Product Description
Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland--outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world. The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jotnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead. Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Perfect
It had just what I was needing for my research and held the exact infromation I required.

Excellent book, custioms tax shamelessly high
transaction was quicka and precise, book came in time, but I had to pay customs tax which is twice as high as book price. Amazom shoul find a way to send goods in Serbia on another way.Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs

Excellent Resource
This book was a wonderful academic resource regarding Norse culture and mythology.

The author breaks down several resources into a consolidated format and presentation to demonstrate aspects of the mythology, heroes, and culture.He draws on Snorri, as well as other authors and documents that are not often cited.His insight into things is quite impressive.

For any serious student of Norse history, mythology, etc, this book is a must-have.

Excellent reference
Along with Dictionary of Northern Mythology by Rudolf Simek this is an excellent reference to Norse myth and I would recommend that any serious student of Norse myth have both books around.

This work provide a dictionary-type approach to introducing the various individuals, themes, and places of Norse myth. These are particularly useful when addressing more obscure topics (like the Disir) in the myths because the the discussion tends to be a scholar's digest of what is known.

When I reviewed Simek's work I thought it was exceptional as far as dictionaries of mythology went.Now I am beginning to understand that it is not unique in that regard.This book belongs on the bookshelf right next to it.Like Simek's work, this book draws from textual studies archaeology, and etymology to provide a fairly substantial, though not comprehensive, reference to the Norse myths.In particular, each entry has a "further reading" section so it is perfect as a place to start research.

I have to further agree with Ian Miles Slater on the quality of the illustrations.These contribute greatly to the book.

A great guide to Norse Gods and Heroes!
Great intro into the subject...I really enjoyed reading this book and getting a good grasp on the Norse Gods and beliefs....truly it belongs on any Odin believers coffee (mead?) table.

Also good is:

The Children of Odin: The Collected Sagas from the Northern Bible ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on a wide variety of sources, the author has re-created 32 classic Norse Myths that compete in power with Greek mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (41)

Aesir would have loved it
Fantastic book recounting the major Norse myths.Sufficient introduction preceeds a logical and mostly chronological progression of myths from creation to the Ragnarok.The writing style is not archaic, as some mythic renditions tend to be, but, as one reviewer aptly stated, contemporary.The relevant voice of the storyteller engages the reader emotionally with the gods in a frank way.

In addition to a strong writing style the author constructs this work with skillful attention to the elements of prose. As the myths are taken from epic poetry, and translated, necessarily they must be recreated as literary works crafted from the author/ translator's own hand.These renditions spring to life in their own right, fulfilling this translator's vocation.

Over many years of reading and re-reading these myths in this book, I have grown to appreciate more and more the author's endnotes.The discussion of sources, references, cultic traditions, cultural explanantions, and religious semiotics adds richness the reader can drawn on for decades.For example, the cult of Thor and Odin are contrasted in the notes to several different myths in a way that gives a sense not only of the subjects but of what their worshippers might have been like as well.

This book is a must for lovers of the Indo-European pagan traditions.Well done Kevin!

Norse Myths, Gods Of The Vikings
This book recounts Norse myths from an older time in human history and culture. The Vikings changed their religious beliefs in the 11 to 13 century and maybe in the 10 century at the earliest, why? A reason for this could be related to the changing beliefs of their neighbors, particularly in a cultural and religious sense, one must remember older cultural beliefs were more related to a life that often involved fighting and battles with near neighbors and so the earlier cultural beliefs were centered around educating the youth into being prepared to fight for the tribe and to some extent other tribe's who possessed similar cultural and religious beliefs. Also the youth were encouraged to marry and produce offspring, this being an essential requirement in a time when the mortality of newborns and the very young was much greater than at the present time. The Vikings changed their beliefs to Christianity eventually because of the changing culture and civilizations around them, in changing their religious beliefs and culture they were then a much more acceptable neighbor and so could integrate into the expanding Christian cultures around them, the leaders of the Viking knowing that they almost certainly would have had to accept Christianity sooner or later. A leader, if he was to ensure the continuation of his tribe or nation had to both know the nature of the cultural as well as the religious beliefs of the people whom he led, and be able to to make decisions that may not have had enormous popularity with the people but did help to ensure the continuation of his particular tribe or group. Snorri Sturluson was an Icelandic Christian who apparently wrote the Prose Edda and he probably did so to pass on some of the most important factors contained in the older religious beliefs of the Viking who had settled in Iceland as battles and fighting continued in a frequent amount almost until the middle of the 20th century when with the beginning of the "nuclear" age the leaders of Europe whether communist or otherwise realized that if a war was started by them or their opposites, it would very quickly result in the death and destruction of both sides that were involved and maybe all life on the planet. The Viking beliefs in this book recount a large amount of troubles that often led in one way or another to a compromise between the opponents resulting in peace but the myths eventually end in the Ragnarok that more or less finishes off all of the Gods and only a man and a women are left at the end under the world tree Yggdrasill to start life and living again, and one would ask isn't this in some way or another similar to the Revelation at the end of the Bible. The book itself is a good recounting in a modern vernacular of another of the ancient legends that have bought us as peoples to the present time. Let us hope that we will not see our end as a species very soon if at all. So enjoy reading this book, but remember that all books scientific, religious, historic or cultural are and only can be the opinion of the author, the editor and the publisher, whether true, false, logical, illogical, useful or useless.

Informative book on the Old Gods
Why have we forgotten the Old Gods?They are no less real than the new ones.My friend recommended this book to me, and he was so right.It supposedly is very true to the original stories, and that's all I wanted.Read this and make the Feared One happy!

Okay, but not great
I've just finished Kevin Crossley-Hollands book of Norse myths. It has an introduction with an overview of the myths followed by the myths. I'm not a huge fan of Norse mythology but I thought I would give this book a read anyway considering the immense impact Norse mythology had on fantasy writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard.

The main god Odin cuts a striking figure with his wide brimmed hat, blue robe, shoulders each with a raven, and one eye missing. The story of how he hung from Yggdrasill for nine nights to find out what death is like has an obvious parallel to the story of Christ's crucifixion. Crossley-Hollands states that the similarity between the two is a coincidence.

The Norse gods struck me as mean-spirited. They are exactly what I would expect the gods of pirating barbarians to be like. The Vikings were not good people so their gods were not good as well.

The final story of Ragnarok is excellent. Ragnarok or as it is also called, "The Twilight of the Gods", is when the world comes to an end and the gods along with mankind die. After that a new world rises with the children of the deceased gods to govern it.

After reading this book, I think that the Norse myths have their merits, but I still think the myths are too macho and immoral to appeal to me.

Best Introduction Novel for First Timers
I found this book when I began to delve into Norse Mythology. I was in fear that the book would be dry and technically written. However, I found this to be a very informative and entertaining book. I gave this as a gift to my sister, who also enjoys Norse mythology.
This material is a must-have for all beginners. ... Read more

Product Description
A compendium of ancient mythical figures covering Greek and Roman, Celtic and Norse cultures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good, but not excellent, and not comprehensive
This is mostly a picture book. It is in dictionary form, with three dictionaries, one each for Classical, Celtic, and Norse myths. Many of the illustrations are lavish and excellent, including oil paintings, museum pieces, and story-book illistrations circa 1900. Other illustrations (about a third) are meritless; evidently drawn to fill up space in the book.

The text covers major entries that could be found in any dictionary of mythology, but falls severely short on minor characters and places. It is also missing several obvious entries: for example 'dwarf' and 'giant' and 'troll' are missing from the Norse dictionary.

The Norse dictionary includes a smattering of characters from Baltic and Finnish (Kallevalla) mythology but it is even more incomplete than the Scandenavian entries.

Everyone must have this!
The Encyclopedia of Mythology, by Arthur Cotterell, is a gorgeous, hardcover book filled with illustrations and text covering Classical, Norse and Celt mythology.Each section opens with full-color, glossy images that outline what you'll be able to find in each section. Every page is just as beautifully illustrated.

The encyclopedia provides a great deal of information on not just the familiar gods and goddesses, but also more obscure ones. It is a terrific educational tool for children and adults. It is also a great book for coffee table discussion.

Writers and artists will also find the encyclopedia to be a wonderful tool for striking the flame beneath the imagination. Most of the artwork to be found within its pages are by artists well-known for their fantasy images. My favorite artist in the book is Alan Lee, whose beautiful paintings are highly regarded by those who enjoy the sword and sorcery, AND the Tolkien realms.

The Encyclopedia of Mythology is a must have for any mythology buff.

This book covers everything that you would want to know!
This encyclopedia is a great book for people who are interested in mythology.It is a great resource book for me. I use it a lot forinformation in some of my classes that deal with mythology.I woulddefinatley recommend this book to anyone interested in learning somewonderful stories of the Classical, Norse, and Celtic mythology!Andthere's a great bonus, the pictures are encredible!

Wow. It doesn't get better than this!!
This is the most amazing reference book I have ever seen. The book itself is a work of art, not mentioning the BEAUTIFUL illustrations and descriptions of the gods, goddesses, heros, legends, monsters, giants, ect. inside! I recomend this book to anyone who is interested in a good book to cuddle with, learn from, or just read in general! This is such a interesting way to learn, and the artwork is magnificent. I, myself, am making a mozaic dedicated to this book. I love it so much. If you just leafed through it you would be caught by it too.

Comprehensive and beautiful!

This handsomely bound work is sure to be
invaluable to anyone interested in European
mythologies. Written by Arthur Cotterell, a
well-respected scholar of mythologies and
ancient civilizations, the degree of detail
is remarkably complete. Entries vary from a
few sentences to over a page, depending upon
the subject. In addition, special feature
spreads provide more detailed examination of
specific mythological themes.

The reference is also a work of beauty. Every
page is copiously illustrated and the heavy-
stock paper is well suited to high-quality
color reproductions. The magnificent artwork,
almost entirely by well-known and respected
artists, is thoroughly cited.

Best of all, this wealth of information is
easily accessible. A thorough index refers
readers to all pages in which a subject name
appears, with main entry pages designated by
bold-face type. The entries themselves offer
effective, yet non-obtrusive, references to
related entries or themes.

This reference is highly recommended for
anyone interested in Classical, Celtic, or
Norse mythologies. Undoubtedly helpful to
scholars, it should also prove fascinating to
casual readers and to all who appreciate fine art.

... Read more

Product Description
The Norse myths are some of the greatest stories of all time. Weird monsters, thoroughly human gods, elves and sprites and gnomes, with grim giants nursing ancient grudges lurking behind—the mysterious and entrancing world of Norse myth comes alive in these pages thanks to the spellbinding storytelling and spectacular pictures of the incomparable d'Aulairse. In this classic book, the art of the Caldecott Award—winning authors of d'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths, a longtime favorite of children and parent, reaches one of its pinnacles. It offers a way into a world of fantasy and struggle and charm that has served as inspiration for Marvel Comics and the Lord of the Rings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

D's Book of Norse Myths
This text has highly engaging pictures and the accompanying text is appropriate for children. Although the story with each picture is long, the text is engagingly written, and even children down to the age of 5 or 6, will enjoy the short myth stories. This book really deserves an A+.

D'Aulaires' Books
I purchased D'Aulaires Book of Norse Myths to complement our Middle Ages studies. I had already used D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths last year, so I was hoping that this book was just as detailed. It was perfect! I would recommend this book to anyone that is homeschooling. My children love this book as much as I do.

Wow! Kids love it AND educational!
It is a classic about Norse Mythology.Great introduction to the Norse myths for kids.I gave it to and read it first with my son when he was little, and now to my granddaughter who is devouring it.These myths still influence our literature, art, film and everyday lives.D'Aulaires' is required reading in many schools and just fun reading with your young ones at home.

Dull
My eight-year-old daughter and I really enjoy reading D'Aulaire's Greek Myths together. These Norse Myths, however, lack good story telling. There's no emotion, no fun, no intrigue, no excitement to the stories -- the writing is dull. I'm sure Norse Myths are interesting, but you wouldn't know it from this book.

Great book
My eight year old loves this book. D'Aulaires mythology collection is a great introduction to the genre. ... Read more

Product Description
The stirring, bloody, and tragic saga that inspired such artists as Wagner, Borges, and Tolkien

Written in Iceland a century after the close of the Viking Age, The Prose Edda is the source of most of what we know of Norse mythology. Its tales are peopled by giants, dwarves, and elves, superhuman heroes and indomitable warrior queens. Its gods live with the tragic knowledge of their own impending destruction in the cataclysmic battle of Ragnarok. Its time scale spans the eons from the world’s creation to its violent end. This robust new translation captures the magisterial sweep and startling psychological complexity of the Old Icelandic original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Deffinetive Norse mythology
If you are studying Norse Mythology, this is the best place to look.It's simply the best book on the subject.

A very enjoyable read
In the interest of full disclosure, I am well-educated in a number of fields, but not in Norse Mythology.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I do not know how complete or incomplete it is. I do not know how this compares to other editions. It read well, the footnotes were very helpful. The tales are great and for me, were a wonderful intro to a deeper knowledge of a mythology about which I knew very little.

Excellent book
This book was incredible. Snorri manages to construe every story with such eloquence and subtle humor is amazing.

Norse Myth and Legend
One of the most important texts available for the study of Icelandic culture and mythology.

Get the Faulkes translation first!
Be forewarned! If you plan on purchasing this translation of the Prose Edda, while it is attractive and reasonably priced, it contains mutilated versions of the important books Skáldskaparmál and Háttatal. Therefore, despite the title, you're actually only getting a small part of the Prose Edda. Skáldskaparmál in particular is loaded with unique information about the gods and lore that you don't find elsewhere - very important for a heathen, or, really, anyone interested in the subject. You're missing around 3/4ths of the Prose Edda when you buy this edition.

Otherwise, you do get a very readable and uncensored (well, as uncensored as Snorri gets) translation of the introduction and Gylfaginning, conveniently titled and sorted chapters, a could-be-better and simplistic (but accurate) little map showing the nine worlds/Yggdrasil and some of the figures associated with cosmology, a suitable introduction, acceptable footnotes, some family charts, and a map of the Nordic countries (and what would become the UK).

Before you get this, know that an edition that is just as good (if not better) that *includes* Skáldskaparmál and Háttatal is available to you for the same price. It's Anthony Faulkes's translation of the Prose Edda (which he has unfortunately just entitled EDDA - a regrettable decision given the advent of the search engine).

You can find it here:
Edda (Everyman's Library) ... Read more

Product Description
From the creation of the universe, to its heroic battles for order, the fourteen intriguing myths in this collection come together to tell one powerful story. Young readers will be fascinated by characters like Odin, the greatest of gods, and the mighty Thor, who is able to take down vicious monsters much larger than himself. The powerful, beautifully written stories are graced by Troy Howell's arresting, dramatic paintings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

great book for all ages
This is a great telling of Norse Myths which can be enjoyed by all age levels. Also love the handy glossary and pronunciation key. A great buy.

Grant - Grade 4
Favorite Norse Myths is all about stories Norse men believed.There are 14 different stories about gods, giants, and sea serpents.The book was interesting because Norse men actually believed in these stories.It was awesome the way the author told about the myths.I love the part of the nine worlds.This is the best book I ever read.I recommend other students read it.

Fabulous
I highly recommend this book for people of all ages.

It has a pronunciation key, (As each name sounds type),in the back of the book as one of its attributes.

The biggest joy is that the authoress takes the Norse myths, which I have always found to be a perplexing bunch of near madness, and renders it all readable.This could not have been easy.Even readable and with clear stories a person can follow there's no doubt that Norse myths are difficult to feel an affinity towards.

It is a pure positive "can do" experience.The names can be pronounced, the myths followed, and thus a person can clue in.

I am not going any further with the theme of Norse myths.I only have this book and I am sticking to this book.

The artwork by Troy Powell is great.

Okay
This is more like Norse Myths for Dummies. It doesn't go into great detail, but it tells you enough of the myths so you know what's going on.

It is more for the youger groups or people who want to know the basics of Norse myths. If you're looking to do a report or to become a Norse guru, I wouldn't recommend this book.

Excellent
Mary Pope Osborne is the author of the Magic Tree House series of kids books. She tells a good story.

I learned next to nothing about Norse myths when I was a kid. My Swedish American husband checked this book out of the library to read to our 5 y.o. daughter. It was over her head then (7 y.o. is probably more appropriate), but hubby and I really enjoyed it. We've checked it out numerous times since, and probably should just buy it already! It's a fun referrence book. ... Read more

Product Description
Many wonderful Norse stories were originally compiled for the first time by H.A. Guerber in Myths of the Norsemen in 1909. Borrowing from this and other classic sources, Hammer of Thor contains more than two dozen bold and exciting myths and legends from Norse mythology.

This special edition begins with the Norse legend of creation and ends with a comparison between Norse and Greek mythology. Between, scores of larger than life heroes jump out of the pages to boast of their glorious adventures and achievements.

Roam the realm of Asgard, in the company of the greatest heroes to ever populate the heavens. Follow the mighty Thor as he smites his enemies with his wondrous hammer. Bow to King Odin, wise and feared leader of the Norse gods. Then skulk along darkened passages with Loki, the most mischievous of the gods. Claim your honor before the coming of Ragnarök, when the mighty leave this world behind to claim their ultimate reward. ... Read more

Product Description
Rooted in an oral tradition, fantastic sagas of Norse mythology found their way into print seven centuries ago, in documents known as the Eddas. This volume presents witty and imaginative retellings of 17 of these ancient tales, ranging from the creation of the world to the death of the gods and the world's destruction. Included are Odin's trip to Mimer in search of knowledge, the making of Thor's hammer, the loss of Idun's wondrous apples, and the task of securing the dreaded Fenris-wolf. Brimming with fantasy and authentic Nordic flavor, these legends offer a wonderful sampling of the ancient Icelandic artistry of storytelling.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

NORSE MYTHOLOGY by Hamilton Wright Mabie
Norse Stories, Retold from the Eddas, also known as Norse Mythology: Great Stories from the Eddas, is an 1882 book on Norse mythology by Hamilton Wright Mabie. While never explicitly stated, this book is obviously geared toward a young adult audience.

Norse Stories reads like something of a greatest hits of Norse mythology. There's so much missing: many of the mythos's best-known tales are here, but ripped from the context needed to fully understand them. What is here, though, is well done. Mabie tells the stories well, and he provides some wonderfully rich descriptions. But feels like Mabie went through the Eddas and just ripped out whole pages without making the slightest effort to link things together. He was sloppy, too; an example: here we get "Odin's eyes began to flash" six pages after he trades one for wisdom at Mimir's Well.

In its degree of violence and pessimism, Norse mythology is unmatched throughout the world. Yet Norse Stories has a distinctly positive tone, perhaps due to the book's younger audience. Whatever the reason, this book doesn't really provide the true mood or tone of Norse mythology.

Ultimately, Norse Stories is a collection of well-told stories severely hampered by their lack of context and other limitations. If you're well-versed in Norse mythology, you may enjoy what Mabie does with the stories here. If not, you aren't going to get a coherent understanding of it from Norse Stories. But it shouldn't be difficult to find half a dozen better books on the topic.

excelent book
Excelent book, a documented historical background and well written, with a very complete section about the mythological concepts and deities.

Well told stories for All
Norse Stories Retold from the Eddas (1901, 1902, 1908 & 2006)
a.k.a. Norse Mythology Great Stories from the Eddas (2002)
By Hamilton Wright Mabie

This review will be covering several editions of this work, while the text is the same in all the editions their presentations vary greatly.

A well written book covering seventeen of the more popular Norse Myths from the Eddas. Mr. Mabie had a very engaging style that is palatable for adults and will stillhold the interest of children.

Now, having said this, it must be remembered that this work was originally written in 1882. This was a time when children were not as sheltered from the realities of life and death as they are today. A time when being politically correct meant that you voted for the winner. A time when cholera, small pox and numerous other diseases ran rampant through the population. Children were quite a bit tougher back when this work was written. So if you have a wimpy, sheltered child you may want to find another book for story time. Or try something mindless and milk toast like the Disney Channel.

All the stories are faithfully translated into a readable and entertaining format. While this work can not be considered scholarly, it does convey the spirit of the Norse Era quite well. As a testament to the books quality, few works of any type continue to be published for over a century.

This edition of, "Norse Mythology, Great Stories from the Eddas", 2002, was, (to me anyway), a bit of a disappointment. While the text remained the same as the older editions, the illustrations or lack of them has not. The early 1900's editions are lavishly illustrated with Nordic style gilt work on every page and simple, but powerful water color's throughout the book. The cover was graced with a depiction of a powerful Viking God, (probably Odin), looking proud and imposing. The 2002 paperback editions cover depicts a beardless, nude, neo-Greek Thor battling Jormungand, from the Chapter 9 story, "Thor Goes Fishing". While the cover art is well done, (the 1788 Henry Fuseli painting),this style would be better served on a book of Greek or Roman Myths. The interior illustrations and gilt work of the 2002 edition are nonexistent. This lack of interior illustration transforms a very good book with eye catching pages that add life to the myths into just another paperback.

All and all a nice retelling of the tales but if you can get a copy of the older editions or the 2006 paperback it's well worth it.

In Frith,
Spence

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
M. Addams

Not for children
This book is a direct transalation with no attempt to make it accessible for young readers.

Depends on your purpose.
It's an alright book, nicely written and does indeed have stories from Norse Mythology. It may or may not be for you though.

If you just want to read the stories cause you like mythology and folktales, then by all means buy it. It's written in with sentences and paragraphs instead of the poetic forms these stories were originally created. To me it seems to be more for a younger age then your average adult, but that doesn't necessarily subtract from the book.

If you were looking to read it for research or personal studies, I'd get a different book. The Eddas may be a little difficult to read at first because of the style of writing, but they are better in terms of research sources. My copies of the Poetic and Prose Edda not only have more details for stories found in this book, but also have stories not put into this book. They also have background notes, definitions of words, and anthropological notes.

As far as I'm concerned it's purpose was more towards entertainment then heavy-duty research. ... Read more

Product Description
In this exciting volume, the stormy mythologies of the Nordic world are brought to life. Complete with 160 colour images, including superb fine art paintings of the classic stories, this evocative and detailed encyclopedia of the myths and legends of the Nordic peoples will provide the perfect introduction to this fascinating subject for students, school libraries and the general reader who loves passionate tales of romance and derring-do. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Lots of Details
The entries in this book are set up similar to an encyclopedia, which makes this an easy refernce book.Not only does it have beautiful illustrations, but there are also photographs of wood carvings, sculptures, etc. from various museums.

I loved the Norse family trees and other diagrams: Odin, The Aesir, The Children of Loki, Yggdrasil, The Family of Sigurd, Thor, and The Vanir.

The contents of the book include: Nature Spirits, Treasures and Talismans, Norse Heroes, The Valkyries, Sorcery and Spells, Tragic Lovers, Rings of Power, and Ragnarok.

I also recommend Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Interesting but has some problems
This book represents an attempt to trace the influence of Norse myth in popular and artistic culture from the Middle Ages until the present.Over all, I think the book is pretty good.

The first section of the book attempts to provide an overview of Norse myth and does a pretty good job, though the coverage is overly simplistic.The survey is not that of a mythologist but just an attempt to provide some sort of basic foundation for the rest of the book.

The second portion is an attempt to look at the influence of Norse myth on other areas of Western culture, with a special focus on the English-speaking world.

The first chapter looks at the influence of the Danelaw and Danish settlements in England and it provides a lot of very interesting food for thought.

Then we see a discussion of Romanic-era influences, followed by a chapter "The Rise of Racism."Here is where the book starts to go off course, subtly at first, and eventually with greater decisiveness.In particular the tendency to see von List as being a racist (when his writings and actions were clear that he was in favor of tribalism and insisting that all peoples should look to their own roots, additionally supporting efforts by some in the Jewish community to further Kabbalistic studies) is the beginning of the end of a reasonably objective overview.

From here, the tendency to confuse tribalism with racism, and racism with nationalism continues to snowball.The descriptions of Asatru, Forn Sed, etc. are tainted by this confusion.I will admit that Norse Paganism has its problem folk (not just racists either), but the inability to explore the inner logic regarding these groups is somewhat troubling.For example, there is an active debate within the greater Asatru community whether heritage comes primarily from DNA or from one's first language (I am in the latter camp by the way).

One more big disappointment worth mentioning but not the author's fault (and hence not part of the rating):The hardback book's binding is rather shoddy as hardback books go.The pages are not bound in signatures, but glued into the binding singly as one would expect from a trade paperback.For this reason I highly recommend avoiding the hard bound version and betting the paperback instead.

On the whole I would recommend this book, but would also recommend that it be read critically.

Good Information Marred In Bias
The author is obviously a Christian with a condescending attitude towards Norse religion, culture, and mythology - for she continuously characterizes the Norse mythology/religion as something less than Christianity, as well as crediting Christianity for almost every instance of peace, kindness, beauty, etc. of the Norse. This is a person of blind-faith, seeing none of the horrors rendered by her faith, Christianity - so, apparently she has very limited sight. Examples: Choosing peace instead of taking revenge is "a quasi-Christian resolution" as though none other than a Christian can make such a choice. The blending of Norse-Scandinavian and Christian art and motifs are characterized as: "making a doctrinal point about relationships between the two belief systems, paganism and Christianity" as though it were a Christian advertising for leaving ones faith for Christianity. Not mentioned, is the possibility that some people embraced both, or even fought back against Christianity. After describing several artifacts bearing both Norse and Christian motifs she concludes: "This is plainly a Christian context..." - apparently a ruse. As she suggest: "It is interesting that early medieval commentators of the Bible regularly proposed ingenious parallels between the events and characters of the Old Testament and those of the New, and tempting to think that this way of giving validity to the Old Testament for Christians provided a model for recuperating the old faith and its attendant mythology."

Regaring Chapter 7 "The Rise of Racism":
Overall this was an informative chapter on the use of Norse mythology to advance 'modern' notions and ideas of White-Racism; yet, amazingly, the author managed to not once mention Black people and their ordeal of slavery and racism during this period, nor even the Black characters within Norse mythology - of which can safely be assumed were recast as other than Black people (a la Richard Wagner, etc.). In fact, it stands to reason that during this rise in racism and imperialism, highlighted by the author, that the Norse mythology and the `Celtic' mythology would suffer racially motivated alterations during their translations and retelling - a fact she points out. Yet, how she manages to not once mention the racism directed against Black people by the very people she is discussing brings her motivations into question, to say nothing about marring her scholarship.

These is some worthwhile information to be gleaned from this book, however there is much bias - a la Christian - that one has to suffer through to get it. In fact at one point I wrote to myself: "An Insufferable Myth"!

Yet, I do recommend it with caution.

The Ever-changing Face of the Northern Mythos
From Asgard to Valhalla is an intriguing survey of the history of Norse mythology and its impact on culture, history, politics, literature and art from the early middle ages to modern day.O'Donoghue traces the mythology from the history of its creation and preservation to its later employment by the early romantic movement, its politicization by nationalist, racist and fascist movements, and its imaginative manifestation in modern culture, literature and art.She does an excellent job of summing up Norse mythology for those unfamiliar with it and, for the most part, writes in an engaging and entertaining style.Especially delightful (with one major exception, detailed below) is Chapter 8 where she covers creative representations of the myths in modern culture, tracing its influence on modern poets, heavy-metal musicians and science-fiction and fantasy writers.

However there are two things which mar this otherwise well done study.First is the rushed feeling of the text.Some of the subjects she touches upon could have used a bit more treatment.This is, of course, inevitable in a survey of this sort, but weighing in as it does at 200 pages of large type, further development here and there would not seem excessive.In addition, at times her asides become the main subject and the original subject is lost and never followed up upon.I don't know if this text was part of some tenure track necessity, but some more development and editing would probably have made a good text a better one.

The second and most troubling aspect of the book is O'Donoghue's simplistic treatment of the neopagan movement inspired by Germanic culture, Heathenry, of which this reviewer, after a fashion, counts himself as a member.The problem stems from the author's failure to properly distinguish between racism, nationalism, heritage and ancestry.These concepts are certainly related, but they are not synonymous.O'Donoghue, however, juxtaposes them in ways which, at times, makes them indistinguishable.For instance she claims that "groups such as Wotansvolk, Odinic Rite, Asatru and Forn Sed, while being very different in their beliefs and presentations, are all based on some sort of Nordic or Germanic nationalism."Since Germanic culture spanned across a wide swath of Northern Europe and predates the modern nations on the map, how can an interest in this culture be considered "nationalism"?I am proud of my English ancestry, but this does not necessarily make me an advocate for the nation of England, its current politics, or its imperial past.Nationally speaking, I am an American, and I am proud of that, too, though not uncritical of my own country when I feel it has done wrong.Perhaps the most telling confusion in this part of the book is when O'Donoghue states "to go back to 'the old ways' (a literal translation of the Swedish name Forn Sed) or to worship the Aesir (Asatru means 'of the faith of the Aesir') is to reconnect with one's supposed ancestral origins -- or race."Now, I happen to agree with O'Donoghue when she reminds us that "race" is not a scientific fact but an "ideological construct," however a person's heritage and culture are a question of history, certainly not untouched by ideology, and pride in one's cultural background and a wish to honor it is not the same thing as belief in race or racism.After a wonderfully complex look at the threads of Nordic culture, romanticism, racism and fascism in English and German history, O'Donoghue glosses over modern heathenry's complex issues of identity, heritage, culture, race, faith, and theology, and presents a rather simplistic portrait of modern heathens that falls just short of characterizing us as racist crack-pots. She also portrays "anti-Christian" elements in the heathen community as a form of racism, completely ignoring the possibility that these elements may have more to to do with fascinating phenomenon of the rise of polytheism in opposition to monotheism in postmodern psychology and theology.She concludes her treatment of this subject with the absurd idea that modern heathenism is largely inspired by the legitimate and fraudulent "Nordic" archaeological finds in America.The riduculousness of this claim does not even deserve a reply.

This glaring faux pas aside, I would recommend this text to fellow heathens.It reminds us of the romanticism and unsavory ideology and politics which are a part of the history of our path, and against which we must be continuously vigilant, as well as the origins of the spurious occultism woven through the understanding of the runes presented in many modern texts.

A Pleasure to Read
O'Donoghue's books is a wonderful guide to the history/lore of Northern Mythology. Whether this is your chosen path, or whether you'r simply interested in this branch of mythology, Heather works with the sources and, though expressly not a believer, she makes it coherent and interesting and understandable without being simplistic or just another New Age book. This is clearly an academic book in the hands of someone who makes it into the interestesting and unique stories that constitute Norse mythology. Other than her one line that no one worships or believes in these guides any longer (not true, O'Donoghue!), this is an exceptional work, as an introduction or for those well-versed. ... Read more

Product Description
WITH AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY ON THE ORIGIN AND DIFFUSION OF POPULAR TALES

Notice to the Second Edition

The first edition of these Tales being exhausted, and a demand having arisen for a second, the Translator has thought it right to add thirteen tales, which complete the translation of Asbjoernsen and Moe's collection, and to strengthen the Introduction by working in some new matter, and by working out some points which were only slightly sketched in the first edition.

The favour with which the book was welcomed makes it almost a duty to say a word here on the many kind and able notices which have been written upon it. Duties are not always pleasant, but the fulfilment of this at least gives no pain; because, without one exception, every criticism which the Translator has seen has shown him that his prayer for 'gentle' readers has been fully heard. It will be forgiven him, he hopes, when he says that he has not seen good ground to change or even to modify any of the opinions as to the origin and diffusion of popular tales put forth in the first edition. Much indeed has been said by others _for_ those views; what has been urged _against_ them, with all kindness and good humour, in one or two cases, has not availed at all to weigh down mature convictions deliberately expressed after the studies of years, backed as they are by the researches and support of those who have given their lives to this branch of knowledge. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Stories for all ages that you HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE! (Well, most of them...)
My kids and I love reading these tales together. They are simple enough to appeal to my 11 year old, yet sophisticated enough to hold an adult's interest. A wonderful collection with stories that range in length from only a few paragraphs and read in a minute, to longer tales that would take more like 40 minutes. Perfect for bedtime reading!

Most "fairy tales" are terrible (Cinderella, anyone? Snow White?), and some of these are no exception. But they are wonderful stories, and I appreciate being able to offer my kids a different cultural perspective.

Just skip the intro and go straight to the stories though!

P.S. I'll try to add a list of the stories later once we finish them all! ... Read more

Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program. ... Read more

Product Description
Identifies the gods, goddesses, giants, and supernatural beasts of Norse mythology, recounts the most famous stories about Thor, Loki, Freyja, and Balder, and briefly describes Viking culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Attention Grabbing Art
Norse Myths and Legends
By Cheryl Evans & Anne Millard
Illustrated ByRodney Matthews

Considering that this book is mainly targeted at children from the ages of 7 to their early teens, the information presented here is mythologically accurate and relatively well researched,(if somewhat abbreviated). In fact I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a very quick refresher course on Norse Mythology regardless of their age group.
One reviewer mentioned that the art work looked, "Asian... and was terrible". I think that the artwork is at the very least, colorful and attention grabbing. Humm.... and the attention span of a 7-12 year old is how long? A book targeted toward this age group needs all the help it can get just to keep them interested and off the video games.On a more adult level, I thought that the illustrations were quite good. Granted they were not in the more "traditional" Frank Frezetta, realistic Norse or Conan mode, but they were however, rather haunting. It almost seemed to me that the subjects were otherworldly, elfin or even slightly alien. Well, that doesn't sound like any Norse God I've ever seen! At least the illustrator had the outstanding good sense not to illustrate this work with the half-nude Neo-Greek art style that seems to be decorating so many Norse Mythology books.

I really liked the "Who's Who" section at the end of the book. It was accurate and concise. The English pronunciations listed after each subject will be a great help for young readers or anyone not familiar with Germanic/Scandinavian inflections.Granted there are a few minor errors in the work but not terrible ones. Having worked on and off in the RPG/War Gaming Industrysince the late 1970's I'd give this work a B as a RPG (Role-Playing-Game) aid. A good generic informationsource for RPG's on the Norse "Who's Who?", but not specific/detailed enough for most rabid Roll-Players.

All and all a good fun read with killer (no pun intended) illustrations. I bought this copy to read to my Grandson's. Now I have to order 4 more copies because all of the Grandchildrenwant their own copy, (and they can't have mine)!Enjoy!


In Frith,
Spence the Elder

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
M. Addams

A favorite
I picked up this book and the Usborne Greek Myths and Legends when I was about 8 or 9.I had gotten interested in Greek Mythology and wanted a book, and this one was right beside the Greek one.To this day, this book is one of my favorites.

This was the book that got me interested in Norse legends and mythology.For those of you who don't know about it, I think it is for more interesting than the Greek or Roman myths that are all that most people know.

This book is chock-full of some of the most interesting tales I've ever read.Even as an adult, I go back to it every so often to re-read some of the stories.It presents them in a way that even a kid can understand and enjoy.The art is also one of my favorite parts.The subjects definitely do not appear Norse (their only flaw), but the lavish scenes and rich colors more than make up for this.Whenever I think of a scene from Norse mythology, the Rodney Matthews's illustrations are the images that come to mind.

This book will always be my standard for Norse mythology, and it will always have a place on my shelf.

Terrible Art
The art is terrible.All the characters are ugly; one wonders are these the gods?Odin and Frigg are pure Asian.Odin looks like some ancient Korean bad man, and Frigg looks like a geisha girl.If the illustrationsmean anything to you, pass up this book.

Excellent!!!
This is the book that drew me to Norse Mythology in the first place.The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the stories are all very good too.Heck, I would recommend this book on its illustrations (by RodneyMatthews, by the way) alone, but I don't have to.YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

An interesting introduction to the Norse myths and legends
While the illustrations owe much to fantasy role-playing games rather than reflecting actual Viking art, the information packed into this litle book is superb, and serves as an excellent introduction to the Norse myths andlegends. ... Read more

Product Description
Collected here in one volume, are 28 fantastic stories, first told hundreds of years ago by conquering Vikings. Included are an illustrated family tree of the major gods and goddesses, an index, and a guide to the symbols in the illustrations. Ful color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gods and Heroes from Viking Mythology
This is an excellent prose collection of myths from the Eddawritten for young people. It is told in a style that hearkens back tothe poetic style of the Norse skalds with its rich descriptive language, yet remains engaging to modern readers. Along with the familiar stories of Thor, Loki, and the rest of the Aesir are a few less-frequently heard tales of Viking mortals like "Trembling Hood" and stories better known from other sources ("Sigurd the dragon-slayer"). The whole collection is told through the framing device of a "King Gylfi" of Sweden, who stumbles into the hall of the gods and hears the tales from Odin himself.The illustrations are beautiful, especially the black and white line drawings with their use of symbols from the myths and Norse culture (annotated at the end of the book). There is a brief pronunciation guide with the index, but no explanation of what the (frequently significant) names mean. My 6th graders, a fairly critical lot, enjoyed this collection a great deal. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (19)

Good Intro to Norse Paganism
I found this book to be an excellent intro to the Norse path.The section on the virtues is especially helpful.

Seems A Good Introduction

As the title says, seems a good introduction.It is the first book on Asatru I've read.I can't say anything about how it compares to other intro books that I have not read.So now I'm browsing reviews here on Amazon of other books on the topic and the ones mentioned in this book.

The book has done it's job quite well, I'd say.

Fluffy crap presenting itself as fact.
This book is a nice read, too bad it is NOT based on real lore. It uses too much personal interpretation on the authors part and not enough actual research from the available lore. If you are into modern revisionism it may help you, if you want to actually learn the ways of our ancestors don't waste your money.

Great introduction
A great introduction into the Norse Pagan path. I especially like the section in the book that discusses the Gods and Goddesses in detail. Very insightful-thanks Diana!

New to Asatru? Look no further!
When trying to find a book to give me the basic rundown of the Asatru faith, our folkways, our religious practices, our lore, history and magic, I found that there were many options and I had no idea which book or books to choose. I happened to pick this one up (along with a few others) and I have to say that this is my top pick for the new Asatruar seeking information about their native faith.

If you are new to Asatru, solitary and confused about the folkways, holy days and rites, or just wanting to feel more connected and become more knowledgeable, this is the introductory Asatru book for you! What really sets Paxson's book aside is in its warmth, and the very real imagery she creates of a Heathen gathering. Her fictional entries which are used to represent the feel of a real kindred and a real heathen gathering, are truly splendid. They help you to understand what to expect, and they introduce you to the spirit of the faith. She gives all of the necessary information including history and Sumble etiquette, and even an excellent rundown of the many international organizations available to Asatruar.

Paxson's writing style is very warm and easy to read. The book is engaging and enjoyable, even making the general history of our folk into a very interesting read without feeling like a college lecture!

Upon finishing the book, I felt that this one was the most complete introductory guide to Asatru that I have seen to date. I highly recommend it for new Asatruar and those who want to share information about the faith with friends and family. ... Read more

Product Description
A retelling of the Norse creation myths and tales of the gods written in a narrative style. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great tales
Sir Roger Lancelyn Green tells the Norse myths in a very beautiful way: the power and the magic of the original verses can be felt when reading his book. In my opinion an excellent work and a joy to read.

Fun to read
This is a fun book to read, and is perfect for introducing anyone to Norse mythology. It has all the basics, where you learn about the more important gods and their stories.
There isn't much violence in the book, because this is to tell the stories, not the epic battle sequences, but that doesn't mean only younger audiences can enjoy it. Norse mythology is very interesting, and Green hasn't lost that in his book.

A Good Intro to Norse Mythology
Green is a great teller of tales, and here he definitely succeeds in bringing the ancient Norse Myths to life with vivid prose that is very faithful to his sources. This is one of those reads that is good for children (from about 4th Grade) and adults alike. The author's tone is not patronizing, but treats the reader and the subject matter seriously, and yet lightly and humorously when appropriate.
Green's novel--and it does read like a novel in its own right--is really good at introducing the reader to the world of Norse Myth, starting with the character of the Norse Men and going on to give an overview of the mythology, an introduction to all the gods, their foes, and their worlds, and straight retellings of all the famous tales... all in a narrative context.
I now prefer to read the "originals," but no doubt they would have been far too cryptic for me to read if I didn't have Green to hold my hand at first. I refer to the collection known as the Elder or Poetic Edda (0292764995), as well as the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson (0520012321). For me, those two collections plus the Volsungasaga (0140447385) round out the "genuine" Norse mythology.
But as I said, I would definitely begin with Green. I have read other modern retellings, but if you can find this one, it is the best.

Good collection of stories.
This book had been sitting unread in my library for many years.Recently, I decided to pick it up after getting more interested in the Norse myths after reading the Icelandic Sagas and listening to Wagner's 'Der Ring Des Nibelungen,' which was inspired by Norse mythology.This book supplies a collection of Norse myths, beginning with how the world was created, and ending with 'Ragnarok,' the popular myth about the last battle between the Gods and the Giants.I found myself enthralled throughout the book - that is until I reached the chapter regarding Sigurd.I have had some previous knowledge of this myth, but sought to learn more about it to learn more about Wagner's sources and inspirations when composing his mythological-based 'Ring' operas.Instead, I had found that the author used Wagner's Ring as a source for his chapter on Sigurd rather than the original sagas and myths.This made me question the authenticity of the other stories presented in the book.However, I think they all convey the general idea of what the Nordic people believed in, and think it a good synthesized collection of Norse mythology for those beginning to delve into the subject.It's also an ideal mythic book for younger audiences, as it has no explicit violence and has a simplistic and blunt writing style. ... Read more

Product Description
Retells with drama and humor the Norse myth about the God of Thunder and how he recovers his magic hammer, Mjolnir, from the Frost Giant, Thrym. "This book is a gem, guaranteed to spark interest in mythology. Use as a read-aloud and as a resource for mythology units and recommend it for pleasure reading." --Booklist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

nice book
I bought this book for my 3 year old son who loves Thor. This book is very beautifully illustrated and the story itself is quite amusing. Thor (the Norse god of thunder)had his magic hammer stolen by a giant. In order to get it back the trickster god Loki comes up with a plan for Thor to pretend he is the beautiful goddess Frejya in order to trick the giant(and get his hammer back). This is a good story for both boys and girls and is not scary to read to young children. I explained to my son not to be afraid of real thunder as it is only Thor up in the sky protecting everyone (and this story really helped to drive that point home). He is no longer afraid of thunder during a storm. ... Read more

Product Description
A classic collection of stories by one of the best-known and most esteemed retellers of the last fifty years. Enter a world of cunning, trickery, and revenge. Encounter bold warriors, courageous women, strength in battle and bravery against the odds. These are the stories of the Viking gods. Drama and action abound as legendary heroes struggle against mighty giants, loathsome beasts, and sinister dwarves--even as they fight amongst themselves. (reissue of ISBN 0-19-274167-5) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Uninspired
I'm sorry to disagree with the other reviews, but Tales of the Norse Gods was a big disappointment.I've read (too long ago for me to remember titles) other accounts of Norse mythology that were utterly captivating.

This book starts fairly well with a somewhat interesting version of the creation.After that, the stories are written in a perfunctory manner, with absolutely no charm, no vivid character portrayals and no drama.There is also no connection between them, just one blah account after another, like reading newspaper articles of things that never happened.Upon finishing each story, I'm left with "What was the point??"

Although I suppose the material is authentic, this is not good story-telling.

A book for the ages
Without a doubt, this is easily one of the best retellings of Norse Mythology I've come across (and I've read quite a few!). By accident, I discovered this book in my elementary school library when I was a child and never forgot the profound influence it had on my life. This is the book that cemented my love of mythology!

The Norse myths are some of the greatest collection of tales and legends ever written by man. Where the Greek Gods are cruel and remote, the gods populating Norse mythology are more akin to the human race than their Mediterranean counterparts. I find it much easier to believe in the nobility of a god like Thor who simply loves to drink and fight than let's say Zeus who goes around in the form of animals seducing the wives of both men and gods. Or how about Odin who cares so deeply for the welfare of humanity that he gives up an eye in order to discover the means to protect them from a coming Apocalypse? Compare that to Athena who cruelly transformed a young girl into a spider simply because she challenged her to a weaving contest?

The imagination of the ancient Norse skalds was as impressive as any of the Greek Poets, if not more so. In Tales of the Norse Gods one can expect to read about the feats of mighty gods who waged war against the powerful Frost giants as well as all the passions and jealousies that drove them.

Tales of the Norse Gods is a terrific book and highly recommended. It is definitely a book for the ages.

Fun to read
After reading the mythos of several different countries, to include Egypt, China, and Japan, I've come to the conclusion that the Mythos of the Norsemen is perhaps, the most fun and enjoyable to read. I especially enjoyed the tale of why there are so many bad poets in the world. Irony, you got it. Symbolism, that too. Recommend to anyone who is just interested or who is interested in myth. The stories have a life on to themselves.

Cheers!


... Read more

Product Description
The first complete and systematic presentation of the Norse mythology in the English language, containing all the myths of the Eddas, systematized and interpreted with an introduction, vocabulary and index. ... Read more