Wonderful collection of age-old tales assembled by noted scholar and folklore expert. Myths tell of the creation of the world; the deeds of such gods and heroes as Odin, Thor and Siegfried; the machinations of the evil Loki; and more. Entertaining and readable, these tales offer a striking presentation of the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian myths that have helped shape the literature and cultures of the modern West.Introduction. Index of Poetical Quotations. 64 il… More >>
This is yet another work that is simple to grasp and thoroughly laid out for the reader. The index and glossary cover it all, and make finding things easy. The illustrations go well with the book and you can get an idea from the artist’s perspective, the outward meaning that the myths try to convey. Beauty, form, courage…. The images in the pages help when reading to children, and the wording is easy enough for even the young to grasp. Don’t miss this book, and try to get Kevin Crossley Holland’s book on Norse Myths as well as Masks of Odin by Titichenell for the REAL meaning behind the “myths”. Remember, trust your blood and follow your ancestors.
Rating: 5 / 5
This is a great complilation of the myths and legends of the old Norse. Full of the great stories pulled from the eddas. This book encouraged me to actually begin to study the eddas.
Rating: 4 / 5
i have a book service that i do it is a outreach to odinist that are in prison and so i donate much needed books to them. they have been very excited about the books and they have been in great condition. i have been very pleased with the service. donna hefner.
Rating: 5 / 5
Hail! This is an excellent, easy to read, and fun introduction to Northern Mythology. The main thing that prevented me from giving it five stars is that the author falls into the trap of thinking that the germanic people were somehow “less sophisticated” than the hellenics(if you read any of Edred Thorsson’s books on Runes you will see that our ancestors were in fact very articulate in their thought), which is purely of product of colledge induced classical elitism(which has little basis in reality and only leads to flawed and biased conclusions). Helene does however covers a HUGE amount of grounds concerning the folklore and mythology of Northern Europe(not just the Norsemen as the title implies). The illustrations in this book are outstanding. For Frith and Kinfolk, Isenwulf Wodheart
Rating: 4 / 5
This book does not provide any sort of accurate depiction of the Northern European mythology and folklore that many of us enjoy reading about.
Not only does this book not provide an accurate translation of many of the tales and gods, but the author combines the stories with his own unfounded opinions of the religion.
He says numerous times in the book that the ancient Icelanders never actually believed in any of the tales they told, that everything was simply a story, and their pseudo-religion proves that.
In addition he refers to them as “Aryans.” Considering this term didn’t come about until the psychic Madam Blavatsky started using it in the late nineteenth century, and it wasn’t even an accurate term, I found it a bit confusing and annoying.
I simply could not refer a worse and more inaccurate book to read on this beautiful subject.
Rating: 1 / 5