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A review by lgrunwald
The Poetic Edda by Anonymous
5.0
5 out of 5!
This is a review of the revised edition by Carolyne Larrington.
Honestly, all I have to say is....wow! This was an absolutely brilliant (in my opinion the best) english translation of the Poetic Edda to date. Not only is Carolyne Larrington's introduction of the book worth the price alone but the way she lays everything out in such an accessible way while keeping with the poems rhythms is so inspiring! Her extensive notes and comments also add so much depth and value and historical context to each of the poems. Her revised edition also includes poems not originally included in the original Codex Regis such as: Baldr's Dreams (Baldrs Draumar), The List of Rig (Rígsþula), The Song of Hyndla (Hyndluljóð,) The Song of Grotti (Grottasǫngr), Groa's Chant and The Sayings of Fiolsvinn (Svipdagsmál), The Waking of Angantyr (Hervararkviða), and an additional edition of the Vǫluspá that was in the Hauksbók. Which, was apparently a 14th century of prose written for Haukr Erlendsson who was an Icelandic official. Very cool!
From the creation of the world, the deaths of the gods, the adventures of Odin and Thor, the story of Sigurd the dragon slayer and his vengeful wife Gudrun the Poetic Edda is an absolute masterpiece. My personal favourites from this edition have to be the first version of The Seeres's Prophecy, Sayings of the High One, The Lay of Fafnir, Poem of Atli, and The Song of Grotti.
This is a review of the revised edition by Carolyne Larrington.
Honestly, all I have to say is....wow! This was an absolutely brilliant (in my opinion the best) english translation of the Poetic Edda to date. Not only is Carolyne Larrington's introduction of the book worth the price alone but the way she lays everything out in such an accessible way while keeping with the poems rhythms is so inspiring! Her extensive notes and comments also add so much depth and value and historical context to each of the poems. Her revised edition also includes poems not originally included in the original Codex Regis such as: Baldr's Dreams (Baldrs Draumar), The List of Rig (Rígsþula), The Song of Hyndla (Hyndluljóð,) The Song of Grotti (Grottasǫngr), Groa's Chant and The Sayings of Fiolsvinn (Svipdagsmál), The Waking of Angantyr (Hervararkviða), and an additional edition of the Vǫluspá that was in the Hauksbók. Which, was apparently a 14th century of prose written for Haukr Erlendsson who was an Icelandic official. Very cool!
From the creation of the world, the deaths of the gods, the adventures of Odin and Thor, the story of Sigurd the dragon slayer and his vengeful wife Gudrun the Poetic Edda is an absolute masterpiece. My personal favourites from this edition have to be the first version of The Seeres's Prophecy, Sayings of the High One, The Lay of Fafnir, Poem of Atli, and The Song of Grotti.