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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I bought this beautiful edition (ISBN 9781904945574 by Gudrun Publishing) during my trip to Norway last year. It's huge, has lovely thick pages, and contains art inspired by the Edda spanning over 300 years from a wide variety of artists. The edition uses the translation by J.I. Young, and 'consists of narrative portions of The Prose Edda, including the whole of the Deluding of Gylfi and all the longer heroic tales incorporated in Poetic Diction' (and has an introduction by Vésteinn Ólason). It's unclear to me how complete the text is, and the text occasionally could use some extra context for readers who do not speak a Scandinavian language (lots of 'and this is why [x] is called [y]' referring to words and expressions that just don't make sense in English).
Potential issues with the translation aside, the art was a genuinely wonderful addition to just reading the Edda by itself and I highly recommend this edition. The stories itself are very interesting, too, and very enjoyable to read! Some stories are so familiar, others feel completely alien. It's fun to compare mythology across time and culture and see common as well as unique themes.
Potential issues with the translation aside, the art was a genuinely wonderful addition to just reading the Edda by itself and I highly recommend this edition. The stories itself are very interesting, too, and very enjoyable to read! Some stories are so familiar, others feel completely alien. It's fun to compare mythology across time and culture and see common as well as unique themes.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great insight into Icelandic and Norse mythology.
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The only reason that this book isn’t a full 5 star is because the translation isn’t the most complete, however it is such a blast to read, one of my favorite books.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
daar val ik dan in de noorse mythologie rabbit hole
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant collection of stories. It’s amazing to see how the stories here have evolved and shaped other well known stories.
The first two parts of this feel like the "Special Edition" of the Poetic Edda (in the same way that Lucas released "Special Editions" of Star Wars, ESB, and RotJ). While there's much quoted from the Völuspá, there are also special features like guest appearances from Judeo-Christian figures (Adam & Eve, Noah, Jesus Christ) and the Trojans. Because, you know, why not?
Those are actually pretty entertaining--weird, but entertaining. 13th Century Iceland. Go figure.
The last part is all about the poesy of Skalds. It's set up as a discussion between Ægir, the Norse god of the sea, and Bragi, the god of poetry, but for all intents and purposes, it is essentially a "so you want to be a storyteller" how-to guide that goes through all the poetic terminology for gods, men, animals, and everything in between. It is dry. So dry. There are a few stories thrown in for breathers (thank the Fetters [a reference you'll be proud to recognize if you made it all the way the Skáldskaparmál; congrats!]), but it's mostly lists and poetic examples of kennings and periphrasing, sometimes with context, sometimes not. Oh, and Jesus shows up here, too; he has his very own section of kennings. Because, again, why not? Caesar Augustus gets a somewhat parenthetical mention, also.
Very melting-pot-y.
Those are actually pretty entertaining--weird, but entertaining. 13th Century Iceland. Go figure.
The last part is all about the poesy of Skalds. It's set up as a discussion between Ægir, the Norse god of the sea, and Bragi, the god of poetry, but for all intents and purposes, it is essentially a "so you want to be a storyteller" how-to guide that goes through all the poetic terminology for gods, men, animals, and everything in between. It is dry. So dry. There are a few stories thrown in for breathers (thank the Fetters [a reference you'll be proud to recognize if you made it all the way the Skáldskaparmál; congrats!]), but it's mostly lists and poetic examples of kennings and periphrasing, sometimes with context, sometimes not. Oh, and Jesus shows up here, too; he has his very own section of kennings. Because, again, why not? Caesar Augustus gets a somewhat parenthetical mention, also.
Very melting-pot-y.