Icelandic Poetry, Or The Edda of Saemund
The Poetic Edda
"The poems of the Poetic Edda have waited a long time for a Modern English translation that would do them justice. Here it is at last (Odin be praised!) and well worth the wait. These amazing texts from a 13th-century Icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological and literary importance, containing the lion's share of information that survives today about the gods and heroes of pre-Christian Scandinavians, their unique vision of the beginning and end of the world, etc. Jackson Crawford's modern versions of these poems are authoritative and fluent and often very gripping. With their individual headnotes and complementary general introduction, they supply today's readers with most of what they need to know in order to understand and appreciate the beliefs, motivations, and values of the Vikings." --Dick Ringler, Professor Emeritus of English and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
The Elder Edda
Compiled by an unknown scribe in Iceland around 1270, and based on sources dating back centuries earlier, these mythological and heroic poems tell of gods and mortals from an ancient era: the giant-slaying Thor, the doomed Völsung family, the Hel-ride of Brynhild and the cruelty of Atli the Hun. Eclectic, incomplete and fragmented, these verses nevertheless retain their stark beauty and their power to enthrall, opening a window on to the thoughts, beliefs and hopes of the Vikings and their world.
The Wanderer's Havamal
The Wanderer's Hávamál features Jackson Crawford’s complete, carefully revised English translation of the Old Norse poem Hávamál, newly annotated for this volume, together with facing original Old Norse text sourced directly from the Codex Regius manuscript. Rounding out the volume are Crawford’s classic Cowboy Hávamál and translations of other related texts central to understanding the character, wisdom, and mysteries of Óðinn (Odin). Portable and reader-friendly, it makes an ideal companion for both lovers of Old Norse mythology and those new to the wisdom of this central Eddic poem wherever they may find themselves.
The Poetic Edda
Journey to the mythic worlds of the medieval Norse and discover the timeless legends that still live within us. The Poetic Edda comprises a mythology of gods and their human heroes who are driven by honor, lust, and wisdom, always seeking power and always settling a new dispute. The Edda begins with resourceful creator-gods crafting the universe out of a giant's corpse and a powerful seeress imparting details about the inevitable chaos of Ragnarok. This is followed by Odin's words of wisdom and a plethora of other poems describing the High One's never-ending quest for knowledge. The adventures of Thor and the god's unsavory encounter with Loki ensue, leading up to the death of Baldr and the first signs of Ragnarok. Poems about Helgi, Sigurth, and other members of the powerful Volsung family, comprise an excessive amount of blood feuds. The slaying of Fafnir and the ownership of the dragon's hoard creates an entirely new story amidst growing envy and constant betrayal. The Poetic Edda: A Study Guide, is an exceptional guide to the myths and legends of the medieval Norse.
