Product Description
Fierce and Fabulous
Thirteen Goddesses for Modern Women

The changing of the seasons, phases of the moon, even our personal experiences-all are reflections of the Divine Feminine. Create a stronger connection to the sacred world and your own divinity by welcoming these thirteen powerful Celtic and Nordic goddesses into your life.

As you make your way through a transformative year, know that each goddess has a different energy and a unique lesson to teach you. Starting with the Winter Solstice, the eight seasonal Sabbats and five faces of the moon provide the guideposts along your path. Through ritual, invocation, guided meditations, and magical activities, you'll explore each goddess's unique mythology and discover her message for your life.
Cerridwyn ~ Welsh Goddess of Rebirth and Renewal
Brigid ~ Irish Goddess of Healing, the Forge, and Creative Inspiration
Eostre ~  Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring
Freyja ~ Norse Goddess of Love and War
Aine ~ Irish Goddess of Faeries and Fertility
Danu ~ Irish Mother Goddess of Wisdom
Modron ~ Welsh Mother Goddess of Mystery
Hella ~ Norse Goddess of the Underworld
Branwen ~ Welsh Goddess of Sovereignty
Maeve ~ Irish Goddess of Personal Power
The Valkyries ~ Norse Goddesses of Battle Magic and Soul Journey
Morrighan ~ Irish Goddess of Magic and Death
Rhiannon ~ Welsh Great Queen and Horse Goddess


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Customer Reviews (15)

wonderful book
i have bought both of the books michelle skye has written and plan to buy her third (goddess aloud) when it comes out. unlike many authors who write around this type of topic, she has not only clearly researched the goddesses in her books, but presented them within the cultural context they come from. i *LOVE* that she includes goddesses from the norse pantheon, and as i am particularly fond of those Ladies. the guided meditations and invocations and wonderfully written and give a great springboard for connecting and opening up to their energies. well done!

Good Book, but not enough on Norse Goddesses
I did enjoy this book, but was very saddened to see only 4 chapters dedicated to the Norse Goddesses out of the 13 in the book.She only covers Freyja, Eostre, Hella and the Valkyries.There are so many others in the Norse Pantheon that could have been included.I did see she included 4 more in her next book Goddess Afoot, which is nice, but still the Irish and Celtic Goddesses are more in number.I would love to see her write a book just about the Norse Goddesses.

She has done her research, but as I said before, I was disappointed to see only 4 Norse Goddesses in the book.

Refreshing
I really found this book to be refreshing. Often when I read books of this nature I find them just a retred of what I have already read. This book gave me fresh info and insight into these goddesses. I also enjoyed the meditations.

excellent insight
refreshing and insightful look at celtic and norse goddesses, very easy read full of information!

Alive and Well
As a folklore writer, I am always interested in acquiring new research materials for my library.As I already have a pretty extensive library, when I first saw "Goddess Alive!" by Michelle Skye I wondered if it could possibly offer me any information I didn't already have access to.

I was pleasantly surprised.The first section I turned to was the chapter on the Valkyries.I was so pleased to find that this chapter not only contained information about the Norse Goddesses who escort the slain battle heroes to Valhalla, and the Norse Goddess Freyja, but it also had some information on Brunhildr (sometimes spelled Brynhilde) that I'd never seen before.The names of the Valkyries are also given.

Goddess Alive! features 13 goddesses from Norse and Celtic folklore.They are connected to either seasonal dates or moon phases.

The first part of the book is titled "The Turning of the Year" and features the following goddesses:

The Winter Solstice:Cerridwyn, Welsh Goddess of Rebirth and Renewal
Imbolc:Brigid, Irish Goddess of Fire
The Spring Equinox:Eostre, Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring
Beltane:Freyja, Norse Goddess of Love and War
The Summer Solstice:Aine, Irish Goddess of Faeries and Fertility
Lammas/Lughnasadh:Danu, Irish Mother Goddess of Wisdom
The Autumn Equinox:Modron, Welsh Mother Goddess of Mystery
Samhain:Hella, Norse Goddess of the Underworld

The second part of the book is titled "The Faces of the Moon" and features the following goddesses:

Waxing Moon:Branwen, Welsh Goddess of Sovereignty
Full Moon:Maeve, Irish Goddess of Personal Power
Waning Moon:The Valkyries, Norse Goddesses of Battle Magic and Soul Journey
Dark Moon:Morrighan, Irish Goddess of Magic and Death
New Moon:Rhiannon, Welsh Great Queen and Horse Goddess

Each chapter is laid out into sections which include information on that particular goddess, the holiday or moon that they represent, a guide to a pathworking for that particular goddess, a guided meditation, an invocation to that goddess, an activity, and then a ritual.

The guided meditation is visually appealing, and rather complex, so you'd either want to record it or have someone read it to you.In the chapter on the Valkyries I chose to read the meditation several times over, then I just did the meditation on my own.I didn't enjoy this quite as much as recording it myself first, but it can definitely be done.

The information on the different goddesses is extensive and well-researched, and the details on the holidays and moon times are very informative.For the spiritual soul, the pathworking, activity and rituals are beautifully done and are sure to please.

Much more than a simple guide to ancient goddess mythology, I found "Goddess Alive!" to be not only informative, but beautifully laid out and rich in tradition and legend.I thoroughly enjoyed Michelle Skye's easy to read (and understand) writing style, and the illustrations by Kris Waldherr were beautifully done.I would highly recommend it to not only the folklore buff, but to all those interested in furthering their own spiritual practice. ... 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!


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Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Snorri is great but must be taken with a grain of salt.
If you have an interest in mythology, Scandinavian culture, pre-Christian Indo-European worldview then this is a must read book. If your an Odinist this is a must read book, HOWEVER, the Eddas are not an Odinist bible. Snorri was a Christian who wrote this stuff 200 years after Iceland converted to Christianity. There are obvious Christian influences in the Eddas and there are compelling arguments that some of the Gods in the Eddas were never worshipped by Heathens and put there for entertainment value by Snorri. That being said Snorri is still argueably the best source for Indo-European religion. You just have to take a lot of it with a grain of salt. The translation itself is entertaining and easy to read. Overall you can't go wrong here.

One of the most readable modern translations
Of all the various world mythologies known to modern scholarship, the Norse is one of the most complete. This is especially true with regard to the most archaic element in all Eurasian myth, the so called "World Tree" or "Tree of Life," called Yggdrasill in the Norse tradition. As in the Hebrew version, an evil serpent lives at the base of this sacred tree, and apples of immortality are found in Asgard (heaven) located at its heights. This story, or one of its many variants, appears in the vast majority of mythical traditions that have come down to us from antiquity.

The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson provides details about this Norse version of the Tree of Life that do not appear in the Poetic Edda, the other principal source-text for Scandinavian mythology. These details are of the highest importance for any attempt to understand the symbolic meaning of the story. A full description of the "World Tree" myth, along with an interpretation that has met with scholarly acclaim, can be found in the book: Tree of Life, Mythical Archetype, by Gregory Haynes. All serious students of mythology should consult that publication from Symbolon Press.

This translation of the Prose Edda by Jean Young is, without doubt, one of the most readable of all the modern renditions. The omission of some tedious portions of the Skaldskaparmal is a minor issue, and should not prejudice anyone against acquiring this book. The English flows effortlessly while staying remarkably faithful to the original. This is a brilliant translation of an essential text in world mythology.

Best English translation from primary source
Currently, Brodeur's translation into English is the best from what is considered the primary and second oldest source of Norse Mythology: "The Prose Edda." The first translation was published in Denmark 1665 with Danish and Latin interpretation.
The Icelandic author, Snorri Sturluson, grew up in the home of Sæmundr Sigfússon who is main author of the earlier: "Poetic EDDA" and the source of this Prose EDDA along with oral traditions (songs and folktales) existing only in fragments today. Both Icelandic authors were writing from a Christian perspective, and this translation attempts to preserve the authenticity.
The Danish kingdom and the Scandinavian civilization at the time of Snorri's life was still changing into a centralized social structure from the rise and fall of the Vikings and the earlier pagan faith of hundreds of nature spirits called Vætter. The nature spirits were forces of nature or natural phenomena's given names to describe their very character. Some of these Vætter-names are lost in translation. Also the attributes of the Vætter were subject to altered perception through Christian eyes, and in translation into English, they sometimes disappear completely which move them even further away from their original position as elements of nature given life in the stories.
Nevertheless, I recommend this book as the best English account describing the conflict between the Vætter (the original nature spirits of Scandinavia) and the Æser (migrating tribes from the south with the hierarchical system and the establishment of the Nordic gods including the well known Odin and Thor).

If You're Purchasing this as an Odinist.
There are some things you must know. This is mostly incomplete huge portions are missing. Secondly this is a translation by a Christian historian and as such many of the stories are warped. Snorri did a great deal of wrongs to this. I fond it a useful source of Mythology despite evident errors. There is good in this text, just not what you should buy if you're Studying Asatru. it's a good example of myth and lore. As a basic text I give it 3 stars because of the price.

Ian Myles Slater on: A Readable "Standard Version"
Jean I. Young's translation of selections from "The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson: Tales from Norse Mythology," with an Introduction by the distinguished Icelandic scholar Sigurdhur Nordal, was originally issued in 1954 by Bowes & Bowes Publishers Ltd., Cambridge, with an American edition from the University of California Press; I have a 1964 hardcover printing of the latter version.

UC Press has been reprinting it as a trade paperback for decades. It currently has a new cover (an apparently Victorian vision of Thor in his thunder-chariot, wielding his hammer against the Giants), but Amazon's "Look Inside" function has the old green cover showing a giant eagle carrying off Loki, from an older edition. Not a very good representation of the scene as described inside -- besides Loki's clichéd horned helmet, the hapless trickster should be dragging on the ground, not soaring over the mountains -- but it is a dramatic composition. (The digital version looks much nicer than the cover of my faded and crumbling 1971 printing of the paperback!)

The "Prose Edda" is the main source for a great deal of what we know (or think we know) about the myths and legends of pre-Christian Scandinavia; and often has guided, not always for the better, the interpretation of other, less entertaining or more opaque sources. Leaving aside challenges to Snorri's veracity about his sources, Wagner's "Twilight of the Gods," for example, follows what seems to be a mis-reading or mis-hearing of a word on Snorri's part. (I would follow those who accept Snorri as mainly very reliable, but sometimes in error about what was already in the twelfth century a fading pagan past.)

Young's translation of substantial excerpts was by far the most readily available English version of the material for several decades; and, even with two new competitors, has some merits. Except in a few places, for reasons I can understand in a 1950s context, it seems quite accurate. Some may prefer its prose style (others won't), and it has been used by half a century of secondary sources, including quotations in quite scholarly works.

From the whole Icelandic original, it includes the best-known material; the historicizing "Prologue," the main exposition of Norse mythology, as "The Deluding of Gylfi," and the narrative sections of the "Poetic Diction" (Skaldskaparmal), omitting the long lists of vocabulary and metaphors. As is the case with every English translation but one, the "Hattatal," a poem by Snorri in a hundred-plus meters with his own commentary on each stanza, itself both a virtuoso performance and pedagogical tour-de-force, is omitted.

The Young version had no real competition in the market until the Everyman translation by Anthony Faulkes (1987), as "Edda" the first English rendering to contain the whole body of material, both prose and verse, as found in the original (with the verses in Hattatal given in Icelandic as well as translation, without which the commentary is unintelligible). This is a solid work of scholarship, but it is probably more accessible, as well as more valuable, to serious inquirers than it is to beginners.

Young's version had supplanted for most readers -- and apparently in the minds of publishers -- the excellent 1916 American-Scandinavian Society version by Arthur G. Brodeur, which is long out of print (although available on-line at several sites). Brodeur's translation now seems a bit stilted, is not quite complete (minus "Hattatal," as usual) and in some places is just antiquated, but it is still worth consulting. Young's version really wasn't designed to compete with it as a resource for scholarship, but seems to have done so in practice. In terms of approach and ambitions, Brodeur's version is really the immediate predecessor of the Faulkes even more extensive translation. (Faulkes also edited the Icelandic text.)

Although Young or his publishers felt obliged the soften the relatively blunt language about some body parts and functions, and otherwise render it acceptable to nervous parents, schools, and librarians, I have always found it an enjoyable translation to read. Nordal's introduction, reflecting a consensus half-a-century old, which he had himself championed, is a bit more problematic, but what it has to say is worth considering, too.

A close match in contents to Young's selection is a new Penguin Classics volume from Jesse Byock, "The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology" (2005) to which Young's translation was briefly linked by Amazon. It omits the same large blocks of material (with a few samples offered), and is somewhat closer in style to Young's simple modern English; but the scholarship is considerably more up to date, and my first impression is that it is a much more attractive version. However, those worried about offending the prudish may still prefer Young's slightly bowdlerized rendering, which is by no means a bad translation. (The really interested will want all three; and have a web version of Brodeur bookmarked, too.)

(I can't honestly recommend any of the nineteenth-century versions, such Rasmus B. Anderson's 1869 version, also available on-line, or George Webbe Dasent's rather mannered 1842 translation, which doesn't seem to be available in digital form. Some may find these older translations readable, but at any point they may be seriously antiquated in textual or linguistic scholarship.)

I have discussed at some length the author (named as such in medieval sources), the name of the work, and the confusing existence of a "Poetic" or "Elder" Edda, and other complications, in a review of the Byock translation; to which I would direct the curious; and anyone pondering which version to buy.

I would point out, for those who don't bother with it, that the "About the Author" description for the Young translation, based on that used by the UC Press itself, flatly adopts as true Nordal's tentative suggestion that Snorri was the author of "Egil's Saga." This is a modern idea with no period support, and which has not met with overwhelming approval. ("Egil's Saga" is one of the greatest of the Sagas of the Icelanders, and I wish I could accept the attribution.)

The description also confuses both "Egil's Saga" and "Saint Olaf's Saga" with "Heimskringla," Snorri's compilation of biographies of the Kings of Norway (mostly his own work), in which his distinctive adaptations of the Sagas of Olaf Trygvasson and Olaf the Holy are incorporated. This is worth noting, since two in-print modern translations of "Heimskringla" silently include the two Olaf Sagas, while an Everyman's Library edition in two volumes treated the saga of "King Olaf Trygvesson" and "King Olaf the Saint" separately, and out of chronological order. There should be no need to look for both titles, unless you want that revision of the somewhat creaky nineteenth-century Samuel Laing translation. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Product Description

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) is increasingly recognized as the most influential writer of the twentieth century. Sales of his books remain exceptionally high, and Middle-earth fan clubs flourish around the world. The massive success of the film versions made of The Lord of the Rings, and released between 2001 and 2003, have only added to his popularity.

Throughout his life, Tolkien was acutely aware of the power of myth in shaping society; so much so, that one of his earliest ambitions as a writer was to create a mythology for England. The Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit was to serve as a stand-in for Britain and North-western Europe and is strongly based on a variety of influential literatures and beliefs, particularly the Celtic and Norse. Perilous Realms is the first book to focus consistently on the ways in which Tolkien balances these two ancient cultures and unites them in a single literature. Renowned Tolkien scholar Marjorie Burns also investigates the ways Tolkien reconciled other oppositions, including paganism and Christianity, good and evil, home and wayside, war and peace, embellishment and simplicity, hierarchy and the common man.

Even those who do not know Beowulf or the Arthurian tales or northern European mythology come away from The Lord of the Rings with a feeling for Britain's historical and literary past. Those who recognize the sources behind Tolkien - and the skill with which he combines these sources - gain far more. Perilous Realms gives this advantage to all readers and provides new discoveries, including material from obscure, little-known Celtic texts and a likely new source for the name 'hobbit.' It is truly essential reading for Tolkien fans.

Customer Reviews (6)

Perilous Realms of Wanton Lies
The early English shared much the same mythological universe with Norse culture. It's the celtic weevil we've to guard against. That is how we come to have authors peddling 'celtic' runes and other such nonsenses.

Happily for enthusiasts evidence of cultural empire-building is everywhere in this book. The Ring was not intended to stand for Britain. Why would it? Tolkien did not consider himself 'British'. As he said in his Letters, "I love England - not Great Britain and certainly not the British Commonwealth." Similarly the Hobbits were specifically English.

Tolkien emphasized as much in the `Prologue' to the Fellowship of the Ring. According to author Tom Shippey (quoted in Harrington) Tolkien makes the whole history of the Shire correspond 'point for point' with the history of early England. Likewise Sam Gamgee was: "a reflection of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognised as so far superior to myself." (Tolkien Letters, p.88).

Mythologies appeal to the universal and the local simultaneously. But Tolkien was quite specific. 'Celtic' mythology wouldn't do. Tolkien's preferred frame of reference was the 12th century Finnish Karvala he admired so much. This was to be his template for restoring to England something of what she'd been stripped of by the Normans. He would, he said, 'restore to the English an epic tradition and present them with a mythology of their own' (On Fairy Stories). The aim was to fashion a series of legends which would serve as a mythology for his people, a gift to the nation.

'Celtic of any sort,' observed Tolkien elsewhere, is 'a magic bag, in which anything may be put, and out of which almost anything may come.' Tolkien read the Welsh 'Mabinogion', but to read is not necessarily to be influenced by, and since there were no 'celts' in these islands it's hard to see how this (minor at best) influence can be so labelled.

That the trilogy filmed and released into cinemas yielded to the usual commercial concerns - irish pipers at the premier in London's Leicester Square, a soundtrack by bloody Enya - can only be deplored. I'd like to think Peter Jackson at least objected to the desecration, even if a phoney 'celtic' veneer was the quid pro quo for realizing his dream so wonderfully.

But Tolkien's ring was English. Not 'British' - English. Ignore the fear of nationalist attachments, which incline prevailing leftist ideologies masquerading as 'lit-crit' to stress the universal over the particular where English authors are concerned. Much the same thing happens with Shakespeare (the relish with which self-hating English media types fulfil their annual obligation to celebrate the scottishness of Robert Burns furnishes an interesting counterpoint here).

'The Hobbits are just rustic English people,' said the author. 'The Shire is based on rural England and not on any other country in the world. After all, the book is English, and by an Englishman.'

And nothing 'celtic' about any of it.

Meh...
"Needless to say they are not Celtic! Neither are the tales. I do know Celtic things (many in their original languages Irish and Welsh), and feel for them a certain distaste: largely for their fundamental unreason. They have bright colour, but are like a broken stained glass window reassembled without design. They are in fact 'mad' as your reader says--but I don't believe I am." (Tolkien cited in Humphrey, 1981, The letters of J.R.R. Tolkien).

This is the sort of book I've been waiting for, but to be honest, I didn't buy a lot of what the author was trying to say. This is mostly because I have read Tolkien's letters, and the contents of those letters do not agree with everything the author has said.

I admit though, I am a bit disappointed that the Teutonic aspects of the Lord of the Rings have been played down recently. These aspects are what drove Tolkien, he was an Anglo-Saxon scholar who loved Teutonic mythology and was never shy about saying so. I just find it hard to believe that so many modern day fans of his works are afraid to admit this, perhaps because of the nazis, but I fail to see how their actions degrade Teutonic mythology as a whole.

I've never read anyone who said that Walter Scott was inspired by French ballads, and I'm sort of amused that this sentiment is now applied to Tolkien. He was writing mythology, yes, but he said that mythology was taken largely from Teutonic and Finnish origins. It's a little sad that this great work and all of the learning which comes with it, is ignored because it might be seen as politically incorrect.

HIGHLY recommended book - PERILOUS REALMS
Here's a book any serious reader of Tolkien ought to read.What Burns does better than other critics is to show how Tolkien has a double way of looking at things.Her main topic is how Tolkien combines Norse and Celtic mythology in his fiction to make a mythology for England, but Burns also show how Tolkien maintains a balance between several other beliefs or viewpoints: war and peace, high ranking people and humble Hobbits, or the attractions of home and the appeal of the road.

Two chapters I particularly liked are "Iceland and Middle-earth" and "Eating, Devouring and Sacrifice."The first is an original study of how William Morris influenced Tolkien, especially in The Hobbit.The second shows how Tolkien uses the metaphor of eating throughout his fiction.

I do not understand how the other reader/critic of this book could possibly construe any PERILOUS REALMS as a rehash. They must not have read the same book. I found this book to be full of new information, new connections.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

Rehash
If you know don't know anything about Norse or Celtic literature, then do notbother to read this book, because you have heard or can deduce nearly everything that this book contains.

I picked it up when trying to write a paper about Tolkien and Norse literature, and it basically says everything other earlier critics (Jane Chance, Tom Shippey, Heather O'Donahue, to name but a few) have written before. I must say that Tolkien's ties to Celtic literature in particular are tenuous, if just because there aren't many surviving Celtic poems/stories. The Norse connections are obvious ones like Gandalf = Odinn, which any student of medieval literature knows (or should know).

Again, if you do not know the difference between Grendel and Garm, then you will like this book. If you do, don't bother reading it.

WITHOUT APOLOGY
One of the finest characteristics of Tolkien's work is that it is easily as enjoyable to think about as it is to read. And despite the completeness, volume and excruciating detail of his literature, his work in particular exhibits a singular ability to create the desire for even more among his readers. Given the depth and range of Tolkien's legendarium connections and inferences fly in all directions and the concentration required in tracking them down and relating them to the work is obviously why they call it Tolkien Scholarship. Consequently, there is almost no shortage of books, critical and scholarly works available to those interested in making the kind of connections capable of greatly expanding their appreciation and comprehension of Middle-earth, its sources, intricacies, meaning, philosophy, structure and context. And "Perilous Realms" is one of the finest.

Marjorie Burns has accomplished something a bit rare for readers of Tolkien. This is a book that remains inviting and accessible without sacrificing any intellectual weight. Her focus on linking narrative sources of "The Silmarillion", "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" to Celtic and Norse mythologies does not narrow the field -- this approach proves more than adequate to the task of bringing the vastness of her subject within reach.

But there remains a nagging sense of Apologia, especially in her chapter on the technique Tolkien uses to add dimension to his principal characters. Here, as with the work of Shippey and others, the reader can't help but get the sense that there's some element geared at the appeasement of mainstream literature and literary critics who so often dismiss Tolkien's work, in many cases unread. Burns' critical insights are strong enough without the seemingly obligatory nod to those literati who choose, simply on the basis of their personal preference, to remain blind and deaf to Tolkien. Such critics' denial of the worth of this work isn't based on literary criteria anyway. So it's safe to assume they'll remain unswayed, whether they become aware of the intricacy and depth of these works or not. With or without them, Tolkien's work is hardly short of either advocates or legitimacy.

That said, Burns' language remains concise, her presentation remains linear even through the often less-than-linear ambles that make much of Tolkien so compelling. Her writing favors clarity over the overtly technical. And, perhaps most importantly, her insights are actually highly original, their exposition extremely convincing. This book complements and informs the content of many other works on Tolkien rather than merely burnishing already familiar ideas. Her ability to illuminate both the far-reaching and fundamental concepts within the literature makes this one of the most enjoyable and informative critical books you'll read on Tolkien's work. ... Read more

Product Description
An A-Z of the mythical figures of the Nordic culture, detailing characters, locations and sites of interest, significant events, stories and symbols. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great illustrations!! And great introduction to Norse Myth.
I bought this book only for the beautiful illustrations. Cotterell introduces the Norse deities in a strict to the point manner(which dissapointed me). I wouldn't recommend this book to any student of mythology for research. However, it would be great for beginners. Anyone of the Asatru faith (like myself)looking for great colorful illustrations of their gods and goddesses, I strongly advise you to buy this book. Cotterell also introduces many Slavic dieties such as: Baba Yaga, Veles, Svarazic, and Perun. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
In this encyclopedia, learn the history of Norse Gods, Goddesses, Giants, Dwarves, and Wights.Presented is a complete list with explinations of each and their histories.This book is quite extensive and worth visiting if you are into Norse Mythology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great reference guide and great book.!
All I can say is, I loved it.This is one of the few books I found that had all the information I was looking for.Great job!

Great book, packed with information
For 2.99 you can't get much better than this.Tons of information and an easy researchable book.You won't regret this one.

Great collection of information and worth the read
This a great book.I do not agree with the other review on here about it.It is an encyclopedia and some of the references may be short but many are longer and worth a read.As for the comment of the other reviewer about some explinations being a reference to another such as see ...., well there is an explination of what that being is and it would be a huge book if everything was constantly repeated.I like the book as is, very big and low priced.

Not as advertised
This book started out with a lot of advertisements and blank pages.Finally, when I got to the material, it was more of a dictionary than an encyclopedia.And some of the entries are pretty meager.Here are a few examples:

Geirromul - A Valkyrie.
Geirrondul - A Valkyrie.
Geirskigull - A Valkyrie.
Gerahod - A Valkyrie.

I did a quick search and found more information on these in less than a minute.

I almost gave it one star, but it's an okay dictionary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Must for Myth Lovers
Any person who loves myths and legends should get this book. It contains wonderful pictures and stories. I've read them over and over. The pictures are one of my favorite things in the book. My younger sister just sitsthere and looks at them forever. It tells about how the Greeks and Norsebelieved there was a bunch of different worlds and maps them out for you. ... Read more

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The parentage, powers, and deeds of fourteen. ... Read more

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The medieval Norse-Icelandic saga is one of the most important European vernacular literary genres of the Middle Ages. This Introduction to the saga genre outlines its origins and development, its literary character, its material existence in manuscripts and printed editions, and its changing reception from the Middle Ages to the present time. Its multiple sub-genres - including family sagas, mythical-heroic sagas and sagas of knights - are described and discussed in detail, and the world of medieval Icelanders is powerfully evoked. The first general study of the Old Norse-Icelandic saga to be written in English for some decades, the Introduction is based on up-to-date scholarship and engages with current debates in the field. With suggestions for further reading, detailed information about the Icelandic literary canon, and a map of medieval Iceland, this book is aimed at students of medieval literature and assumes no prior knowledge of Scandinavian languages. ... Read more

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This accessible and reflective book will appeal to anyone with an interest in mythology and storytelling. It has two sections: a retelling of the myths, then an analysis of their sources, meaning, and application to modern people. We think Rossman is uniquely qualified both to tell these tales and to reflect upon their value for modern times, and that The Northern Path is far more than just another collection of Norse myths.Rossman is well acquainted with the work of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell. For the past 25 years, he's not only studied Norse mythology but also told these tales to live audiences, as the Norse skalds told them centuries ago, and interacted with audiences about their meaning and relevance for today. He has worked with the myths both with adults and with Norwegian-American youngsters at the Sons of Norway's Camp Norway, and has made the myths, the runes, and their wisdom part of his own personal journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Absolutely Wonderful!
I love this book! It is such a wonderful retelling of the old Norse Myths, as well as a good introduction to them. I have been reading this book to my wife to give her a good understanding of why I am interested in Asatru and the old Religion of Northern Europe.

Nice Storytelling
This is a good book for you to read to your kids. The Eddas are told with a modern twist and the author is very entertaining. I just finished the 1st part of the book, the actual stories, and have not yet begun to read the author's spiritual applications of the Eddas. As a modern day Skald the author is very good at storytelling; however, this is not an academic rendition of the Eddas, but it is a good book to read to your kids.

Retellings From A Modern-Day Skáld
In the manner of mainstream" thinking, the concept of myth or mythology would immediately bring to mind something false, something untrue or unreal... that which is contrary to accepted logic, history, or scientifically objective" fact. For so many years, the myths of our People had been relegated to a realm akin to something of mere fairytales or fantasy. To no surprise, it has been a long run for the mindset that so many -but certainly not all- scholars held, in which the myths were assigned their role in explanation of natural phenomena and other occurrences that our seemingly dull-witted ancestors simply could not account for otherwise. This, of course stands in contrast to how Heathen (and culturally-appreciative non-Heathen) properly understand the role that our ancestors' mythology served within their society (as it does within our own)- a comprehension that has spread beyond its marginal bounds in recent years especially, and has begun to shift the perceptions of an ever-widening circle of post-modern Thinkers away from the equation of mythology with an idea of primitive misunderstanding".

A living mythology plays a key role in both the preservation and communication of information in a revealing and deeply insightful manner. Through myth, we are afforded a unique perspective into a People's underlying Worldview. It is a means towards a deeper realization, and an honest glimpse into a culture's innermost spiritual realities. As Rossman points out, the value of myth lies in the human attempt to explore and explain those parts of the outer and inner worlds that do not yet -and may never- lend themselves to objective testing. Simply put, science attempts to answer the what" and how" questions of the universe, while the question lying at the heart of myth is why".

Our journey along The Northern Path is one of spiritual exploration and inner discovery. The profound wisdoms of our ancestors which were carefully encrypted within the mythic cycles of the North are skillfully brought to life through Rossman's vivid retellings, in four distinct parts.

The first begins with The Creation, and carries us through The Trials of Odin, to the War of the Gods and the building of The Walls of Asgard. We learn how The Mead of Poetry is won, and of the shaping of the Gifts for the Gods. We are told the tales of The Theft of Thor's Hammer and the wooing of Gerd, and are introduced to Loki's Children. In the second section, we are presented with The Oldest Troll Tale in the account of Grendel and His Mother. In the third, The Ring of Doom looms darkly before us in five episodes- from Otter's Blood Price to the heroic Coming of Sigurd, his epic meeting with the dragon, Fafnir and the awakening of Brynhild, to the eventual tragedy that befalls Sigurd and Brynhild -when Andvari's Curse Strikes Again. Part four opens with Thor's adventures in the realm of the giants: Thor's Visit to Utgard, Thor Goes Fishing, Thor's Duel with Hrungnir, Thor and the Giant Geirröd. The tales of The Apples of Idunn and Skadi's Choice follow, along with the grave misfortune of The Death of Balder, and the subsequent Binding of Loki. Ragnarök, The Doom of the Gods closes both the fourth part, and the first section of the book.

The second section of The Northern Path brings us to an examination of the myths themselves. Here, we are presented with ten chapters that explore those hoary wisdoms and primeval truths so well-preserved within such ageless tales. This leg of our journey appropriately begins with the forward, The Trailhead to the Northern Path, and leads us into an informed study on The Nature and Relevance of Myth. The reader is then presented with the The Sources of the Norse Myths and seven chapters of discussion on Gods, Giants, and even Runes. A short dissertation on dragons is also presented, as well as the closing discussion on Ragnarök and what lies beyond. Rossman is also mindful topresent a table of virtues, just before rounding out the main text of the volume with the afterword, Echoes of Odin- Mythic Survival and Revival. As to be expected, Rossman provides ample explanatory footnotes and select bibliography.

The Northern Path is a well-rounded work worthy of serious consideration, and is an asset to any Heathen library. Rossman is a true skáld, who ably follows in the footsteps of the skálds of old, and his skills shine throughout his retellings. Quite comfortable with the myths of his Fathers, he succeeds well in making these noble tales his own", through a flowing style that pulls our mythology out of the pages, into animated spells of carefully woven words. Take a moment or two to read a few of the passages -if not a whole tale or two- aloud as you read along ...let their dynamic quality stir your soul... hear the whisperings of the Gods of our People... let their saga inspire you to walk along The Northern Path.

Good
This is an excellement book that I would recommend to Odinists/Asatruar, simply because it is such an entertaining work, that uses a somewhat modern, often humorous perspective in the retelling of our ancient stories. Dag has been telling these tales to live audiences for years, and uses his experience in doing so to present them in this book. If you are looking for a book to help in relating our sacred stories to children or reciting them before the folk, this certainly has some great ideas and a wonderful format for doing so.

Of course, in my own research I am at odds with some of the stuff in here, such as Hel being Loki's daughter, the cosmology, etc. but this doesn't take away from the overall concept. I often find that most mythologists rely too heavily on the Prose Edda, and don't consider the other sources enough, but in most areas Dag does seem to do his homework. The latter half of the book is also valuable, in explaining and interpreting these stories while showing us how to apply them in our lives. This alone is worth purchasing the book for.

I would say that The Northern Path is worth checking out and would be an interesting and valuable addition to anyone's library. ~Mark Puryear

The best book of its kind I have ever read.
Having Swedish-American ancestry, I have long been interested in the mythology and lore of Scandinavia and Northern Europe and rightly treasure the old stories and poems of the Northern Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes. I remember first discovering the POETIC EDDA and PROSE EDDA and how, reading them, made me feel like I had "come home." Now, unexpectedly, I have re-experienced much of that original excitement. Through over-familiarity, I had forgotten how good these stories are as stories. And how did I recapture old feelings of once new discoveries? I read the new book by Douglas "Dag" Rossman. In this book Dag has preserved in writing his excellent storyteller versions of many of myfavorite tales of the Northland, including an excerpt from BEOWULF! That alone would make the book worth reading.

As a writer who has written several novels of my own in a Scandinavian mythos setting, I admire the way in which Dag's clear prose breathes life into the characters who people Northern Lore. For example, In his retelling of how the Thunder God Thor got his Hammer back from the Giants who had stolen it, Thor's reluctance to trick his way into the giant's lair by disguising himself in the clothing of the beautiful Goddess Freya has the appropriate comic touch when the bold and brawny Defender of Asgard complains, "The guys will never let me live it down!" Others of the stories, however, are of course not funny at all. Dag retells the cosmic tragedy of Balder's death in a way that produced for me appropriately strong emotions. But wait, there's more!

The second part of the book is titled "The Northern Path to Wisdom and Balance."And the afterward, "Echoes of Odin--Mythic Survival and Revival," adds yet another reason why I greatly appreciated this book. So! I heartily recommend Dag's new book to anyone young or old who has an interest in the stories and lore of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. Whether discovering these stories and the Northern worldview for the first time or revisiting the tales and concepts of the Northern Path, in my opinion a better book than this one would be impossible to find. Read it yourself. Read it to your children. Give a copy to your local library. And have yourself some important, thoughtful fun!
... Read more

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

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A new in-depth historical insight into the 12th-century King of Argyll who laid the foundations for the rout of the Vikings from Scotland's west coast.In doing so he set the foundations for the Lordship of the Isles and created a maritime power base that was to challenge even the authority of the Scottish Crown until 1493. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Somerled
This is an excellent account of the life & exploits of Somerled and sets a foundation for early modern history of the Islands

Somerled: Hammer of the Norse
This is the best history of Somerled I have read! I have read seven others and this is the first author to examine all of the conflicting source materials and present them to the reader to draw their own conclusion. The other historians seemed to discedit Clan Donald histories about their ancestor and except the writings of Somerled's adversaries as gospel. This author presented both sides and added her perspective on reasons for the conflicting accounts. She showed faith that her reader could draw logical conclusions if empowered with all of the information. The reader is immediately aware that this author is presenting Somerled from the perspective of a Highlander. Thank you Kathlene MacPhee for this unique perspective on our ancestor. ... Read more

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This is the first ever book-length study of the nature and significance of the linguistic contact between speakers of Old Norse and Old English in Viking Age England. It investigates in a wide-ranging and systematic fashion a foundational but under-considered factor in the history and culture of the Vikings in England. The subject is important for late Anglo-Saxon and Viking Age history; for language and literature in the late Anglo-Saxon period; and for the history and development of the English language. The work's primary focus is on Anglo-Norse language contact, with a particular emphasis on the question of possible mutual intelligibility between speakers of the two languages; but since language contact is an emphatically sociolinguistic phenomenon, the work's methodology combines linguistic, literary and historical approaches, and draws for its evidence on texts in Old English, Old Norse and Anglo-Latin, and other forms of linguistic and onomastic material. ... Read more

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From 1961 to 1968, Helge Ingstad and his wife Anne Stine Ingstad, both archaeologists and acclaimed Viking scholars, conducted seven expeditions at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland. The results of their excavations solved one of the world's greatest mysteries: the location of Vinland and the first European settlement in North America.

The Viking Discovery of America combines a first-hand account of the Ingstads' groundbreaking discovery with a compelling history of Viking explorations. This beautifully illustrated volume describes how the authors worked from old Viking sagas, existing research, and their own hypotheses to piece together the story of a group of Vikings, who, faced with crowded conditions in their settlements in Greenland, decided to expand their horizons, eventually discovering a new territory. Readers will also discover fascinating information about navigation techniques, well-known and obscure Viking explorers, their journeys, and the eventual evacuation of their settlement. Full-color maps and photographs from the expeditions help to bring the text alive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Amazing what a gifted amateur can acomplish!
Until Ingstad came along in the late 1950s, there was a principle operating among most U.S. historians which Charles Michael Boland called NEBC: "No Europeans Before Columbus." Then Ingstad, a trained lawyer and natural outdoors and explorer with a wife who was a professional archaeologist, looked again at his astute analysis of the Greenlanders' Saga and Erik's Saga, combined that with his extensive travels in the Arctic, and came to the conclusion that Helluland *had* to be Baffin Island, Markland *had* to be the mid-Atlantic coast of Labrador, and Vinland therefore *had* to be somewhere in the upper part of Newfoundland. To top it off, he was convinced that "Vinland" referred to meadows ("Vin" with a short "I"), not grapevines ("Vin" with a long "I"). In this popular but very informative treatment, he takes the reader step-by-step through his thought processes and explains in an entirely convincing manner why all this *had* to be so. Then, of course, he went out in a small boat, retraced the path Leif had taken (which itself was the reverse of the path Bjarni had taken), and when he got to the tiny, isolated village of L'Anse aux Meadows on the Strait of Belle Isle, he stopped and asked the local fishermen if they knew of any ruins in the area. "Sure do," they replied and the Ingstad spent the next eight years platting and excavating the foundations of a cluster of turf houses, plus a smithy, a kiln, and a row of boathouses on the creek that ran through the meadow. It's a fascinating story and this edition is beautifully illustrated. If you're interested in the Norse, or the history of discovery, or Newfoundland, or archaeology, you'll want to read this book.

Discovering THE Norse site yet found in America
This account of Norse explorations in America by Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad, focuses on the ruins they found and excavated, left by Norse settlers near the present village of L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of Newfoundland, somewhere around 1000 AD according to carbon dating. Helge Ingstad, a Norwegian, wrote most of the text of this well illustrated 199-page large-format book. His archeologist wife, in charge of the actual diggings, wrote the chapter on their meticulous uncovering of the ruins of eight turf buildings during the course of seven seasons from 1961 to 1968, the largest of which, House F, contained six main rooms separated by turf walls. Much smaller but of key importance was House J, a working "smithy" in which local bog iron was smelted. The three houses A, B, and C, closely clustered together, have since been restored to original condition to form the core of a Canadian national historic park established in 1977 and open to visitors, complete with "re-enactors" dressed in Old Norse costumes. The site's second-largest house, A, is a longhouse about 75 feet in length with four rooms. Much of the described detail of the actual digs will probably be lost on many general readers, but this chapter does convey a sense of the incredibly slow and painstaking efforts involved in any important archeological dig.

No doubt of greater interest to the non-archeologically inclined will be Helge Ingstad's chapters on the background of the Norse Vinland ventures in the region, including an illuminating analysis of the two pertinent sagas. Of these, the one long believed to be the more authentic ("Erik the Red's Saga"), presumably because of its more sophisticated literary style, many now consider factually the less reliable. Its Icelandic compositor in likely about 1260 seems to have had a copy of the less polished but more sober, matter-of-fact and much more nautically aware "Greenlanders' Saga" in front of him, composed probably at least 60 years earlier and likely by a Greenlander. The redactors of "Erik's Saga" are now thought by many, including Ingstad, to have modified the story to reflect more credit on Thorfinn Karlsefni of a distinguished Icelandic family, while greatly reducing Leif Eriksson's role to that of an accidental discoverer storm-blown clear across the ocean from Norway (against the prevailing westerly winds of these latitudes, I might add as a geographer.) In his assessment of the two sagas Helge Ingstad is basically in agreement with those of Carl Sauer and Erik Wahlgren, though both have strongly disagreed with his contention that the Newfoundland structures are the ruins of Leif Eriksson's houses. The site might have been an outpost occupied for a few years at this strategic location by a group of Norse unrecorded by any extant saga, about four-fifths of the saga material having in any case been irretrievably lost.(See my reviews of the Sauer and Wahlgren books by clicking on the above link).

Be that as it may, this Newfoundland site the Ingstads uncovered has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that Norse did in fact reach North America a thousand years ago, which had been doubted in many quarters prior to that discovery. For that alone they deserve all the enormous credit they have received. And in this lucidly written final work they describe many aspects of Norse exploration and activities in the region with original and illuminating insights.

One reviewer has criticized Ingstad's analysis of the origins of the two Vinland sagas as too derisive of other views and too long. He may have a point, but...? For instance, Ingstad's discussion of the question of whether the Greenlanders' Saga derives directly from a Greenlandic written source preserved in Iceland --and whether Erik's Saga might be a major Icelandic rewriting of it -- may strike the uninitiated as a self-serving nitpick. But this issue is key to resolving the differences between the two sagas and may go a long way toward explaining the confusion so evident in the descriptions of Erik's Saga regarding such matters as Karlsefni's search for Vinland. Greenlanders were obviously much closer to the events. Carl Sauer in "Northern Mists" (see my review) had also come to a similar conclusion: "The Greenlanders' Saga has continuity, clarity, and for the most part credible description.""[It] in my opinion is the more credible as to sensible course and sequence of voyages and matter-of-fact description of event and place."

By the way, the people we are dealing with were not "Vikings" as the title proclaims, nor does Ingstad use the word in the text except briefly and correctly as a European historical antecedent, never as applied to Iceland, Greenland or Vinland; but it seems we're stuck with it; publishers love the term in titles as it catches the public eye and helps with sales.

For those truly interested in the subject
I would have liked to have given this book 2.5 stars, right in the middle, because I really think it's a so-so book. But since the choice was 2 or 3 and 2 was too low, 3 stars it is.

There is certainly a good deal of history and scholarship shown here, and for those such as myself who have an interest in the subject but lay no claim to expertise, much to be gained.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that some academic scores were being settled. Helge Ingstad, who wrote most of the first parts of the book (with his wife, Anne Stine Ingstad, doing the part about the actual L'Anse aux Meadows dig), spends too much time deriding viewpoints alternate to his own. Since it was his line of reasoning that lead to the discovery of the L'Anse aux Meadows site, it seems that focusing on his own arguments should have been enough.

Apparently, though, it wasn't. A major part of the book consists of summaries and analyses of two sagas telling different stories of the Vikings in Greenland and their exploration of North America. One, Erik's Saga, is a ripping good yarn that apparently had been the version favored by scholars. Ingstad makes a convincing argument that the other, The Groenlendinga Saga, is more historically reliable. But he does it at such length (about 1/3 the book) and in such language that the argument comes across as personal as much as academic, as a means of taking pokes at those on the other side of the issue. For example, The Groenlendinga Saga is a "plain, straightforward narrative" of "generally authentic nature," while Erik's Saga is by turns "improbable," "fiction" influenced by fables, "cannot be correct," "more than a little suspect," "incredible," and so on and so on.

The description of the actual dig had a different problem: It was too much "we found this and then under this thick a layer we found this and then we found...." I truly wished for a greater context, more explanation of why a find was significant beyond the fact of proving Viking habitation. A number of times she refers to the depth of a strata though which they dug to find something. Was that significant? How? Why? What does it mean?

The thing is, the book appears to be intended for a general (non-expert) audience. But at times I felt I had either walked into the middle of a scholarly debate or was reading a simplified field report. The result is, it's neither fish nor fowl, which is why I wanted to give it 2.5 stars.

Oh, one final complaint: The quality of photographic reproduction in the book is by and large awful. It gives every indication of being taken from computer printouts of digital photographs, with all the attendant loss of fine detail.

I'd say if you're really interested in the subject, give it a whirl. If your interest is more casual, skip it.

A "must" for Viking history buffs
In The Viking Discovery Of America, Helge and Anne Ingstad relate the fascinating and informative story of the excavation of a Norse settlement in L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland and what this archaeological survey mean for our understanding of Viking explorations of the Western Hemisphere. With a meticulous scholarship, the Ingstads united the Viking sagas of discovery with engaging details about shipbuilding, navigation, culture, and lifestyle. The Viking Discovery Of America combines scholarly detective work with ground breaking archaeological confirmations to overturn centuries of historical assumptions and documenting Viking contact with the New World centuries before Christopher Columbus. The Viking Discovery Of America is an enthusiastically recommended addition to academic and community library collections, as well as a "must" for Viking history buffs and New World archaeology students. ... Read more

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With original translations of primary texts and articles by leading researchers in the field, Sanctity in the North gives an introduction to the literary production associated with the cult of the saints in medieval Scandinavia.

For more than five hundred years, Nordic clerics and laity venerated a host of saints through liturgical celebrations, written manuscripts, visual arts, and oral traditions.Textual evidence of this widespread and important aspect of medieval spirituality abounds. Written biographies (or vitae), compendia of witnessed miracles, mass propers, homilies, sagas and chronicles, dramatic scripts, hymns, and ballads are among the region's surviving medieval manuscripts and early published books.

Sanctity in the North features English translations of texts from Latin or vernacular Nordic languages, in many cases for the first time. The accompanying essays concerning the texts, saints, cults, and history of the period complement the translations and reflect the contributors' own disciplinary groundings in folklore, philology, medieval, and religious studies.

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Saemund, son of Sigfus, the reputed collector of the poems bearing his name, which is sometimes also called the Elder, and the Poetic, Edda, was of a highly distinguished family, being descended in a direct line from King Harald Hildetonn. He was born at Oddi, his paternal dwelling in the south of Iceland, between the years 1054 and 1057, or about 50 years after the establishment by law of the Christian religion in that island; hence it is easy to imagine that many heathens, or baptized favourers of the old mythic songs of heathenism, may have lived in his days and imparted to him the lays of the times of old, which his unfettered mind induced him to hand down to posterity. The youth of Saemund was passed in travel and study, in Germany and France, and, according to some accounts, in Italy. His cousin John Ogmundson, who later became first bishop of Holum, and after his death was received among the number of saints, when on his way to Rome, fell in with his youthful kinsman,

Table of Contents

Gudrun's Incitement 248; The Lay of Hamdir 251; THE YOUNGER EDDAS OF STURLESON; The Deluding of Gylfi 256; Of the Primordial State of the Universe259; Origin of the Frost-Giants 260; Of the Cow Audhumla, and Birth of Odin262; The Making of Heaven and Earth263; Creation of Man and Woman 265; Night and Day, Sun and Moon266; Wolves that Pursue the Sun and Moon267; The Way that Leads to Heaven268; The Golden Age269; Origin of the Dwarfs, and Norns of Destiny270; The Ash Yggdrasill and Mimer's Well 271; The Norns that Tend Yggdrasill 273; The Wind and the Seasons 275; Thor and His Hammer -277; Balder and Njord 278; Njord and His Wife Skadi 279; The God Frey and Goddess Freyja 280; Tyr and Other Gods 281; Hodur the Blind, Assassin of Baldur 283; Loki and His Progeny284; Binding the Wolf Fenrir 285; The Goddesses and their Attributes 289; Frey, and Gerda the Beautiful291; The Joys of Valhalla 293; The Wonderful Horse Sleipnir 2 ... Read more