter what age!
This book contains 9 stories for children about dragons. Now, they are a little old fashioned, given that they were written quite a while ago now, but they are full of life and character, much more than most modern childrens stories are.
There is something in this book for both boys and girls, as it's isn't just stories about a prince going to slay a dragon, there are stories about children befriending dragons, princesses fighting dragons, dragons so small they get stuck in your eye... this is truly a book to be cherished by children and adults alike.
It is the kind of book that is just perfect for reading to children at bedtime, and for them to read themselves when they get a little older. They aren't overly simple, so it doesn't feel like you are dumbing down children with them, but not so complicated that they would be bored because they didn't understand.
The illustrations are also wonderful, although there aren't many (2 per story approx.). But they really add a little extra to this book to make it really special.
So I'm really glad i picked this up at random, and would recommend it to anyone who likes dragon stories, no matter what age!
August 27, 2016
While the stories were a bit variable, I loved their style, and the fact that these dragons were often not like the typical dragon we think of these days (i.e. like Tolkien's Smaug). The astute asides, the taking you out of the story to talk to you directly; their wit reminded me of Dickens. I knew these stories were old, but I had no idea until now that they were written by a woman. That somehow makes me even more impressed because it was harder to be a female author then, I believe. Anyway, this was a very enjoyable book, and my 12 year old daughter is enjoying the stories too, although I don't think all children would have the patience for them.
Read
July 2, 2010I'm thinking this is the newest author that belongs in my collection. Some may not appreciate the very "Britishness" of the humor, but I love it.
From "Uncle James, or the Purple Stranger"
The Princess and the gardener's boy were playing in the back yard.
"What will you do when you grow up, Princess?" asked the gardener's boy.
"I should like to marry you, Tom," said the Princess. "Would you mind?"
"No," said the gardener's boy. "I shouldn't mind much. I'll marry you if you like--if I have time."
From "Uncle James, or the Purple Stranger"
The Princess and the gardener's boy were playing in the back yard.
"What will you do when you grow up, Princess?" asked the gardener's boy.
"I should like to marry you, Tom," said the Princess. "Would you mind?"
"No," said the gardener's boy. "I shouldn't mind much. I'll marry you if you like--if I have time."
October 24, 2008
This is such a great read aloud! I love E. Nesbit's style. Her stories are so every-day and so fantastical all at once. My children begged for more at the end of every story.
March 25, 2009
Funny short stories. Would make a good read-aloud.
March 23, 2011
Great series of short stories all involving dragons in some form. Had a great time reading a story each night at bedtime to my 8 and 5 year old. Old fashioned and dry British humor.
June 24, 2011
This was a darling compilation of stories about dragons for children. My son and I both really enjoyed reading this one together.
September 20, 2011
MCL.
Funny.
Funny.
May 31, 2016
This is a very fun read aloud
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews