Closing LinesMany of the stories are transformed Norse poems, and some of those poems were used for enactments among Norsemen - such as Thor's wedding (No. 10). Mabie has made stories of terse Norse poems and prose tales, and embellished some too. Thus, seventeen of the more popular Norse Myths from the Eddas are retold. Mabie tells the Norse stories of heroic gods and ill-willed giants, violence and pessimism nicely, and provides descriptions of gods and goddesses based on Norse mythology. Some embellishments have been discarded here, and the language is quite updated. Peter A. Munch's Norse Mythology is offered on the site for comparisons too (see link below). For a more coherent description of the Asatru, Norse mythology, and its special "cross flavour", there are many other books. The books by Anderson, Bellows and Sturluson in the book list provide translations. The other books in it are for further perspectives, comparison work and explanations. Kathleen Daly's Norse Mythology A-Z is fit for young adults. It may be bought or it may be downloaded for free. The book contains more than 400 entries on the major figures, places, stories and themes. It is dictionary-like, but even so it is more informative than the headword-formed entries in the Norse Glossary from Anderson's book. ('Words' in bottom left corner). |
Anderson, Rasmus B. 1901. The Younger Edda: Also Called Snorre's Edda, or the Prose Edda. Chicago, IL: Scott, Foresman and Co. Bellows, Henry Adams, tr. 1936. The Poetic Edda. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Sturluson, Snorri. 2005. The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology. Tr. Jesse Byock. London: Penguin Classics. ⍽▢⍽ Professor Byock's translation of the Old Norse stories is a good one. Crossley-Holland, Kevin. 1980. The Penguin Book of Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings. London: Penguin Books. ⍽▢⍽ The tales in this poet-scholar's translation are second to none. The book has three main parts. First, the introduction presents Norse beliefs, culture and historical background. Second, entertaining and - well - sophisticated myths in plain English and close to the original text. Third comes an appendix for looking further into each myth, and with cross-cultural comparisons with other mythologies. Very useful. Daly, Kathleen N. 2010. Norse Mythology A to Z. 3rd ed. rev. by Marian Rengel. New York: Chelsea House. ⍽▢⍽ Not very long entries, fit for younger adults and grown-ups. Davidson, Hilda R. Ellis. 1990. Gods and Myths of Northern Europe. Reprint ed. London: Penguin Books. Lindow, John. 2002. Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Paperback ed. New York: Oxford University Press. ⍽▢⍽ Recommended resource for more in-depth knowledge. After telling about Norse mythology's place in history, locations and the course of time, Professor Lindow book is a well organised and readable dictionary, full of good stories and references. Mabie, Hamilton Wright. 1900. Norse Stories Retold from the Eddas. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. ⍽▢⍽ Mabie was an American editor and writer. The stories in the present collection stem from this well written book that may engage both adults and young adults. Mabie's readable book was first published in 1882.
Munch, Peter Andreas. Norse Mythology: Legends Of Gods And Heroes. Rev. by Magnus Olsen. Tr. Sigurd Bernhard Hustvedt. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1926. ⍽▢⍽ Online.
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