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Key Norse myths and legends retold and set in context for modern readers
Norse mythology has gained widespread and growing attention, not least for its significance to the history of the Vikings. From Tolkien's 'Middle Earth' to Hollywood superhero blockbusters, many recent recreations and reinterpretations owe much to these ancient stories.
In this very accessible book, each story is freed from its tangle of (mostly Icelandic) medieval accounts so that it can be read on its own. The stories are also set in context so that their place within the Viking world-view can be understood clearly. An accompanying commentary helps to explain not only what is happening in each story, but also its significance.
Martyn and Hannah Whittock guide us expertly through the myths - essentially religious stories that seek to explain origins and the nature of the spiritual - and, to a lesser extent, the legends, which attempt to explain historical events and which may involve historical characters, but are told in a non-historical way and which often include supernatural events. In doing so, they succeed in taking us deep into the mental world of the early medieval Viking Age.
With recent volumes, such as Neil Gaiman's
Norse Mythology and J. R. R. Tolkien's posthumously published
The Legend of Sigurd & Gudrún, appealing more to readers strictly interested in creative takes on classic Norse tales, this title attracts new readers by offering solid retellings and contextual information that serve as a valuable introduction to this rich tradition.
