Dragon: Hound of Honor 
By Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton

      Dragon: Hound of Honor is a medieval murder mystery set in France. Written in a slightly elevated formal diction, the text may be challenging to the suggested age group, but the story is engaging as well as historically enlightening. Young history buffs will be especially interested in the account of the tournament. The story is based on the original French legend of the Hound of Montargis, a small fragment of which can be found in the Dogs of Note section here: Aubry’s dog

      The core characters of the Andrews/Hamilton story are Guy DeNarsac, Captain of the Montargis men-at-arms, the Count of Montargis' daughter Isabelle (Aubrey’s betrothed), and the Count’s nephews, Aubrey de Montdidier and Richard Macaire. The story commences just prior to a tournament in the forest of Bondy.

      Thierry, a young ward of Montargis since the murder of his parents, along with DeNarsac and Montdidier, are all awaiting a reunion with Richard Macaire. As Macaire rides up with his entourage, Aubrey de Montdidier disappears. His white wolfhound Dragon is the one to find his master’s body. Dragon, the title character, is probably the most interesting of all: faithful, valiant and smart, he will certainly challenge Old Yeller in popularity among young dog lovers everywhere. Young Thierry, who is plagued by nightmares and conflicting loyalties and Sieur Guy DeNarsac must find Aubrey’s murderer, but it is ultimately Dragon who walks the hero’s path.