S5 Ep8: Here Be Dragons! The plot thickens with Cressida Cowell
About this episode
Jerry Brotton interviews Cressida Cowell about her creative process and the maps that inspire her work.
In this episode we have a roar-some treat: our intrepid host Jerry Brotton journeys to the legendary Barbaric Archipelago with best-selling children's author and illustrator Cressida Cowell. Cressida’s chosen map shows the landscape she created for her acclaimed children’s series, How to Train Your Dragon (2009-2015), which charts the adventures of the young Viking, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and his dragons Toothless and Windwalker. This map comes from her latest book How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike (June 2026). We hear about Cressida's childhood summers spent on the wild and remote Scottish island of Little Colonsay, off the Isle of Mull. She reflects on the creative process - the joy of getting lost and the act of creation - and we hear about some of the influential literary maps that shape her creative vision… we also learn a spot of Dragonese! View the map Oculi-Mundi.com/cressida-cowell From historians, scientists and writers, to creatives and cultural custodians, people have used maps as a source of knowledge, guidance, and inspiration for centuries. Join us as map historian Jerry Brotton invites each guest to share a map close to their heart…
People in this episode
Host: Jerry Brotton
Guest: Cressida Cowell
Topics covered
- children's literature
- map history
- creative process
- Scottish islands
- dragons
- adventure
Keywords
- Cressida Cowell
- dragons
- How to Train Your Dragon
- map history
- Scottish islands
- creative process
- children's literature
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: How to Train Your Dragon, How To Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike
Places: Little Colonsay, Isle of Mull, Barbaric Archipelago
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