Freddy and the Dragon

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Freddy and the Dragon
FreddyAndTheDragon.jpg
First edition - The dragon confronts the headless horseman
AuthorWalter R. Brooks
IllustratorKurt Wiese
CountryU.S.
LanguageAmerican English
SeriesFreddy the Pig
Genre Children's novel, Comic novel
Published1958 Alfred A. Knopf
2000 The Overlook Press
Media typePrint
Pages237 (pp. 2 – 239)
ISBN 1-58567-026-X (2000 hardback)
OCLC 43465169
LC Class PZ7.B7994 Fod 2000
Preceded by'Freddy and the Flying Saucer Plans 
LCCN   58-13476

Freddy and the Dragon (1958) is the 26th and last book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy's attempts to catch the gang extorting money from Centerboro's city folk are hindered by a headless horseman. The dragon created as a circus attraction becomes a tool in fighting crime. The Bean animals settle accounts with the gang and with a long-standing foe.

Contents

Plot summary

Back from a trip, Freddy is surprised that many in Centerboro want him arrested. Considerable property damage has been done by a gang including a pig looking like Freddy. Investigating, Freddy shows that damage done in one case could not have been done by him. He is still under suspicion, and is called for an unpleasant police questioning. He instructs the A.B.I. (Animal Bureau of Investigation) to search the countryside, and immediately discovers a bull who has been damaging farms and crops. Freddy's perfume-filled water pistols turn the bull Percy into a smelly laughing stock. He is subdued and they capture him.

The search for the gang continues. Most of Centerboro thinks Freddy is responsible for the crimes, but not the “solid” citizens. Since Freddy is the president of his animal bank, the town's human banker vouches for him:

"'You think that because he is a banker, he is incapable of committing a crime?'...
'Sir,' said Mr. Weezer, 'when a banker commits a crime, it is a big crime, a first-class crime, a crime on a scale with his standing in the community.'" (p. 62)

The Bean cow sisters discover that Percy is the father who abandoned them as calves; the bull is unmoved. He refuses to discuss his gang.

Freddy had been asked for a suggestion to help a circus. Now Uncle Ben the inventor suggests creating a fire-breathing dragon.

The gang begins demands for money. Freddy and Jinx the cat lie in ambush at the money drop site, but are terrified by the appearance along a dark road of a headless horseman. Once they have recovered, Freddy learns from the A.B.I. that many of the gang were seen in that area, including a scruffy pig.

Freddy has Samuel Jackson the mole burrow under Percy, to pretend to be his conscience. The mole convinces Percy to behave well, and to reveal the gang's hideout. Percy reforms his manners so successfully that he becomes popular. Freddy avoids arrest on a technicality.

The spiders Mr. and Mrs. Webb are sent to explore the gang's hideout. They discover a huge, complicated cave system, with many animals and people. Once Uncle Ben's dragon is ready the animals stake out the cave. The dragon upsets the headless horseman's activities, but the police are not convinced by the evidence. Scorning the cave map created by the spiders, they send in their own troops.

Although Freddy is in disguise to avoid arrest, he and Jinx intercept a new member coming to join the gang. Breaking into his hotel room, they steal the snake doing robberies. The snake is released far away, and the discouraged owner leaves town.

Some police troopers exploring the cave are missing. The police decide to use the spider's map and the animal's help. The gang is partly captured. The circus is held, and Samuel Jackson's fake medium makes the animal's enemy Mrs. Underdunk look foolish. The animals storm the cave and, with the help of Uncle Ben's atomic station wagon, also trap the headless horseman. The extortion money proves to be in the house of Mr. Anderson — another longstanding enemy. As the series closes, he is finally sent to the penitentiary.

Illustrations

There are 32 black and white, pen and ink drawings by Kurt Wiese, endpapers, and a full color cover, both depicting scenes from the book. Each chapter starts with a half page illustration, while a full page illustration is placed close to an event within each chapter.

Critical reception

Books in the series as a whole received moderately to strongly positive critical review in sources such as the Times Literary Supplement , The Horn Book , and The New York Times .

Reviewing Freddy and the Dragon, Kirkus Reviews (Oct. 20, 1958) said "The remarkable Pig tracks down a ruthless protection racket... he also manages to teach a contrite bull how to behave like a gentleman... To be published posthumously, this Freddy episode is in the style of the several dozen which precede it — sometimes funny, often slangy, and caught in a balance between parody and two-gunned adventure — a balance that over the years has had a consistent appeal."

Publication history

The first edition was published posthumously in hardcover in 1958 by Alfred A. Knopf. [1] The price was $3.50 (over $20.00 in 2007 USD). [2] The book was republished in 2000 by the Overlook Press using the original illustrations, text and layout. [3] The story, read by John McDonough, was released in 2001 on five CDs lasting 4.75 hours (ISBN B000JQ1B80).

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<i>Freddy Rides Again</i> 1951 childrens book by Walter R. Brooks

Freddy Rides Again (1951) is the 18th book in the children’s series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, the talking Bean farm animals confront rich new neighbors who demand changes in the farm community.

<i>Freddy and Mr. Camphor</i>

Freddy and Mr. Camphor (1944) is the 11th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells of Freddy's adventures confronting trespassers when he takes a job as an estate caretaker.

<i>Freddy and the Men from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Men from Mars (1954) is the 22nd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig, written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the story of the confrontation between Freddy and his friends, phony Martians, real Martians, and a circus con artist.

<i>Freddy the Magician</i>

Freddy the Magician (1947) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy is ecstatic over the opportunity to learn magic tricks from a professional. However, it becomes apparent that this is part of a criminal plot to recover stolen money. Freddy and the Bean animals match their magic and wits onstage and offstage against the crooked magician.

<i>Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars</i>

Freddy and the Baseball Team from Mars (1955) is the 23rd book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by American author Walter R. Brooks, illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Capitalizing on Martians' ability to pitch with any of four arms, Freddy creates a baseball team of Martians and circus animals to compete against neighboring towns. An old foe of Freddy's tries to rig the games.

<i>Freddy Goes Camping</i>

Freddy Goes Camping (1948) is the 15th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When a hotel owner is forced to sell under mysterious circumstances, Freddy and his friend Mr. Camphor pose as campers to investigate.

<i>Freddy the Pilot</i>

Freddy the Pilot (1952) is the 19th book in the humorous children's Freddy the Pig series written by Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. When an airplane from a secret airstrip terrorizes the performances of his friend Mr. Boomschmidt's circus, Freddy learns to fly, then gets a plane to track the criminals and stop their activities.

<i>Freddy the Pied Piper</i>

Freddy the Pied Piper (1946) is the 14th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells the tale of regathering circus animals following World War II, and of earning money to repair the disused circus equipment.

<i>Freddy and the Ignormus</i>

Freddy and the Ignormus (1941) is the 8th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig by author Walter R. Brooks and illustrator Kurt Wiese. There are dramatic reports of a monster in the dark woods near the Bean farm. When local animals are subject to extortion, Freddy and his friends test their bravery confronting the unknown.

<i>Freddy and the Bean Home News</i>

Freddy and the Bean Home News (1943) is the tenth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. The story takes place when the United States was in the middle of World War II.

<i>Freddy and Simon the Dictator</i>

Freddy and Simon the Dictator (1956) is the 24th book in the generally humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It tells how animals in New York State rebel against humans, destroying property and taking control of farms. At the same time, Freddy’s friend Mr. Camphor is pressured into running for governor. The situations collide when animals take over Camphor’s estate, imprisoning the political figures there.

<i>Freddy the Politician</i>

Freddy the Politician (1939) is the 6th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In this story, the Bean farm animals start a bank, and elect their first president, two institutions appearing through the rest of the series. Their honest and innocent approach is soon challenged by strangers from Washington.

<i>Freddy Plays Football</i>

Freddy Plays Football (1949) is the 16th book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. In it, Freddy and the Bean animals try to convince the Beans that Mrs. Bean’s long lost brother is a fake. Freddy lands in jail for stealing the money the fake is attempting to take. In the meanwhile Centerboro is taken with football fever on account of Freddy's playing.

<i>Freddy and the Perilous Adventure</i>

Freddy and the Perilous Adventure (1942) is the ninth book in the humorous children's series Freddy the Pig written by American author Walter R. Brooks, and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. Freddy, ducks Alice and Emma, and the Webb spiders are cast on a voyage when a fairground balloon will not return to the ground. Days later when landing, Freddy must confront the dishonest balloon owner who received money from Mr. Bean for damages.

References

  1. Freddy and the dragon. Knopf. 1958. LCCN   58013476.
  2. "Relative Value of the US Dollar". Measuring Worth. 1930-03-10. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. Freddy and the dragon. The Freddy books. Overlook Press. 2000. ISBN   9781585670260. LCCN   00024840.