Abstract: | How did the dragon get its wings? Everyone in the modern West has a clear idea of what a dragon looks like and of the sorts of stories it inhabits, not least devotees of the fantasies of J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin. A cross between a snake and some fearsome mammal, often sporting colossal wings, they live in caves, lie on treasure, maraud, and breathe fire. They are extraordinarily powerful, but even so, ultimately defeated in their battles with humans. What is the origin of this creature? 'The Dragon in the West' is a serious and substantial account of the evolution of the modern dragon from its ancient forebears. |
