THE DRAGON

by Archibald Marshall ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 31, 1967

Yesterday's story in today's tone of voice, of a ""very horrible"" dragon who ""began to eat up the people"" and what the king decided to do about it. Not that there was any choice--of course he had to offer his daughter as bride to whomsoever would slay the beast. So one by one the princes come, banquet, fall in love with the princess, and go out to battle, never to return. Now the Princess' nurse (for the girl is very young) happens to be a retired witch, and she gives the Princess a pill to make the last available prince invisible. But the last Prince is middle-aged, and after he is killed she gives the pill to his handsome page who slays the dragon and weds her. The dry, detached humor of the narrative is echoed in the illustrations, some pastel and some black and white, which show a princess ""looking too utterly lovely"" and the court looking courtly--but not quite classic. The sophisticated flow of words make this a natural for reading aloud; modern children who might laugh at the traditional dragon story will laugh with this one.

Pub Date: March 31, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1967

Categories: CHILDREN'S