Dragons: A Natural History

by Karl Shuker

Book Overview

For millennia, few animals have fascinated mankind more than dragons. But until now, no rigorous survey has captured them in all their glorious variety. Dragons: A Natural History is that survey...a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076074551X
• ISBN13: 9780760745519
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Length: 120 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Very Cool

I was hesitant about this book, as I didn't want something that was fantastical (like the -ology books). This is a very fun look at Dragons: An ACTUAL History! I really liked learning about the different dragons across cultures and there are still tales involved, so it's not some dry history book. The illustrations are really neat, and I just really enjoyed this book. Very happy I got it!

One of the best, a must-read.

This book focuses primarily on Western dragons, although it does quite well at approaching dragons as a world-myth, which is its actual goal. It touches on Asian, American, and ancient Middle Eastern dragons... even real-life "dragons" such as komodo dragons... it covers pretty much all of them, its main oversight being that it never mentions medieval Persian dragons. Sometimes its interpretations and paraphrasings are painfully, agonizingly misleading. Example: leaving out the context of the Dragon of Wantley, which this book presented as being just another myth which was told in all seriousness, and most other books tell that it meant in its time as a satire, the poetic equivalent of a political cartoon. The illustrations are all contemporary to the myths, so you get to see how the creatures were really supposed to look when the tales were first told, and a taste of the culture which produced them... Japanese woodcuts, Babylonian reliefs, and so on. Some illustrations which were originally black and white have been colorized, which looks a bit strange. Of dragon reference books, it's still quite superior, though probably not the best ever.

Illustrations

One of the reviewers of this book has denigrated the illustrations. This is hard to understand as the glorious illustrations are one of the many highlights of this book. I think the reviewer may be thinking of another book on dragons with a similar cover. Karl Shuker's book, however, includes a wonderful selection of excellent paintings and illustrations from artists which include da Vinci and others.

A Visual Delight!

As both a professional graphics designer and a fan of all things dragonian, I cannot praise this book enough! It is one of the most beautiful-looking books I have ever seen, and for dragon lovers everywhere it is THE book to get if you want to have all the best illustrations of dragons together in one book. With page after page of glorious full-colour masterpieces by such artistic geniuses as Leonardo da Vinci, Uccello, Fuseli, and many other world-famous classic painters, as well as modern artists like Arthur Rackham, it is very difficult to take your eyes away from the pics and read the text! But you should do, because Shuker does a great job retelling famous and not-so-famous dragon legends and folkstories, and adding lots of fascinating factual info too. If there is anyone out there who doesn't like this book, especially its artwork, they have no understanding or love of art or beauty, because this wonderful book is filled with both. A real joy and treasure to view and to own. Well done to the author and the publishers! And don't take too long before you bring out another one like it!

A Must Have

A wounderful addition for the student of mythology and folklore or just anyone who likes dragons. The stories are well written and a pleasure to read. Has great descriptions on well known dragons as well as not so well known dragons. Also includes thoughts on what may have inspired the different dragon myths. I just love this book.

Well-illustrated Collection.

Karl Shuker pulls together the known and unknown in this incredibly illustrated volume. If you are into dragons, cryptozoology, or wish to complete your Shuker library, don't wait for this one to become "hard-to-find."Loren Coleman,Cryptozoology A to Z;The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Yeti, and Other Mystery Primates Worldwide.