The Book of Dragons is a collection of children's fantasy stories by E. Nesbit. Its eight tales mix magic, humour and adventure, featuring dragons, brave children, kings and strange creatures. It is a playful classic for readers who enjoy gentle, imaginative storytelling.
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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
THE BOOK OF DRAGONS The Book of DRAGONS E. Nesbit With illustrations by H. R. Millar Decorations by H. Granville Fell DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC. Mineola, New York Contents PAGE I. The Book of Beasts 1 II. Uncle James, or The Purple Stranger 19 III. The Deliverers of Their Country 39 IV. The Ice Dragon, or Do as You Are Told 57 V. The Island of the Nine Whirlpools 79 VI. The Dragon Tamers 99
VII. The Fiery Dragon, or The Heart of Stone and the Heart of Gold 119 VIII. Kind Little Edmund, or The Caves and the Cockatrice 139 List of Illustrations The Book of Dragons frontispiece The Book of Beasts page 1 "The dragon flew away across the garden." page 9 "The Manticora took refuge in the General Post Office." page 14 Uncle James, or The Purple Stranger page 19 "By-and-by he began to wander." page 30 "The dragon ran after her." page 36 The Deliverers of Their Country page 39 "The largest elephant in the zoo was carried off." page 44 "He rose into the air, rattling like a third-class carriage." page 51 The Ice Dragon, or Do as You Are Told page 57 "Sure enough, it was a dragon." page 69 "The dwarfs seized the children." page 73 The Island of the Nine Whirlpools page 79 "The lone tower on the Island of the Nine Whirlpools." page 89 "Little children play around him and over him." page 97 The Dragon Tamers page 99 "The dragon's purring pleased the baby." page 107 "He brought something in his mouth—it was a bag of gold." page 117