The story of Edward I's conquest of Wales is one full of drama, intrigue and passion, and one full of contradictions. It was not a war between two different cultures - though the English and Welsh cultures are different - because so many Welshmen fought on the side of the English. Neither was it merely a trial of wills between strong-minded individuals, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, prince of Gwynedd, and Edward I, King of England, there were other key players. And the great legacy of the Welsh wars - the series of castles Edward built - were crucial for his victory but,conversely, almost bankrupted the treasury. The Taming of the Dragon recreates the dangerous world of power politics in medieval England and Wales, drawing on a variety of contemporary sources to bring to life the people and the events of the 13th century and exploring their legacy of castles and myths.