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spmcleroy's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great introduction into the subject. Easy to understand definitions, consideration for the fragmentation of historical record and great examples. Definitely recommend for anyone who wants to dip their toes into Norse Religion.
gilroi's review against another edition
3.0
A weird book. Self-published by an author with-- to my knowledge-- no official academic work in the field, it serves as much as an introduction to Norse mythology and its intersection with Norse culture as it does one man's perspective on Norse mythology and its intersection with Norse culture.
If you're already familiar with the subject and don't need an easy introduction, you're much better off reading Gods and Myths of Northern Europe by H.R. Ellis Davidson. Not least because The Viking Spirit is hugely influenced by this book.
If you're already familiar with the subject and don't need an easy introduction, you're much better off reading Gods and Myths of Northern Europe by H.R. Ellis Davidson. Not least because The Viking Spirit is hugely influenced by this book.
cj_jones's review against another edition
4.0
I'm doing research for a novel, and after two disappointing attempts I was pleased to find The Viking Spirit. As I was doing my research, I kept ending up on McCoy's web page. Finally I figured I'd better just buy the book. The first section is about culture and setting, which really made reading the second section, with the various stories, much more enlightening. The first thing I learned is that there is no Norse Canon. Between the fact that it was largely an oral tradition and that the people were spread out over such a wide area, there are a number of variations. As Christianity grew in influence, there was a tendency to further alter the stories to fit the new paradigm, and culture today tends to want a consistent and continuous mythos so the stories bend a little further again. Um. And that's it.
marzock's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This book is the best beginner friendly one I’ve encountered so far regarding Norse mythology.
It includes the vast majority of the myths and provides explanations on sources and such.
For a more in depth read go directly on to the poems and prose forme the era.
Sometimes the tone shifts to a weird comic one, but other than that it’s very readable without being either too pedantic or too simplistic.
It includes the vast majority of the myths and provides explanations on sources and such.
For a more in depth read go directly on to the poems and prose forme the era.
Sometimes the tone shifts to a weird comic one, but other than that it’s very readable without being either too pedantic or too simplistic.
oisin175's review against another edition
5.0
Well-paced and informative without being overly dense. This is a great book for obtaining a basic understanding of both Viking and culture and religion, at least to the extent that the historical record is sufficient to give us that understanding, as well an overview of the basic Norse myths. Discussions about what elements from the myths are likely authentic versus Christian implants are also very helpful.
isobelsnotes's review against another edition
1.0
Just really bad. Full of incorrect information with no source, weird theories that are only very loosely backed by questionable sources and a deep misunderstanding of a lot of cultural norms of the Viking era.
isobelsnotesss's review against another edition
Just really bad. Full of incorrect information with no source, weird theories that are only very loosely backed by questionable sources and a deep misunderstanding of a lot of cultural norms of the Viking era.