AnexplorationofhowtheimageandideaofthedragonhasevolvedthroughhistoryHowdidthedragongetitswings?EveryoneinthemodernWesthasaclearideaofwhatadragonlookslikeandofthesortsofstoriesitinhabits,notleastdevoteesofthefantasiesofJ.R.R.Tolkien,J.K.Rowling,andGeorgeR.R.Martin.Acrossbetweenasnakeandsomefearsomemammal,oftensportingcolossalwings,theyliveincaves,lieontreasure,maraud,andbreathefire.Theyareextraordinarilypowerful,butevenso,ultimatelydefeatedintheirbattleswithhumans.Whatistheoriginofthiscreature?TheDragonintheWestisthefirstseriousandsubstantialaccountinanylanguageoftheevolutionofthemoderndragonfromitsancientforebears.DanielOgden’sdetailedexplorationbeginswiththedrakōnofGreekmythandthedracoofthedragon-lovingRomans,andalookattheancientworld’sfemaledragons.ItbringsthestoryforwardsthoughChristianwritings,medievalillustratedmanuscripts,andthelivesofdragon-duellingsaints,beforeconcludingwithastudyofdragonsfoundinthemedievalGermanicworld,includingthoseoftheAnglo-SaxonBeowulfandtheNorsesagas.
