The work of Dr Ernest Drake, the eminent Victorian expert on all things to do with dragons, lay undiscovered and unappreciated in antique bookshops for decades until recent interest in these amazing creatures brought about a reassessment of the good doctor's writings. Often dismissed as a crank by anyone who picked up one his dusty volumes, Dr Drake is now enjoying a revival of his writings which first appeared in print at the end of the twentieth century.
Two of last year's best selling novels, Dragon Rider and Eragon, both had dragons as their central character, so an interest in these reclusive creatures is out there waiting to be tapped. The publishers of the current edition of Working With Dragons have had the clever idea of presenting Dr Drake's work as a modern textbook on the subject of dragons. Textbooks can be dull and boring, as we all know. But not this one. Working With Dragons is fascinating and lively and it can be enjoyed by anyone who believes that magical beasts could exist.
Working With Dragons might well have been called Dragonology For Dummies because it takes us step-by-step through elementary, intermediate and advanced dragonology studies. No scale is left unturned as we learn all about dragon biology, dragon power and dragon legends. And the chapter on dragon first aid will come in handy if your dragon suffers injury or accident.
Dr Drake is not the stuffy old Victorian scientist that you might expect him to be. He was an entertainer as well as a teacher. The modern edition of his book reproduces a lot of the colourful gimmicks Dr Drake used to keep his students amused. We have stickers to use, envelopes to fill with our own notes and at the end of the book there is a certificate from the Secret and Ancient Society of Dragonologists to say that we have completed the course.
The art work of Working With Dragons is inventive and page after page there are interactive delights to enjoy. Even the homework tasks that the good doctor sets are a pleasure to complete.
If you are unsure about the existence of dragons, this book could convert you. Dr Drake is an expert in his chosen subject and there is no doubt that dragons are as real to him as next door's dog. There have been rumours that Dr Drake never existed and that Working With Dragons is a work of fiction. The best thing to do is make up your own mind by reading the book.