Prince and the Dragons

What happens when a prince fishes in the castle moat using a toy wooden elephant as bait? Something gloriously absurd and entirely unexpected. This turn-of-the-century gem pitches readers into a world where a Count Bricabrac and Duchess Darningneedle mingle with a scheming witch and an entire family of dragons, each more ridiculous than the last. The Prince's improbable catch sets off a chain of complications that unfold with the gentle logic of a dream, where the impossible is treated as merely inconvenient. Tudor Jenks wrote with a kind of joyful inventiveness that feels distinctly modern in its refusal to take anything seriously, including itself. The Dragon National Song alone is worth the price of admission: a piece of pure absurdist nonsense that burrows into your brain and refuses to leave. This is fairy tale logic at its most delightful: rules exist only to be broken, and the best solution to any problem is usually the most ridiculous one. Perfect for readers who loved The Phantom Tollbooth or Roald Dahl at their most unhinged.