Customer Reviews

The Heroes of Asgard: Tales from Scandinavian Mythology

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had thought when buying this book that it was a factual recollection of Norse mythology. However, I was soon to realise that in fact it was more of a childrens story book, complete with spectacular full colour illustrations. Despite this, I would not recommend this to any "hardcore" fan of the myth surrounding Odin, Thor, Loki, Frigga et al, as the author Keary has watered down the content so as to be more easily readable for children. Despite this, I still think its worth a read for all beginners and/or children!

This is indeed a work oriented toward children, and it is a treasure. I first read it to my 5 year-old daughter. It was a bit above her head, but now that she is 7 she is asking to read it again. It is beautifully illustrated (many full color plates). Keary does not "write down" to children. This is myth at its best. I told my daughter just this week that I ranked this and George MacDonald's The Golden Key as my two favorite children's books.

Evidently, when they wrote the Edda (12thC Norse poem collection) (13thC Norse poem collection compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Containing Norse myths, poems, and treatise on poetry) they were not aware of English. However, there is no excuse for the later translations.

If you want to know the gods and their story, but have no time to cut though exotic lengthy prose, then this is the book for you. The stories are straight forwarded and have a contemporary feel. Still they are of the time and place they should be and not superimposed on today's century.

The illustrations add a dimension to the stories. Being in a sketch form adds to your imagination and helps explain some concepts.

After the introduction the chapters are:
Odin
How Thor went to Jötunheim
Frey's Wooing
The Wanderings of Freyja
Inûna's Apples
Baldur's Death
The Binding of Fenrir

Next is
Glossary of Harder words,
Notes,
Glossary of Proper Names,
Questions,
Subjects for Essays,
Helps to further Study,

The version I am reviewing is 1924 MACMILLIAN AND Co., Limited
St. Martins's Street London. The first edition was 1905. I have other versions by the same person; some have radical differences however this version has always been my favorite.

Rhine-Sagas Father Rhine tells his Sagas

Evidently, when they wrote the Edda (12thC Norse poem collection) (13thC Norse poem collection compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Containing Norse myths, poems, and treatise on poetry) they were not aware of English. However, there is no excuse for the later translations.

If you want to know the gods and their story, but have no time to cut though exotic lengthy prose, then this is the book for you. The stories are straight forwarded and have a contemporary feel. Still they are of the time and place they should be and not superimposed on today's century.

The illustrations add a dimension to the stories. Being in a sketch form adds to your imagination and helps explain some concepts.

After the introduction the chapters are:
Odin
How Thor went to Jötunheim
Frey's Wooing
The Wanderings of Freyja
Inûna's Apples
Baldur's Death
The Binding of Fenrir

Next is
Glossary of Harder words,
Notes,
Glossary of Proper Names,
Questions,
Subjects for Essays,
Helps to further Study,

The version I am reviewing is 1924 MACMILLIAN AND Co., Limited
St. Martins's Street London. The first edition was 1905. I have other versions by the same person; some have radical differences however this version has always been my favorite.

Rhine-Sagas Father Rhine tells his Sagas

Evidently, when they wrote the Edda (12thC Norse poem collection) (13thC Norse poem collection compiled by Snorri Sturluson, Containing Norse myths, poems, and treatise on poetry) they were not aware of English. However, there is no excuse for the later translations.

If you want to know the gods and their story, but have no time to cut though exotic lengthy prose, then this is the book for you. The stories are straight forwarded and have a contemporary feel. Still they are of the time and place they should be and not superimposed on today's century.

The illustrations add a dimension to the stories. Being in a sketch form adds to your imagination and helps explain some concepts.

After the introduction the chapters are:
Odin
How Thor went to Jötunheim
Frey's Wooing
The Wanderings of Freyja
Inûna's Apples
Baldur's Death
The Binding of Fenrir

Next is
Glossary of Harder words,
Notes,
Glossary of Proper Names,
Questions,
Subjects for Essays,
Helps to further Study,

The version I am reviewing is 1924 MACMILLIAN AND Co., Limited
St. Martins's Street London. The first edition was 1905. I have other versions by the same person; some have radical differences however this version has always been my favorite.

Rhine-Sagas Father Rhine tells his Sagas