The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes (Myths, 3)

The dust jacket seemed a few cm too big, but the over all quality is very nice, better than I expected. The contents are very well layed out aswell.

Working my way through this book. Interesting and educational.

I love this.

Somewhat tough to follow. I’ll blame my mindset,so make sure you really want to deep dive into mythology before getting this book.

cleverly woven

This review covers both Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology and Carolyne Larrington's The Norse Myths: A Guide to the Gods and Heroes.Unlike their Greek counterparts with whom most readers are far more familiar, the Norse gods impose little order upon the world. The best they seem able to do is withstand a greater chaos, for a time. Of course, they are rather chaotic themselves, as well as violent, willful, lusty, sometimes ridiculous and quite often treacherous. Only Odin seems to spend much time thinking about the future or the role of humans in this world, but that concern for humans is self-serving, as he seeks, favors, and betrays warriors in order to swell the ranks of his forces for the final battle at the world’s ending.Now both Carolyne Larrington, the eminent and accomplished scholar of Old Norse, and Neil Gaiman, who surely needs no introduction, have published volumes on Norse Mythology within days of each other. It’s all so convenient the Norns might have had a hand in it. Each of these books is interesting and entertaining, but in quite different ways.Gaiman, as one might expect, opts for a more dramatic treatment of his subject, retelling a selection of important myths at varying lengths, all building towards the climax of ragnarök. His tales are at times touching, at times quite funny. There’s a moment near the end, for example, where Kvasir, the wisest of the gods, guides Thor, not the wisest of the gods, to understanding the importance of a net Loki had created and destroyed, a moment which strongly reminds me of the scene in Monty Python and the Holy Grail in which Sir Bedivere explains to the peasants how one determines who is and who is not a witch. Yet the fine and frequent humor of Gaiman’s treatment obscured for me, as it also did in his earlier American Gods, the overwhelming sense of loss now and disaster to come that haunts the world of gods and men in Norse mythology. In the end it seems reduced to a joke and a game, as a dying Heimdall gleefully informs a dying Loki that the last laugh is on him. The book’s last words 'And the game begins anew' only reinforce this impression.Larrington, like Kvasir with his recreation of Loki’s clever net, captures more of what she seeks. By not focusing narrowly on the drama of the tales she captures more of their tragedy, and suggests more of their meaning for Norse and more broadly for Teutonic culture in general, since these tales were told from Vinland to the Volga and across the centuries before and after the North became Christian. Her inclusion of the part humans play in Norse Mythology -- of Sigmund and Sigurd and all their bloody-minded, bloody-handed kin, more accursed than the House of Atreus, more trapped by the needs of the gods but without the least final justice, doomed in every sense – gives the world of gods and men a fuller, rounder shape. For the tales involve us. The twilight of the gods is also our own. By including humans, the unwilling and often unwitting players in the doom of the gods, Larrington allows us to understand better the world which told these tales, because through them, as Lewis put it in Surprised By Joy, ‘pure “Northernness” engulf[s us]: a vision of huge, clear spaces hanging above the Atlantic in the endless twilight of Northern summer, remoteness, severity….’I did not laugh as often reading Larrington’s book as I did Gaiman's, but I nodded more and learned more. I would suggest, however, that they are most profitably enjoyed together.

The stories of the Norse people are world treasure. Only the gods know how long ago it originated, perhaps among the Neanderthals, our ancestors. The ancient Norse people were rugged, tough, resourceful. Their descendants are now some very gifted people of the world. Survival of the Fit !

When it comes to discussions about the Norse myths I am frustrated at how literally they are taken. Myths are, by their nature, symbolic and allegorical, but most raconteurs and commentators on Norse myths fail to treat them as such. Instead, there is a perpetuation of some worn and misleading stereotypes that fail to convey the breadth and nuance of the material. Ms. Larrington's book is no exception. Some examples: Odinn is portrayed once again as the "king of the gods" (or some version of that assertion) when there's evidence, cited in this book even, that other gods like Thor were more prominent in certain areas, and that even the idea of a power hierarchy of the gods, at least as far as the myths are concerned, runs into issues upon closer examination. Taking the genealogy of the gods and giants, and sexual and marital relations, literally is another issue. Genealogy and "marriage" are more likely to be part of the allegorical message than meant as literal relationships. Freya as a "goddess of love" is not substantiated by anything more than a statement by Snorri that she likes love songs. Seidr, Larrington says, was a "disreputable" practice. This is likely a historical Christian overlay as there is also evidence that seidr practitioners were respected or viewed at least neutrally. Larrington even refers to the reception of Thorbjorg in the Saga as Erik the Red, in which the seidr practitioner seems to be welcomed and honored at the settlement except for the unease of a Christian woman. And so on.I think the literalization of the Norse myths, and the perpetuation of popular stereotypes of the Norse deities, ultimately does this rich body of allegorical material a disservice. This is, as a reader of this review may already have sensed, a major pet peeve of mine. I wanted a scholar like Ms. Larrington to tell me something new about the myths, not just create another version of the same problematic and overly simplistic treatments they are usually given.That said, Larrington's book could be a good starting point for those new to the subject as she presents a useful overview of background material and some historical context. But I don't recommend it for anyone looking for a more nuanced and atypical treatment.

This book is phenomenal. I am so glad I purchased it. I'm a real nerd about Scandinavian culture and Norse mythology. So it was a no brainer. I'm happy with this purchase.

Product arrived on time, in excellent condition! Many interesting things reading it and beautiful illustrations. I recommend it.

Combines history with beliefs and mythology.Truly a great piece of literature.Can only recommend.

Allerdings etwas oberflaechlich - es sind keine Sagen und Mythen sondern etwas Hintergrundwissen und dann Kurzzusammenfassungen der Sagen, aber kondensiert auf ein paar Absaetze. Man erfaehrt also so etwa die Handlung, kann sich aber schlecht vorstellen wie die Sage richtig lautet in der langen Version.

Loved the book...very useful for beginners With detailed explanations and images of ruins and artwork.