The 10 best norse mythology books norse mythology for smart. Neil gaiman on his norse mythology, in which odin wants a wall. While it portrays the various aspects and forms that odin assumes in order to gain knowledge of the nine worlds inhabited by gods and giants, humans, elves, and dwarfs, elsabrita titchenell has a larger purpose in view. Feb 12, 2017 neil gaiman was reading to a packed crowd from his new book of stories, norse mythology, on thursday night at town hall, and he had 15 tales to choose from. Gaiman did not just read tales that modern men have written to decipher. Each one is written as a simple narrative, so that it feels like a collection of nighttime. In the norse myths, the moment odin sat high on the throne of asgard, he became allknowing and ever powerful, as written by snorri sturluson in the prose edda.
It explores odins origins, his appearances in sagas, old magic spells, and the poetic edda, and his influence on modern media, such as tolkiens lord of the rings trilogy. The children of odin is a collection of norse myths suitable for children that are also enjoyable for adults interested in learning more about viking legends. Sep 04, 20 thor, odins son, was a fellow norse war god, and zeus was a fellow king god. Johan egerkrans long dreamed of illustrating the norse mythology, and when he released norse gods in swedish it. In this book you will find information, about norse mythology. Through frequent addresses to the audience, the narration evokes the oral tradition of storytelling.
This, in itself, wasnt an unusual belief in terms of other religions. One of odin s countless names is allfather old norse alfa. Publishers weekly dec 12, 2016 having already appropriated odin and loki for his novel american gods, gaiman turns his restless imagination to a retelling of norse folklore a youthful interest of his. The god odin cuts a dramatic figure in norse mythology and is still a part of the popular imagination.
He was more enigmatic, and his power is more indirect and subtle. The exact origins of odin are unknown but many believe that he is an evolved concept based on a mostly overlooked proto norse god. Jan 28, 2020 eventually, odin is killed by the great wolf fenrir during ragnarok the norse apocalypse and subsequent recreation. Neil gaiman on his norse mythology, in which odin wants a. Thor, odins son, was a fellow norse war god, and zeus was a fellow king god. Lessons from the myths of odin one key difference between most current, monotheistic religious systems and the polytheistic ones of old, is the flawed nature of the latters gods. Odin, the king or allfather of the norse gods, thor, his son, god of thunder, law and order, and loki, the trickster god, live in asgard. In this norse story, we learn how the gods of asgard are able to stay forever young. As i read norse mythology, i have come to wonder whether neil gaiman is. This book gives an overview of the essential stories in norse mythology. Johan egerkrans long dreamed of illustrating the norse mythology, and when he released norse gods in swedish it was an immediate success. The project gutenberg ebook of the children of odin, by padraic colum this.
Neil gaiman was reading to a packed crowd from his new book of stories, norse mythology, on thursday night at town hall, and he had 15 tales to. A god of wisdom he challenges us to learn all we can. Gaiman somehow manages to faithfully recreate these ancient tales while weaving the various narratives into. He is married to the goddess frigg, and is the father of the gods thor, baldr, ho. The book is gaimans retelling of several stories from norse mythology. Odin, one of the principal gods in norse mythology. It follows the figure of odin through the centuries, showing how different times and cultures reinterpreted him, and explores the reasons why he is still such a popular figure today. Some thoughts on the accounts of the norse god odin as a. These foes were jotnar, ambiguous beings who in norse mythology may be friends, enemies or even relatives of the gods. Stories of norse gods and heroes by annie klingensmith consists of 20 chapters, each a story from norse mythology. Now we get into the characters which drive the stories in norse myth.
There are similarities the stories described by saxo grammaticus. Tolkiens gandalf the grey, and he still appears in modern literature as varied as marvel comics and neil gaimans novel american gods. This book is absolutely lovely to read, the retelling of the norse myths is. Neil gaiman on his norse mythology, in which odin wants a wall neil gaiman was reading to a packed crowd from his new book of stories, norse mythology, on thursday night at town hall, and he. In thors case, he also had a lover who was a jotunn, named jarnsaxa. We learn how odin, the chief of the norse gods, gained true wisdom so that he could see everything that was happening, and was about to happen, all at the same time. He was depicted as a tall, old man, with flowing beard and only one eye. These are the tales that viking poets recited in dimly lit halls to the captivated attendees of grand feasts, and which fathers and mothers told to their children around roaring hearthfires on long winter nights. In norse mythology, gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major norse pantheon. Odin lessons from norse mythology the art of manliness. There are so many books on norse mythology out there, especially at the beginner level, that if you. Icelandic stories tell how the gods amused themselves by throwing objects at him, knowing that he was immune from harm. Its surely no accident that odin played a greater role than any other god in the creation of the world.
Each chapter deals with what is known about a certain aspect of odin. Geri and freki wandered throughout the great hall, walking among the souls of human warriors. The project gutenberg ebook of the children of odin, by padraic. American gods, highlighted below, but in his new book, hes not simply picking apart old myths and using the parts to build new storieshes actually recasting them and retelling them with a modern approach. The northernmost extension of germanic mythology, norse mythology consists of tales of various deities, beings, and heroes derived from numerous sources from both before and after the. Along with pictures and a bibliography, you will learn about odin like you never. Feb 07, 2017 in norse mythology, gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major norse pantheon.
Diana wynne joness novel, eight days of luke 1975 is an allegory of the norse gods. Adapted for storynory by charlotte sebagmontefiore. The stories are retellings of tales from ancient norse mythology, presented mostly in retrospect by an unnamed narrator. See my book the viking spirit for discussions of which parts of which stories are likely authentic and which probably arent. He was the greatest of all norse gods and the ruler of valhalla, where brave warriors went when they died. Historically, odin had always been prominent in the pantheon of germanic mythology, as is evident from tacitus late 1stcentury ad work germania where odin is seen as the equivalent of roman god mercury. The sacrifices were typically completed by a spear, noose, or both. I bought it at a train station because i needed something short and interesting to read. The book is written in the thirdperson and in past tense, except for the final chapter, which is written and the present and future tenses. Tolkiens gandalf the grey, and he still appears in modern literature as varied as marvel comics and neil gaimans novel american gods 2001. Ecstasy, runes, and norse magic is the first book on odin that is both historically sourced and accessible to a general audience. Introducing an instant classic master storyteller neil gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great norse myths.
Hes the ruler of the aesir tribe of deities, yet he often. The writing in this book remained unbiased and only gives the stories and. In the first part of the book are the stories of their gods. In norse mythology, from which stems most surviving information about the god, odin is associated with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and is the husband of the goddess frigg. I found his story and the myths surrounding him to be utterly. This book retells the greatest of odins stories, and then places those stories within their historical and mythological context. Eventually, odin is killed by the great wolf fenrir during ragnarok the norse apocalypse and subsequent recreation. The book of northern myths is exactly what the title says it is. Most of the stories follow odin, thor and loki as there is the most material on them. Beautiful and just, he was the favourite of the gods. In this book you will find some of odins stories and history as well as anecdotes of what it can be like to honor him in the modern world. The masks of odin is a provocative study of the wisdom of the ancient norse. Norse mythology is the body of myths of the north germanic peoples, stemming from norse paganism and continuing after the christianization of scandinavia, and into the scandinavian folklore of the modern period. Norse mythology is arguably the richest and most vibrant collection of tales from a single culture that mankind has inherited from its progenitors.
It was in the early 1950s when the writer picked up a book at random in the theosophical university library in altadena a beautifully bound volume of the edda in swedish. We are a group, looking at the correct historical details, religious perspective. The god odin enthroned and flanked by the wolves geri and freki and the ravens huginn and muninn as illustrated 1882 by carl emil doepler. May 14, 2014 this pin was discovered by jessica massmann. The origins, history and evolution of the norse god kindle edition. You also get the classic stories like the theft of thors hammer, that time lokis wolf son ate someones arm, and ragnarok thats when all the. From neil gaiman, tales of thor and odin for modern ears. The book of northern myths, illustrated by willy pogany. The origins, history and evolution of the norse god jesse harasta, charles river. The exact origins of odin are unknown but many believe that he is an evolved concept based on a mostly overlooked protonorse god. Apr 22, 2020 odin, the king or allfather of the norse gods, thor, his son, god of thunder, law and order, and loki, the trickster god, live in asgard. The chronology of norse mythology has a clear beginning in the creation myth, and a clear ending in the tale of ragnarok. Most of the stories we have, however, concern two gods, odin and his son thor, and odins blood brother, a giants son called loki, who lives with the aesir in asgard.
Odin, thor, loki the gods of the vikings had many wonderful adventures which have inspired the likes of wagner. Some of the tales in this book feature bold reinterpretations of familiar stories from heathen lore such as the winning of the mead of poetry, the death of balder, and odins. The norse saw their gods as the vital forces that held the cosmos together. Longrecognized master of norse mythology kevin crossleyholland pairs with awardwinning artist jeffrey alan love. This is a fascinating look at the many sides of the norse god, odin, from the point of view of a practicing heathen who interacts with odin among other deities. Read difficult and dense books, seek challenging experiences that will push. This is an unfortunate reflection of a womens role in ancient norse society. The body of stories that we today call norse mythology formed one of the centerpieces of the pagan norse religion. He had to pay a high price for the gift, as you will hear. Loki, thor, odin, frey and freya are characters in the story.
Odin, thor, loki, tyr the one handed odins son and frigg, the queen. Odin simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The son of odin and husband to the goldenhaired goddess sif, thor was famous for relentlessly pursuing his foes. Odin norse gods testament, brisbane, queensland, australia.
Jul 10, 2011 odin is the most compelling of the gods in branaghs film, ruling with tough love more than an iron fist. Norse myths archives storynory audio stories for kids. He was depicted as a tall, old man, with flowing beard and only one eye the other he gave in exchange for wisdom. Humans in battle, therefore, considered geri and freki to be signs of odins presence. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Though familiar since childhood with at least some portions of the norse godstories this was the first time i had read the poetic lays of the elder edda. The collection was written by padraic colum in 1920 and ive slightly modified a few of the stories to make them more appropriate for modern children. Norse mythology, the source of most surviving information about him, associates odin with wisdom, healing, death, royalty, the gallows, knowledge, war, battle, victory, sorcery, poetry, frenzy, and the runic alphabet, and portrays him as the husband of the goddess frigg. Explains the historical origins of the god, the mythological tales about him, and the religious evolution of odin. Son of bor and the giantess jotunn bestla, odin is the chief of the.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids. This book explores the figure of odin, including his origins, the stories told about him, the way he was worshiped and what fragments and memories of him have survived into the modern era. Hopkins odin has more of the qualities of the christian god grace, justice, mercy, love than the norse deity. Many gods and goddesses are named in norse mythology. Witty and stunning, norse mythology is an authorsubject matter match made in heaven. First is a tale of the allfather, the raven god, god of the hanged, best known as odin, and his endless search for knowledge. Odin riding sleipnir detail from the tjangvide runestone.
Norse mythology, or scandinavian mythology, is the body of mythology of the north germanic. It explores odins origins, his appearances in sagas, old magic spells, and the poetic edda, and his influence on modern media, such as. Odinshamanic scandinavian god of magic, poetry, and deathis the central figure in this collection of nine short stories written as a devotional offering to him. As the allfather, odin was the vital force of vital forces the breath of life, or something almost akin to nietzsches will to power. All you need to khow about the end of the world in norse mythology see u in history duration. Norse mythology, by neil gaiman gaimans no stranger to norse gods see. The stories are translated from the original source, the icelandic eddas, which were compiled in the century from much older written and orally transmitted material.
In norse mythology odin s daughters and wives are rarely mentioned. A retelling of the norse sagas about odin, freya, thor, loki and the other gods. The vikings believed that their god odin created the world. Similarities between saxo grammaticus stories of odin. Neil gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Read norse mythology free books online norse mythology. The book gives equal weight to the nonfiction, historical material and the stories. He is thoroughly beneficent, yet fully embodies his norse personality as a fierce and victorious warrior. But most of what happens in between those two bookends doesnt occur in any particular order, and certainly doesnt follow a strictly linear trajectory. Yet in both cases, odin differs greatly from these gods. The origins, history and evolution of the norse god. Loki, god of fire and mischief, steals sifs beautiful golden hair. The origins, history and evolution of the norse god large print by charles river editors, harasta, jesse isbn. Mar 17, 2017 the mighty thor, god of thunder, as portrayed by jack kirby in his 1960s comic book series, oneeyed odin, highest and oldest of the gods from roger lancelyn greens myths of the norsemen.
Norse mythology is a 2017 collection of short stories by british author neil gaiman. All religion surely began with people looking around. Odin wotanwoden, the god of war, death, wisdom and poetry in norse mythology. A god of magic he teaches us to find our own power. Odins women goddesses ignored, forgotten and denied. Under midgard lies niflheim, the world of the dead, ruled over by hel, goddess of the underworld. Thor, odins son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods. Read norse mythology free books online norse mythology neil. Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning.
From earliest times, odin was a war god, and he appeared in heroic literature as the protector of heroes. It is useful to compare odin to two other prominent deities. Neverwhere by neil gaiman american gods by neil gaiman the graveyard book by neil gaiman. Neil gaiman on his norse mythology, in which odin wants.
Odin, the norse chief god and allfather, provides lessons for men in the realms of. Includes pictures of important places and historic illustrations and art depicting odin and other important norse figures. Not only does he write fantastic comics, intelligent childrens stories and detailed. In doing so he enrages sifs powerful husband, thor.
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