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ostrava's review against another edition
5.0
Though there's some Christian influences that I'm not enough of an expert to notice, the myths are enjoyed more as a constant narration like the one in the Gylfaginning (which happened to be my favourite section in all of the Eddas).
The whole thing is just amazing. So many cool stories, so much cool imagery... chaotic too, but it works in its favor imo.
I skipped the Háttatal and I think I might have read an abridged version of the Skáldskaparmál, but it's all good. The first chapter is what matters, really.
The whole thing is just amazing. So many cool stories, so much cool imagery... chaotic too, but it works in its favor imo.
I skipped the Háttatal and I think I might have read an abridged version of the Skáldskaparmál, but it's all good. The first chapter is what matters, really.
lgrunwald's review
5.0
5 out of 5!
I personally loved edda but, to those not familiar with the text or historical aspects of it all, the Anthony Faulkes translation I personally read may be a bit too archaic in its language. It didn't bother me as much because I already had much experience of reading the Prose Edda before beginning. However, this is one of the only actual complete translations of the edda that doesn't cut out stuff for pacing purposes which I absolutely appreciate!
A lot of translations in English seem to cut things out to make the story of the Edda a bit more... cohesive I guess? Easy to digest I suppose. However, that's not the way the Edda was written. Just as in the old Icelandic and Norse text the stories of our beloved Snori Sturluson do sometimes contradict themselves and his Christian bias is absolutely apparent. He even claims that the Norse gods were somehow decent of the people of Troy. Which, is incorrect but his saying that has it's own historical reasons which are all very fascinating!
In short I highly recommend Anthony Faulkes translation of the Edda for English speakers. As long as you don't mind some very old sounding english and a bit of academic talk this is probably the best and fullest translation in English I have found.
I personally loved edda but, to those not familiar with the text or historical aspects of it all, the Anthony Faulkes translation I personally read may be a bit too archaic in its language. It didn't bother me as much because I already had much experience of reading the Prose Edda before beginning. However, this is one of the only actual complete translations of the edda that doesn't cut out stuff for pacing purposes which I absolutely appreciate!
A lot of translations in English seem to cut things out to make the story of the Edda a bit more... cohesive I guess? Easy to digest I suppose. However, that's not the way the Edda was written. Just as in the old Icelandic and Norse text the stories of our beloved Snori Sturluson do sometimes contradict themselves and his Christian bias is absolutely apparent. He even claims that the Norse gods were somehow decent of the people of Troy. Which, is incorrect but his saying that has it's own historical reasons which are all very fascinating!
In short I highly recommend Anthony Faulkes translation of the Edda for English speakers. As long as you don't mind some very old sounding english and a bit of academic talk this is probably the best and fullest translation in English I have found.
wendel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Four stars for the inspiration the Edda has given to artists all over the world. But I wouldn’t dare to review this early 13th century work by modern standards.
little_raven's review against another edition
3.0
Las Eddas son dos piezas literarias que constituyen, a fines prácticos, los testimonios más directos sobre la mitología nórdica que hayan llegado a nuestros días. Una es la Edda Menor (o Edda en Prosa), escrita por Snorri Sturluson; la otra, anónima, es la Edda Mayor (o Edda Poética). Sin duda una de las mitologías más interesantes, con una concepción del universo extremadamente desarrollada y elegante, si se me permite el epíteto. Los dioses y demás involucrados son extraordinarios, y de a ratos pareciera que inagotables; uno entiende que haya sido imposible para escritores como J. R. R. Tolkien resistir aplicar estas influencias a sus obras. Lo que resulta incomprensible es que ningún lector haya arrojado un ladrillazo a la pantalla del cine al ver al Thor y al Loki de Avengers. La civilidad ante todo, como se dice.
Uno de los aciertos de esta edición, por más que en el prólogo se implique lo contrario, es haber ubicado la Edda Menor al comienzo, ya que presenta un formato compacto y consistente; mientras que la Poética (mas extensa, así como también brutalmente alegórica) cuenta relatos puntuales, muchas veces sin relación aparente, y si el lector no contase con el marco previo que nos brinda Sturluson, podría resultar algo abrumadora.
Por otro lado, algo imperdonable a esta altura son los errores gramaticales y de espaciado que sufren algunas páginas de este libro. Una lástima, ya que estéticamente es una edición muy bien cuidada.