A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan
2014 - Tor ebook - 335 pages
All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.
Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.
You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon’s presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one’s life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .
I would imagine that everyone on BCF loves it when a book comes along out of the blue and captures your imagination so completely that you become lost in its world and never want to leave. To be fair, it's happened to me a few times this year, mainly with Patrick O'Brian, but - in his case - I was expecting it. When I saw Laura's photo of the cover of Marie Brennan's A Natural History of Dragons, and then went off to read the sample on Amazon, I really wasn't expecting this book to do the same.
I read a few of the comments on Amazon and goodreads just now and had to laugh. Apparently there are some people out there who didn't look beyond the novel's stunningly beautiful cover art by Todd Lockwood (who has also produced cover art for the likes of Tad Williams and C J Cherryh) and bought it on the assumption it was going to be an art book full of paintings of dragons Apparently, there are also some people who only like their dragons in Tolkien or Martin-esque form, slaying and being slayed, sitting on hordes of gold etc etc.
To dispel those ideas immediately, this is neither of those kinds of books. What Brennan has done here in, I think, quite remarkable fashion, is to craft a story - set in a quasi-Victorian, pre-suffrage world - about a young woman striving to break the boundaries expected of her gender in that society and become what she wants to be. This is not fantasy in the mould of Tolkien or Martin, but rather a fantasy conjured from the science fiction of Jules Verne and H G Wells via the romanticism of Jane Austen or Charlotte Bronte, except the love interest is not human.
It is dragons that fire this need within Isabella, discovered at the age of seven when she finds a dead sparkling (a tiny, dragon-like creature) at the bottom of the garden, and her persuading her father to buy Sir Richard Edgworth's book, A Natural History of Dragons, which serves to inspire everything that follows. As this is a memoir, it is her elderly self narrating the story, looking back on her early life with a critical eye and self-deprecating wit. She tells us of her childhood adventures, of how her mother had more traditional ideas for her future, and of how she manages to inveigle herself onto an expedition to the far away country of Vystrana (which comes across a little like Transylvania) where a dragon 'problem' has reared its head.
I was reading The Martian and it was irritating the hell out of me because I hated the narrative voice so much. The contrast here could not be greater. Brennan's narrative voice is almost spot on. A few 'Americanisms' sneak through (things like 'I'll go look' instead of 'I'll go and look', or the use of that damned 'obligated' instead of 'obliged') which tended to kick me out of what is otherwise an immaculate evocation of Victorian times. But really, it only happens on four or five occasions in the novel, not enough to be a deal-breaker. For the other 99.9% of the book I'd say it was perfect, a joy to read, and completely immersive. Add to this Isabella's sketches of the various types of dragon and environments (again by Lockwood) and the book becomes a window into a forgotten past.
The characters are great. You would expect this of Isabella, as it is her voice telling the story, but to find other gems such as Jacob, Mr Wilker, and the wonderfully grumpy and gothic Dagmira, was a real surprise. The relationship between Isabella and Jacob is especially impressive because there were a couple of instances where their interactions actually brought a tear to my eye and managed it without any kind of sentimentality (of which there is a pleasing lack). All this, and she manages to address not only issues of gender and equality but also of class and social graces, whilst creating a plot full of mystery and intrigue.
I loved it. I can't wait to read more of Lady Trent's adventures. Of course, the one gripe is that maybe there aren't enough dragons, and perhaps that is true. Their appearances are brief and scattered throughout the book, but Isabella's love, awe, and fear of them is pervasive. Some people will inevitably be disappointed. But, if they're prepared to look beyond that disappointment and delve beneath the surface, they will find a unique, inventive, engaging, absorbing tale.
It is so much more than a book about dragons.
