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Isabella, Lady Trent, known as the world's preeminent dragon naturalist, writes her memoir detailing 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 dragon discoveries that would change the world forever.Tags
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Sammelsurium Both books focus on scientifically-minded female characters studying fantasy creatures and interacting with local communities in the places they travel to.
20
MyriadBooks For inquiry into anatomy.
souloftherose Scientifically minded young ladies having adventures and fantastical natural history
Sammelsurium Books about women in fantasy versions of historical England fighting to pursue aspirations beyond marriage.
Member Reviews
Well this was fun. In the imaginary country of Scirland, resembling Victorian England, Isabelle Hendemore, the only daughter among several sons, is expected to be a lady, but what she cares about is dragons. With limited options, she collects sparklings (once thought to be a species of insect but now known to be a miniature dragon, so named because they “spat infinitesimal sparks”), and sneaks books such as A Natural History of Dragons from her father’s library. When a dead sparkling disintegrates, the cook presents one preserved as a knickknack. How? “‘Vinegar,’ she said, and that one word set me upon the path that led to where I stand today.”
The book is written in the style of a memoir, an old woman reflecting on show more childhood, marriage, and behind-the-scenes events of famous expeditions. Its appeal is her voice: stoically accepting, humorously acerbic, parenthetically advising. Constrained to ladylike activities, she learns to draw. ”The truth is, I have no talent, and never did. ... But drawing was a suitable accomplishment for a young lady – one of the few I enjoyed – and I am nothing if not stubborn.” With the collusion of a sympathetic father and brother she meets Jacob Camherst. ”The general theory for young ladies at the time was that curiosity was considered more attractive to young men than knowledge.” but he is not put off by her quite unladylike outburst of information, and later teases that she wants to marry him for his library. Introduced to naturalist Maxwell Oscott at an otherwise tedious social event, she hears that he is planning a research expedition to Vystrana to study rock-wyrms. ”I like to believe the expression I presented to Lord Hilford was one of polite interest, rather than the quivering excitement I held within. ... I cultivated that connection with every wile I possessed, for I had awoken the morning after Renwick’s utterly possessed by a single notion: that Jacob should join the expedition.” Successful in this effort, she convinces both men that her skills as secretary and illustrator are essential. And thus begins the first of what hint to be many adventures. Isabelle Camherst was at the time a naïve 19 years of age, ignorant of other cultures. In hindsight, she cautions readers of her previously published travelogues. ”I beg you not to pay any attention to what I said there concerning the village, or indeed the Vystrani people as a whole. The words I wrote then heartily embarrass me now. I was attempting, against my inclination, to conform to the expectations of travel writing, as practiced by young ladies at the time.” Here is the real story.
I suppose this to be YA; one review says grade 7 up. I’m well beyond, but found the book highly entertaining. show less
The book is written in the style of a memoir, an old woman reflecting on show more childhood, marriage, and behind-the-scenes events of famous expeditions. Its appeal is her voice: stoically accepting, humorously acerbic, parenthetically advising. Constrained to ladylike activities, she learns to draw. ”The truth is, I have no talent, and never did. ... But drawing was a suitable accomplishment for a young lady – one of the few I enjoyed – and I am nothing if not stubborn.” With the collusion of a sympathetic father and brother she meets Jacob Camherst. ”The general theory for young ladies at the time was that curiosity was considered more attractive to young men than knowledge.” but he is not put off by her quite unladylike outburst of information, and later teases that she wants to marry him for his library. Introduced to naturalist Maxwell Oscott at an otherwise tedious social event, she hears that he is planning a research expedition to Vystrana to study rock-wyrms. ”I like to believe the expression I presented to Lord Hilford was one of polite interest, rather than the quivering excitement I held within. ... I cultivated that connection with every wile I possessed, for I had awoken the morning after Renwick’s utterly possessed by a single notion: that Jacob should join the expedition.” Successful in this effort, she convinces both men that her skills as secretary and illustrator are essential. And thus begins the first of what hint to be many adventures. Isabelle Camherst was at the time a naïve 19 years of age, ignorant of other cultures. In hindsight, she cautions readers of her previously published travelogues. ”I beg you not to pay any attention to what I said there concerning the village, or indeed the Vystrani people as a whole. The words I wrote then heartily embarrass me now. I was attempting, against my inclination, to conform to the expectations of travel writing, as practiced by young ladies at the time.” Here is the real story.
I suppose this to be YA; one review says grade 7 up. I’m well beyond, but found the book highly entertaining. show less
Isabella, Lady Trent, is a distinguished dragon naturalist and A Natural History of Dragons is the first instalment of her memoirs. A Natural History takes us back to the beginning with Isabella’s fledgling interest in dragons, her early marriage and her first expedition to the rugged mountains of Vystrana in search of rock-wyrm dragons.
Isabella is an intelligent, unconventional woman who manages to (mostly) navigate the easily recognisable world of Victorian social structures, morals and restrictions within which A Natural History is set. Looking back on her earlier years, Isabella offers some forthright commentary of some of her youthful actions that I think adds some humour and saves the reader from the irritation of a smart woman show more doing dumb things.
A Natural History is written in a very engaging, conversational style and there seemed to be occasional nods to some ongoing, real world issues. For me, text in two sections in particular had me drawing parallels to Japan’s programme of scientific whaling, and the often knee-jerk reaction of setting drum lines after a shark attack. While both of these instances threw me out of the story somewhat (mostly because I have strong opinions on both topics), I love that I could make those kinds of connections reading fantasy. In the About Author, Brennan writes that she “habitually pillages her background in anthropology and archaeology” and I think this is evident.
This is a faced paced, adventure romp with an underlying intelligence that makes this a great read which crosses several genres. There is also beautiful art throughout which adds to the reading experience. I'll definitely be getting my hands on the second book of the series. show less
Isabella is an intelligent, unconventional woman who manages to (mostly) navigate the easily recognisable world of Victorian social structures, morals and restrictions within which A Natural History is set. Looking back on her earlier years, Isabella offers some forthright commentary of some of her youthful actions that I think adds some humour and saves the reader from the irritation of a smart woman show more doing dumb things.
A Natural History is written in a very engaging, conversational style and there seemed to be occasional nods to some ongoing, real world issues. For me, text in two sections in particular had me drawing parallels to Japan’s programme of scientific whaling, and the often knee-jerk reaction of setting drum lines after a shark attack. While both of these instances threw me out of the story somewhat (mostly because I have strong opinions on both topics), I love that I could make those kinds of connections reading fantasy. In the About Author, Brennan writes that she “habitually pillages her background in anthropology and archaeology” and I think this is evident.
This is a faced paced, adventure romp with an underlying intelligence that makes this a great read which crosses several genres. There is also beautiful art throughout which adds to the reading experience. I'll definitely be getting my hands on the second book of the series. show less
Perhaps an unfortunate side-effect of the strength of narrator-voice in this book is a mannered distancing from the story; while I really enjoyed this, it didn't grab me tight and swing me merrily along. But I very much felt our heroine's struggle against the strictures of society's gendered demands - a struggle that worked all the better for me because of the effort she put into fitting herself into the role dictated for her, and the misery it caused. Because of that, and the wonderful development of her relationship with her husband, I felt certain elements of the story very deeply, making this all the more an effective book for me. (Also love that the dragons are animals, majestic and wild and uninterested in humans except as food or show more foe.) show less
Isabella, Lady Trent, is now the world's most famous dragon naturalist, by she was once a young girl in a land called Scirland, like and unlike our own Regency England, with an interest in dragons considered distinctly unladylike. But when it comes time for her to marry, her loving and indulgent father helps her find a husband who shares her interest in dragons and will be equally indulgent in letting her share the use of his library.
He did not expect that, after two years of marriage, Isabella and Jacob would join an expedition to study dragons in Vystrana.
What neither she, nor Jacob, nor Lord Hilford, expects is that she will do more than draw sketches of the the dragons and file the men's notes.
The story is told as the now-elderly show more Lady Trent's memoir of the first expedition that was the start of her scientific career, making breakthroughs not just in natural history but in what women were allowed to do.
I really enjoyed this. Isabella's developing interests, struggles against restraints and expectations, and blossoming as a young scientist are all very well down, and her voice is very convincing. Brennan avoids a mistake that many writers make, in that her back history of a world with actual dragons is, while recognizably our planet, not at all our history. Scirland has a fair amount in common with our England, but isn't our England. A country that isn't a Russia we'd recognize is ruled by a Tsar, but the people filling recognizably familiar roles, are not people we know from history, renamed or not. Altogether, it gives this fantasy world a greater sense of reality.
Recommended. show less
He did not expect that, after two years of marriage, Isabella and Jacob would join an expedition to study dragons in Vystrana.
What neither she, nor Jacob, nor Lord Hilford, expects is that she will do more than draw sketches of the the dragons and file the men's notes.
The story is told as the now-elderly show more Lady Trent's memoir of the first expedition that was the start of her scientific career, making breakthroughs not just in natural history but in what women were allowed to do.
I really enjoyed this. Isabella's developing interests, struggles against restraints and expectations, and blossoming as a young scientist are all very well down, and her voice is very convincing. Brennan avoids a mistake that many writers make, in that her back history of a world with actual dragons is, while recognizably our planet, not at all our history. Scirland has a fair amount in common with our England, but isn't our England. A country that isn't a Russia we'd recognize is ruled by a Tsar, but the people filling recognizably familiar roles, are not people we know from history, renamed or not. Altogether, it gives this fantasy world a greater sense of reality.
Recommended. show less
A well-written and engaging fictional memoir of a more-or-less-British more-or-less-19th-century woman scientist (more-or-less because the story takes place in a fantasy world with these big flying lizardy things called dragons and with different place names, religions, and calendar systems from the ones we know and love). This book handles first person narration successfully--not something I say a lot. It's a novel take on dragons, and also on women in science.
Less light and cheerful than I'd expected from the beginning, but not horrifically depressing or disturbing. I look forward to reading its sequel!
Less light and cheerful than I'd expected from the beginning, but not horrifically depressing or disturbing. I look forward to reading its sequel!
A rather delightful novel about a budding female scientist in a quasi-Victorian fantasy land. Told in memoir form, the writing nicely captures the flavour of many actual 19th century books, and it's real page-turner, too, with an exciting and entertaining story, punctuated by some lovely illustrations. I also appreciate that, as a woman fascinated by dragons, Isabella is breaking the mould of her society in many respects, while at the same time she's thoroughly immersed in the unrecognised (by her) privilege of her upper middle-class background, and it's these two qualities that provide many of her finest *and* her worst moments in this novel. I look forward to her continuing adventures!
Digital audio performed by Kate Reading
Subtitle: A Memoir by Lady Trent
From the book jacket: All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, knows 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.
My reactions:
Well, this was a wonderful romp of an adventure. We learn how Isabella became interested in natural history, and dragons in particular. As the show more only daughter in a family of six children, she struggled to be ladylike, but her curiosity would not be dampened. Her father suggested she try book learning rather than “field work” and when she came of age to marry she was fortunate to find a man whose intellectual curiosity matched hers and who was more than willing to have her continue her research. And that is how they come to take a thrilling expedition to foreign lands in search of dragons.
Isabella is a wonderful heroine. She’s intelligent, tenacious, curious, and determined. She makes sure that she is of value to the expedition by honing her skill at anatomical drawing so as to record the expedition forces’ findings. But she also is a keen observer on her own. Of course, it is she who solves the great mystery at the center of this adventure.
While the time is set in approximately the Victorian era, Brennan has really created a marvelous world where dragons roam. She includes much information about the various sub-species and their differences in both appearance and behavior. I was completely engaged from beginning to end. I’ll definitely continue with the series.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. Her diction is clear and easy to understand. She really brings these characters to life. show less
Subtitle: A Memoir by Lady Trent
From the book jacket: All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, knows 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.
My reactions:
Well, this was a wonderful romp of an adventure. We learn how Isabella became interested in natural history, and dragons in particular. As the show more only daughter in a family of six children, she struggled to be ladylike, but her curiosity would not be dampened. Her father suggested she try book learning rather than “field work” and when she came of age to marry she was fortunate to find a man whose intellectual curiosity matched hers and who was more than willing to have her continue her research. And that is how they come to take a thrilling expedition to foreign lands in search of dragons.
Isabella is a wonderful heroine. She’s intelligent, tenacious, curious, and determined. She makes sure that she is of value to the expedition by honing her skill at anatomical drawing so as to record the expedition forces’ findings. But she also is a keen observer on her own. Of course, it is she who solves the great mystery at the center of this adventure.
While the time is set in approximately the Victorian era, Brennan has really created a marvelous world where dragons roam. She includes much information about the various sub-species and their differences in both appearance and behavior. I was completely engaged from beginning to end. I’ll definitely continue with the series.
Kate Reading does a marvelous job of narrating the audiobook. Her diction is clear and easy to understand. She really brings these characters to life. show less
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Author Information
98+ Works 11,490 Members
Marie Brennan is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- A Natural History of Dragons
- Original publication date
- 2013-02-05
- People/Characters
- Isabella Camherst, nee Hendemore, later Lady Trent; Jacob Camherst; Maxwell Oscott, Earl of Hilford; Thomas Wilker; Dagmira; Iosif Abramovich Khirzoff (show all 10); Astimir; Gaetano Rossi; Iljish; Jindrik Gritelkin
- Important places
- Scirland; Vystrana; Drustanev, Vystrana
- First words
- Preface
Not a day goes by that the post does not bring me at least one letter from a young person (or sometimes one not so young) who wishes to follow in my footsteps and become a dragon naturalist.
One
When I was seven, I found a sparkling lying dead on a bench at the edge of the woods which formed the back boundary of our garden, that the groundskeeper had not yet cleared away. - Quotations
- I had just discovered the wishbone when I heard a shout behind me, and turned to see a stableboy staring at me in horror.
While he bolted off, I began frantically trying to cover my mess, dragging hay over the disembod... (show all)ied body of the dove, but so distressed was I that the main result was to make myself look even worse than before. By the time Mama arrived on the scene, I was covered in blood and bits of dove-flesh, feathers and hay, and more than a few tears. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Tucking errant strands of hair behind my ears, I took A Natural History of Dragons off the shelf and curled up in the window seat to read.
- Blurbers
- Fox, Daniel; Hines, Jim C.; Rawn, Melanie
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 813.6
- Canonical LCC
- PS3602.R453
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