For countless millennia, the dwarves of the have defended the stone gateway into Girdlegard. Many and varied foes have hurled themselves against the portal and died attempting to breach it. No man or beast has ever succeeded. Until now. . . Abandoned as a child, Tungdil the blacksmith labors contentedly in the land of Ionandar, the only dwarf in a kingdom of men. Although he does not want for friends, Tungdil is very much aware that he is alone -- indeed, he has not so much as set eyes on another dwarf. But all that is about to change. Sent out into the world to deliver a message and reacquaint himself with his people, the young foundling finds himself thrust into a battle for which he has not been trained. Not only his own safety, but the life of every man, woman and child in Girdlegard depends upon his ability to embrace his heritage. Although he has many unanswered questions, Tungdil is certain of one thing: no matter where he was raised, he is a true dwarf. And no one has ever questioned the courage of the Dwarves.

A lavishly illustrated journey into the world of legend's most elusive people in the tradition of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. An extraordinary exploration of a remarkable civilization that will enchant and enthrall all who delve into its pages. A recently discovered archaeological find provides a wealth of knowledge on the heretofore unknown life and habits of Dwarfs in all their day-to-day activities. Close examination is provided of their lives in everything from metalworking technologies to constructing underground dwellings and tunnels. Additionally, insight is offered into the general hierarchy of the population, from lowly laborers to their kings and ruling class.

“A fascinating work . . . possessing extraordinary power. Masterful.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Brilliant, cranky, and eccentric, and the narrative passages are some of the most thrilling ever written.” —Library Journal “Some of the author’s most enduring themes—notably, sexual jealousy and betrayal—are present. . . . The narration shows traces of writers as various as Joyce and Beckett, e.e. cummings and J.P. Donleavy.” —The Washington Post “The Abbott and Costello meet Samuel Beckett dialogue . . . makes you laugh out loud.” —The Village Voice

This Little Golden Book was originally published in 1948 and stars Dopey, Bashful, Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Happy, and Doc from the classic film Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs! Find out how Snow White's friends the Seven Dwarfs--Sleepy, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy, Grumpy, Doc, and Dopey--find their delightful little cottage in this classic Disney Little Golden Book. Originally published in 1948, this story features beautiful vintage artwork that will delight girls and boys ages 2 to 5, as well as collectors of all ages!

The Dwarfs are a stoic and long lived race. Their unbending will and pride serve them as fearsome warriors on the battlefield and the greatest craftsmen across the Old World. But cross them at your peril, as a dwarf grude is never forgotten, a quest for revenge handed down from generation to generation until debt is settled in blood.

Robert Grant Haliburton spent his last years proposing the existence of a distinctive tribal group of small stature within the Atlas Mountains and vicinity. He collected local stories and eyewitness accounts of this "dwarf people," debated critics, and published theories. These curious tales disappeared (or at least were never investigated fully) after Haliburton died, but he left an anthropological legacy that serves as a cautionary tale (or perhaps a starting point for future investigation).