Overview

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 All-father, 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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9780500251966

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Reviews

'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

An accessible blend of scholarship and story, full of intriguing asides... In easily digestible chapters, well-regarded scholar Larrington addresses the gods and goddesses of the myths before offering a lineup to those they battle--the giants who roam the world.

Author Information

Carolyne Larrington is Professor of Medieval European Literature, University of Oxford, and Official Fellow and Tutor, St John's College. Her previous books include The Poetic Edda; Magical Tales: Myth, Legend and Enchantment in Children's Books and Winter is Coming: The Medieval World of Game of Thrones. She also presented BBC Radio 4's 'The Lore of the Land', exploring the enduring relevance of the creatures of British folklore.

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