Who were the Norse gods – the mighty Æsyr, led by Óðinn, and the mysterious Vanir? In The Norse Myths we meet this passionate and squabbling pantheon, and learn of the mythological cosmos they inhabit. Passages translated from the Old Norse bring this legendary world to life, from the myths of creation to ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world at the hands of Loki’s army of monsters and giants, and everything that comes in between: the problematic relationship between the gods and the giants, in which enmity and trickery are punctuated by marriages and seductions; the (mis) adventures of human heroes and heroines, with their family feuds, revenges, marriages and murders; and the interaction between the gods and mortals, as Óðinn, the Allfather, betrays his human protégés in order to recruit (dead) heroes for his army. Carolyne Larrington describes the myths’ origins in pre-Christian Scandinavia and Iceland, and their survival in artefacts and written sources, from Old Norse sagas and poems to the less approving accounts of medieval Christian writers. She traces their influences into the work of Wagner, William Morris and J.R.R. Tolkien, and even the recent Game of Thrones in the resurrection of the Fimbulvetr, or ‘Mighty Winter’.
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The Norse Myths 9780500251966 Hardback
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- Year Published:
- 2017
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Format:
- Hardback
- ISBN:
- 9780500251966
- Number of Pages:
- 208
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Publication Date:
- 02/02/2017
- Publisher:
- Thames & Hudson Ltd
- Authors:
- Carolyne Larrington
- Illustrations Note:
- 98 Halftones, duotone; 4 Illustrations, black and white
- Publication Date:
- 02/02/2017
- Series:
- Myths
- Language:
- English
- SKU:
- 9780500251966
Carolyne Larrington is Professorof Medieval European Literature,University of Oxford, and OfficialFellow and Tutor, St John’s College.Her previous books include ThePoetic Edda; Magical Tales: Myth,Legend and Enchantment inChildren’s Books and Winter isComing: The Medieval World of Gameof Thrones. She also presentedBBC Radio 4’s ‘The Lore of the Land’,exploring the enduring relevance ofthe creatures of British folklore.
'A real pleasure to read … fantastic' - Timeless Travels 'A valuable, engaging resource for anyone wishing to explore the mysterious and dramatic world of the Norsemen and their gods' - Minerva