Product Description
Sir George Webbe Dasent was a 19th century English writer.After college, in 1840, he was appointed to a diplomatic post in Stockholm, Sweden.Dasent became interested in Scandinavian literature and mythology.In 1859 he translated Popular Tales from the Norse by Peter Christen Asbj°rnsen and J°rgen Moe, including in it an "Introductory Essay on the Origin and Diffusion of Popular Tales."Some of the stories included are True and Untrue, Why the sea is salt, The old dame and her hen, East o' the sun, and west o' the moon, Boots who ate a match with the troll, Hacon Grizzlebeard Boots who made the princess say, 'that's a story', The twelve wild ducks, The giant who had no heart in his body, and The fox as herdsman. ... 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
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
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
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
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

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful
The pictures are crisp and clean and depict both Gods and Goddesses. My daughter and I have had numerous discussions about the myths after coloring some of the pictures. Even though some of the Norse myths are violent, the pictures are very child-friendly and not especially scary. There are giant wolves and sea dragons but they are a part of Norse mythology and, thus, to be expected. Both my daughter and I enjoy coloring in this book!

Love the pictures! and the Info!
This is wonderful.My son loves the Norse mythology and this is a great hit with him.All the drawings make for great coloring. The information is just enough to make him ask for more! ... Read more

Product Description
Is this Ragnarok, or just California?

The NorseCODE genome project was designed to identify descendants of Odin. What it found was Kathy Castillo, a murdered MBA student brought back from the dead to serve as a valkyrie in the Norse god’s army. Given a sword and a new name, Mist’s job is to recruit soldiers for the war between the gods at the end of the world—and to kill those who refuse to fight.

But as the twilight of the gods descends, Mist makes other plans.

Journeying across a chaotic American landscape already degenerating into violence and madness, Mist hopes to find her way to Helheim, the land of the dead, to rescue her murdered sister from death’s clutches. To do so, she’ll need the help of Hermod, a Norse god bumming around Los Angeles with troubles of his own. Together they find themselves drafted into a higher cause, trying to do what fate long ago deemed could not be done: save the world of man. For even if myths aren’t made to be broken, it can’t hurt to go down fighting…can it? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (33)

Destiny can be hard to escape from
What an unexpectedly amazing book! The title caught my eye, because I had just read some Norse mythology, so I picked it up hoping it would be a silly but fun read (and fearing it would be garbage). To my surprise, however, the story was epic, deep, moving, fascinating--and, yes, fun. The title, cover, and blurb on the back do not do any justice to the quality of the book, or accurately represent what it's about.

Ragnarok is approaching; the chain of events leading up to it were set in motion long ago. But Hermod, son of Odin, is worried that he's accidentally sped things up, and he doesn't really want that kind of responsibility. After all, he hasn't been to Asgard in thousands of years, and he hasn't kept in touch. Mist, meanwhile, has only been a Valkyrie for three months--since she and her sister were killed in a drive-by shooting--but she's already ready to take matters into her own hands and rescue her sister from Helheim and from Hel, the terrifying queen of the dead. Only one person has ever been to Helheim and back, and that's Hermod. Together, they just might be able to accomplish both goals...but destiny can be pretty hard to escape from.

They imagine the chain of events like a line of dominoes, and they want to figure out how to stop them all from being knocked over. So along with Mist's partner Grimnir and Hermod's dog Winston, and a few other people they meet along the way, they journey through Helheim and among the nine worlds that make up Yggdrasil, the world tree, looking for the piece to remove. But everything they do seems to topple yet another domino and bring them closer to Ragnarok.

The NorseCODE genome project is actually a great idea, and it might be fun to read a book or short story just about that, but it's only a very tiny part of this story. And that is not a complaint. The scope of this novel is so much greater than just a clever idea. Here we deal with destiny, with betrayal, with responsibility, with staying true to oneself, with love...Hel, there's a freaking apocalypse! There's also plenty of buttkicking and swords and even zombies, in the form of draugr, the shambling dead. There are also a lot of details and imagery from Norse mythology, which were done excellently. There are also some different and fascinating interpretations of aspects of some myths, which didn't detract from the originals in anyway, but made them more meaningful.

The characters in this story are mythic and legendary, but even though some of them are g-ds, they're so very human. There are many heroes, but there are also many characters that the heroes are fighting against, many of whom I would hesitate to call villains. After all, everyone already knows that Ragnarok will happen and what the result will be, and most know their own parts to play in it. If some are tired of waiting around for it, or have plans to make the best of it, does that really make them bad guys? This is one of the many interesting questions that this book raised in my mind.

I was really not expecting to like this much, but holy crap was it good. Great, actually. You have to get past the title--it's cute and clever, but it trivializes the book and it's almost completely unrelated to the plot--the cover, which is not a good representation of the epic-ness and the many heroes and POVs of the story, and the summary on the back, which is kind of misleading, and you'll find a real gem.



First line of the Prologue: "On the last true day of spring the nine world will ever know, my brother and I fly recon through the land of the g-ds. From this high up, Asgard shimmers."
First line of Chapter One: "Only two hours into Mist's first job, things were already going badly. For one, the duct tape had come loose over the recruit's mouth, and he was screaming so loudly that Mist was sure he'd be heard through the walls of the van, even above the roar of Route 21 traffic."

Fun, easy read
I stumbled across this in a used bookstore and picked it up for kicks.....It's a great romp set in modern times with a spin on Northern Mythology.

Greg van Eekhout does a great job of making this fast paced, easy to read, and hard to put down. I certainly hope there will be more installments!

Well done Greg!

Awesome!
Very rarely do my fiance and I find a book that we BOTH enjoy thoroughly.He reads hard core sci-fi and I read sci-fi-"light" (see "Hunger Games", "Mortal Instruments", etc).Very good read from start to finish and incorporated Norse mythology seemlessly.At least IMHO.

Not Your Average Valkyrie
This was an interesting take on what we normally perceive a Valkyrie to be. While I like the story line and some of the twist and turns along the way, I was a little let down by the way the author, Greg Van Eekhout, played with the job description of a valkyrie. I really expected more from this when I read the other reviews and was all set to get thoroughly entertained. I wasn't. I won't tell anyone not to read it because it may entertain them more than it did me, but I will say to read this with an open mind to change. This book is not about your average valkyrie.

Thought I hate it, found out I liked it
I managed to convince myself going in that I wasn't going to like this book.

Why? The last thing I was looking for was another female do no wrong character or the perfect in every way warrior who was going to save the day without help because that`s who they are. The 'He don't need no help, cigar chomping hero`.

In response to another review, no Mist is not a great warrior but then who is after a mere three months of training and yes she was obsessed with finding her sister but again it had only been three months from the time Mist lost her. Give the girl a break.

I like the Norse background, though it isn't one of my strong points. Upset about it, nope it only gave me an excuse to do further research and after reading several articles, I appreciated the author's blending of Norse Myths into his story even more.

The plot was a might slow in the beginning, it picked up in the middle and then speeded up to a breakneck speed the last half of the book.

The characters were good; descriptions of the battle were graphic to say the least. If the book should be made into a movie, it would be release with an R rating just for the blood and gore. It didn't get into the tiniest details but enough that you can easily picture what was happening.

Sex, implied but no details.

And I learned a the past tense and a past participle of a word that I didn't know had a past tense or a past participle.

The ending does provide the reader with prospects of future books in the series. Yeahhhhhhh
... Read more

Product Description
A complete retelling of the Norse Myths, from before Creation, to Ragnarok (the ending of all things), and then Rebirth. This is the most complete version of Norse Mythology in the English language. ... Read more

Product Description
For artists, designers and craftworkers—125 copyright-free designs depicting birds, human figures, mythological creatures, interwoven patterns and more, all meticulously adapted from centuries-old rune stones, religious symbols, furniture, manuscripts, sword hilts, cooking utensils, and other artifacts. A wealth of dramatic ornamentation in a practical and inexpensive sourcebook.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Disappointing
I bought this book looking for inspiration for a Celtic or Viking tattoo design. Hearing what a revered artist Courtney Davis was, I thought I couldn't go wrong with this book. Unfortunately, all the drawings were incredibly unsophisticated and they remind me more of an amateur's work (perhaps at copying Courtney Davis). All of the designs were in black and white and many of them were just plain - and I *do* mean plain - knotwork patterns better suited to tablecloths than tattoos. There is none of the beautiful intricacy you find in real Celtic art - almost all of the patterns have huge unfilled or "blackened" spaces.

If you're looking for inspiration in Celtic design, buy a reproduction of the Book of Kells. I know that will put the shoddiness of this work to light. I suspect this was just a cheap attempt at making money and that Courtney himself does not prize this work.

The good news is - it's cheap, so it wasn't a total waste.

Excellent resource for artistic reference.
I purchased this book as an artistic tool. In the process of ultimately developing my own designs in this stylistic vein, I wanted to be able to refer to line art renderings of actual ancient Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and Nordic designs. This book has proved to be an excellent resource. The representations featured here make up a top-notch selection, and I appreciate the basic geographic and chronological labels for each piece. The renderings are nicely detailed, but they're not so intricate as to prove impossible to mimic in a sketch book.

Christianized Celtic design
Most of the designs in CELTIC AND OLD NORSE DESIGNS by Courtney Davis appear to have been copied from items found in and around archelogical sites that date from around 1,000 B.C.E. to about 1,000 C.E., now housed in museums. Davis does not inform the reader of the specific aspects of these pieces. In fact, her text is almost non-existent.

Some of the items shown appear to match items that precede Roman times, others seem to coincide with Roman and early Christian times, and others are very similar to items discoved in Anglo-Saxon tombs like Sutton Hoo, or Viking sites in Scandanavia and are thus contemporary with the early Middle Ages. Some designs are found on spoons, horse collars, or weather vanes, while others are taken from church sculpture or graveyard crosses.

As the elements shown are not categoried by historical period, or referenced or sourced, this is not the scholarly work that I hoped it might be. However, if you don't care it does not matter. I will be using the book for children's artwork projects this summer (i.e. coloring books).

a good resource for charted scrollwork
This is a great resourse for those looking for charted scrollwork, knotwork and other Celtic or Norse motifs.

The Best in the Dover Group
STRONGLY recommend this book as THE best source for Norse type designs! Bold and true, this book is highly usable to impart the Nordic of Old flavor to your work! ... Read more

Product Description
The Influence of Old Norse Literature on English Literature is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Conrad Hjalmar Nordby is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Conrad Hjalmar Nordby then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... 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

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

Customer Reviews (7)

An Introduction to Old Norse
As essential to students of Old Norse as Mitchell is to students of Old English. A wonderful starting place, but not for novices.

A venerable classic--learn the language by your bootstraps
It seems like this book has been around forever.It was first published in 1927 and for many years was the only English language resource for learning Old Icelandic.But that didn't mean that Gordon made the process easy.There are no basic lessons of the "Helgi is a Viking.See Helgi loot" type that you normally expect to find in an introductory language text.On the contrary,Gordon provides the grammar and vocabulary all right--at the end of the book--but it's up to the user to apply them to the wide selection of classic Norse literature that he's included.It's not an impossible way to learn the language, but it can be confusing at first.Those who have a background in Old English will find it easier going because of the similarities between the two languages.

Gordon was the text my class used many years ago when I took Old Norse in grad school.I still remember my professor pointing out all its inaccuracies and criticizing the author. Nonetheless, between Gordon, Zoega's dictionary (now available online), and a xerox of "Gunnlaug's Saga," we muddled through.Learning a language by parsing each word is tedious, but it does give one a sense of accomplishment.

In addition to the grammar and literary selections, Gordon contains a lengthy historical introduction to Old Norse literature.It's out-of-date by now, but still a good place to start.As for the selections themselves, they provide a fairly broad overview."Hrafnkel's Saga," a gem of a character study, is given in its entirety. There are selections from Snorri and fromthe Vinland sagas, among other pieces.The only complaint that I have is that Gordon is a little light on the poetry.The humorous "Thrymskvida" (sorry about the spelling) and "The Waking of Angantyr," an eerie little piece not included in the standard eddic canon, are the major poems.

Whether or not you use Gordon as your primary grammar, its selection of litearture makes it a worthy companion for the student of Old Icelandic.My copy is now battered and missing its spine, but it still has a place on my bookshelf.

yay!
Man, this book was something I'd been searching for. I am one of the self taught speakers of Old Icelandic, and it's not like there is a whole lot of Runic inscriptions to be translated in Richmond Virginia. Rather then allowing my Old Icelandic skills to sit their and gather dust on a shelf in my skull, I now have something to read!

Good, but here's another idea...
This is a very nice book and the one we used in my Old Norse class at BYU, and the selections are all very good, very interesting.However, I agree with the reviewer that this is, despite the title, hardly the best introdruction to the language.

What I recommend is this:Get yourself Stefán Einarsson's fine book, "Icelandic:Grammar, Texts, Glossary", which is set up in lessons for the beginner and which you can get real cheap here at Amazon.That book is modern Icelandic, so the readings aren't about Egill Skallagrímsson or Snorri's Edda, but not only is the Old Norse spirit very much alive in modern Iceland (and all the people very familiar with the old stories), but the language has changed extraordinarily little in the last thousand years (very very minor things), so that if you learn modern Icelandic even reasonably well (which you will from Einarsson), you can easily pick up the sagas with no problem.

Then, when you've finished with his book, you can get Gordon, which will be much more enjoyable then.Alternatively, you can get the texts of lots of the sagas online from Icelandic sites and get hardcopy English versions here at Amazon to use as "ponies".(Hrafnkels saga is a good one to start with, or Snorra Edda.)Good luck!

But not for beginners
Please don't send away 30 dollars thinking that this book is going to teach you to read Old Norse / Old Icelandic.If you're hoping for a basic grammar, with graded lessons, you're going to be disappointed.This is an excellent work, an indispensable work, but it's a reader for those who have already learned the basics of Old Icelandic.

After a brief introduction to Scandinavian history, the Viking expansion, and saga literature, the author gives about 160 pages of West Norse, normalized into classical Icelandic.Most of the selections are from the sagas, and they are well annotated, and a full vocabulary is included in the back of the book.There is also a section on what he calls "East Norse" (the Old Norse particular to Denmark, Norway and Sweden), and a small section dealing with the language of the runic inscriptions.

There is a 40 or 50 page section where he presents the grammar, but it's more along the lines of an outline of the grammar.It's sufficient for someone who already has a good knowledge of Old English, OHG, or Gothic, but my hat's off to anyone with the determination to acquire a reading knowledge of the language from this grammatical sketch alone.

There's the rub: where DO you get the introduction to Old Icelandic that will enable you to use this book with benefit?The superb learning grammar "Old Icelandic: an Introductory Course" by Valfells and Cathey is out of print.Kenneth Chapman wrote "Graded Readings and Exercises in Old Icelandic" about 35 years ago, but that's disappeared as well.Until either of those works is reprinted, or a new introduction is written, it's going to be tough.

But none of this is meant to take anything away from Gordon's work; it's a wonderful, scholarly work.Problem is, you really do need to have something of a background before you use it. ... Read more

Product Description
Elves. . .dwarves. . .gnomes. . .frost giants. . .Norse mythology is filled with tales of such supernatural beings, nature spirits, and powerful deities. Many people know that the Norse people were fierce warriors, but did you know that they were powerful magicians as well?

Norse Magic has everything you need to learn in order to begin practicing Norse spirituality. Discover the history and religion of the Vikings, including Norse mythology, seasonal festivals, and magical techniques.

If you are interested in practicing Norse Wicca, you'll learn about the three-fold goddess and the god, as well as how to celebrate the holidays, all from the perspective of Norse Paganism. Discover the secrets of herb magic, cauldron magic, cord magic, elf magic, dwarf magic, and more! These magical techniques are presented in a clear, step-by-step format.

The practice of Norse magic enlists the help of the Asa-Gods, Light Elves and good Dwarves. It elicits aid from dead ancestors and the rulers of the Elements. It is an active magic, reserved for participants, not bystanders. In order to work the magic of this system you must attune yourself to the powers of the Elements, calling upon the Asa-Gods and other supernatural beings. Norse Magic includes complete instructions, exercises, and rituals for this technique.

The Norse pagans were one of the last European societies to convert to Christianity, but their pagan mythology and magic survived and continues to thrive. Norse Magic is your key to the study and practice this powerful and ancient spiritual system.


... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Norse Flavored Wicca-Sounds Good!
I am fascinated with Norse mythology and worship.This book helped me to focus my wicca practice.Some of the facts in this book have been simplified and reinterpreted to fit wicca practices.Who says wicca has to be a narrow path?This book is a beginners guide and gives you everything you need to start worshiping the Gods and Goddesses today.Very good book!

Changed MY life!
I don't think this book was an attempt at traditional Nordic religious practices. It heavily mixes the Norse religion with Wicca, and as with most books of this time, is also flavored by the author's point of view and opinions. Which is fine; as long as you know that going in. And as others have mentioned, the Runes section of this book is amazing. Worth the price just for that alone. As an 11 year old boy (I'm 25 now), studying different paths of Wicca (my mother's religion) I felt very drawn to the Nordic deities and this book was a GREAT cross over from what I was used to, to where I wanted to be. Little did I know, sitting in the back of class in Middle School, reading and re-reading this book, exactly how much it would end up changing my life. Despite the author's warnings, I was drawn to Loki and he remains my patron deity today. The author was not amiss in her warnings. Loki is NOT a god for everyone. And I often refer to the Runes section of this book over many others. I recommend this book for any Wiccan who's interested in Nordic mythology, but like all subjects, don't limit yourself to just one book. This is a great, wonderful, informative place to start. But keep in mind it is just a STARTING place. The worlds of the Norse gods are far too large to fit into such a small book. Pick up 'Norse Magic', and I hope it sparks a love for these deities that takes you well beyond.

Norse Magic Review
The book's okay... just don't open it expecting to do Norse Traditional magic from it... as it's more like the Author's take on fitting Norse mythology to the Wiccan Framework of Religion.

A starting point...
This book is a good starting point for both Wiccans and Heathens because it lays down the frame-work for what the seeker wants out of his or her religious path. If you want cold hard facts on the Heathen way, then this book is only good for its mythology. If you are seeking a Germanic style of Wicca, then this is your book. The idea behind the book is an excellent one (way too many people are bashing it) and there is room for change and growth. This book is not based on fact...heck, a lot of spiritual books aren't based on fact, so don't take everything the author says as the "ultimate" truth. It is inexpensive and easy to read.

More Fluff
From a publisher that specializes in New-Age fluff and fantasy, this book is particularly aggravating for anyone genuinely into the Northern Traditions.

What really strikes one, is the lack of any effort to make this in any way true to the historical sources. It seems to be yet another cynical excercise in mix and match, New-Age formula "tradition". Just pick the higlights out of a childrens book on Mythology, and plug it into a basic Wiccan framework. It has been done before, & done better (Buckland's Seax-Wicca), if you really like this kind of fantasy "tradition".
... 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
This book brings to life the ancient myths that the Norse people invented about their gods with a lively and entertaining style. Black-and-white and full-color illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Awesome collection
This book provides a healthy study of Norse mythology from the beginning to the end in writing that is perfectly suited to the younger crowd. Much of the original mythology is kept in, and the original illustrations are gorgeous. In lieu of Greek and Roman mythology, the Norse stuff is grossly overlooked, and these stories are absolute gems. I'm impressed that the couple bothered to put in controversial concepts such as Ragnarokk and Gimle.

Not Free SF Reader
A reasonably gentle and good introduction to Norse mythology, with some pictures to add to the entertainment.Here you get the stories of Odin, of Thor and Loki.Not to mention Baldur, Sif, Loki, Heimdall and all the goings on with giants, dwarves, magic weapons, frost giants and at the end the whole Ragnarok thing.

Its being reprinted at last!!!!!!!!!
It being reprinted! Its being reprinted at last, and in hard cover!!!!!

It is being retitled "D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths" and can now be pre-ordered from Amazon.

A welcoming door into the Old Norse Worldview is closed!
Like so many folks, I had a copy of this book as a child and it always fascinated me, mostly because of the beautiful and unusual art. The stories puzzled me, being raised in the modernChristian and scientific tradition, and I found them strange as a child. But as I grew into a greater and more open minded appreciation of my Norwegian heritage, I decided to re-read them as a way of sampling some fond memories from my childhood. Reading the book anew and enjoying the artwork all the more, I realized they were a most wonderful introduction to an ancient worldview of a people who lived in a very harsh climate. All the forces of nature that can make us feel so small, a raging sea, an avalanche, a vast and beautiful forest, the towering peaks of an awsome fjord, have been personified in the old Norse pantheon. It is fascinating still to read of the explanations this culture offered for the harsh forces of nature in their worldly experience. The worldview of the ancient Norse is presented in this book so clearly and so accesibly, it is a wonder and a treasure to read. I sure do wish I could share it with my children. I am sorry their youth is passing and this book is not in a reprinted version. It is unfortunate that the book about the Greek Gods and Heroes by the same author can be reprinted but this one cannot. It is a shame that such an important contribution to the traditions of Europe and America, in the form of these tales in this wonderful book, is being neglected. I hope it will be reprinted one day so that I can enjoy this book again and share it with those I love.

A true classic
I remember this book from way back in the day.I was still in elementary school when I first read it.The stories and illustrations were vividly implanted in my brain.Particularly that of Thor, the red bearded god of thunder and Odin, father of the gods.And Ragnarok of course.Although I always thought that Odin went out like a chump.Eaten in one bite by the Fenris wolf, for shame.Recently, I found an old copy at a local libaray.It was a refreshing trip down memory lane.Too bad it is out of print.Oh well, there will always be the memories. ... Read more

Product Description
Exploring the Northern Tradition is an overview of the modern reconstruction of the ancient religion of the Germanic and Scandinavian peoples. This religion, called Heathenry, is one of the fastest growing polytheistic religious movements in the United States today with over forty thousand adherents. This book provides a thorough guide to the cosmology, values, ethics, and rituals practiced by modern Heathens.

Readers will have the opportunity to explore the sacred stories of the various Heathen Gods like Odin, Frigga, Freya, and Thor and will be granted a look into the devotional practices of modern votaries. The most common devotional rite: the faining or blót is examined in rich detail with examples given for personal use. Additionally, readers are introduced to the concept of wyrd or fate, so integral to the Heathen worldview.

Unlike many books on Heathenry, Exploring the Northern Tradition is not denomination specific, nor does it seek to overwhelm the reader with unfamiliar Anglo-Saxon or Norse terminology. For those new to Heathenry, Pagans who wish to learn more about the Norse Deities, or those simply interested in learning about this unique religion, this book is the perfect introduction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

insightful and educational. a good read to start out with.
i bought this book because it was on a recommended reading list for the adf and i figured i could use whatever information i could get on the norse traditions. it turned out to be a very worthwhile read. it gives a very good overview of the general perception of the gods and goddesses commonly worshipped in modern heathenism as well as some prayers and meditations to help the beginner to connect with them.

i enjoyed the fact that the author is not so disconnected from reality that some authors in the pagan world seem to be in that she regognizes the fact that changing ones religious practices is a process that does not occur overnight and gives advice on how to ease the transition.

the author also attempts to give an account of the necessary terminology and practices one may encounter to have an idea of what is being said to you or happening around you should you find yourself at a heathen gathering.
considering this i am glad i read this book and feel that it has benefited my understanding of the subject as one who is a beginner on the northern practices. if you are looking for a book to expand your horizon or just know something about the subject i would recommend this one.

Eclectic
I just finished this book, and agree with the others that it is very informative, particularly regarding the details of the Gods and Goddesses.It has a nice section on heathen values that I really appreciated.

The book does have a "New Age" vibe to it, even though I know others disagree.It's kind of "natury" for a heathen book.

I really liked the author's descriptions of her personal experiences with the Gods.For a nonbeliever, such descriptions would certainly come off as strange.

For me, too many of the Gods had similar descriptions of their realms of power and influence, making it hard to distinguish between many of them.Even basic illustrations of the Gods would have been excellent in this book, even if only in black and white.

There are serious theological gaps in this book, however.The author herself writes, "Whether or not the Gods actually die in the way that man would understand it is unclear.The question of whether or not a God can die is best left to other theologians."I would have loved her answer to this question!Does she mean other Heathen theologians?If so, who?Or is it non-Heathen theologians?Not to try to defend or explain the idea that one's Gods can die is to cede enormous territory to the Abrahamics--and anyone else, for that matter.Why would anyone choose a religion in which its own Gods die?If you're going to believe in the Divine, why not choose a religion with a Divine that doesn't die?I ask these questions not as an opponent, but rather as a sympathizer.

In any case, this book's strongest aspect is the deeply personal revelation of the author's own experiences, which moved me.She opens up her heart and soul in this book and you feel like you really get to know her as a person.

Exploring the Northern Tradition
Nicely written book with information from many sources.Basis read for the beginning Heathen.Also fine for explaining to non-heathen types what we believe and why we believe it.Information is also open for argument which is something we love to do..........

Good with a grain of salt.
While I am glad I purchased this book, I think I need to add a note of caution to all the glowing reviews above this one.Gallina has written a very thorough book, with solid descriptions of the different branches of heathenry, but when it comes to describing the Gods and Goddesses I find her a bit fluffy.She is very good at mentioning the lesser known dieties, but this is where the caution comes in:Where we lack lore, she has inserted her own personal experiences, which to me makes this less of an authentic piece of research and more of an unverified personal gnosis.

I wouldn't recommend this as a first book on heathenry, because without a little bit of previous experience it would be difficult to work out the fact from the guesswork.However for somebody who wants a well rounded idea of what's out there, and/or who is able to weed out the good bits, it is a very valuable addition to a home library.

Excellent beginners' information
This is one of the better introductory books to Heathenry, outlining the rites of Heathendom as well as the nature of the Gods, in a way that is easy to understand without "dumbing it down".It does focus more on the Anglo-Saxon side of Heathenry, rather than "generic Norse" Asatru, but this (in my opinion) does not detract from the information within.It presents Heathenry as a wholistic practice, truly connecting with the Gods, wights, and ancestors, and bringing Their gifts into Midgard. ... Read more

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