The Dragon of Wantley

by Owen Wister

Set in medieval England, The Dragon of Wantley is a satirical take on chivalric legends and monastic life. The story follows Sir Godfrey Disseisin, a hot-tempered Baron whose prized wine cellar is being systematically plundered by what the locals believe is a fire-breathing dragon. In reality, the "dragon" is a clever ruse maintained by Sir Francis Almoign and his band of rogue knights disguised as monks at the nearby Oyster-le-Main monastery. Sir Godfrey’s daughter, Elaine, decides to fulfill a local prophecy to stop the beast, leading her to cross paths with a young knight named Geoffrey. Together, they discover the monks' deception and hatch a plan to expose the fraud without ruining the family's reputation. The conflict shifts from a supernatural threat to a comedic battle of wits against the "Abbot" Father Anselm. As Christmas Eve approaches, the young lovers must navigate Sir Godfrey's volatility and the monks' greed. The narrative arc concludes on Christmas Day with the "miraculous" departure of the monks and the marriage of the two young leads. The tone is consistently humorous and mock-heroic, poking fun at feudal traditions and religious hypocrisy. It serves as a lighthearted romp through a reimagined medieval landscape.